http://www.freebestcars.com/newsadmin/news.rssNews from http://www.freebestcars.comenCopyright morphineFri, 12 Oct 2007 15:17:10 +0400NewsAdmin v 1.20 Betamorphine@freeartists.rumorphine@freeartists.ruhttp://www.freebestcars.com/news.html?id=12_1_news.txthttp://www.freebestcars.com/news.html?id=12_1_news.txt<p>The settling of a short strike by Chrysler workers in the United States on Wednesday was good news for the auto company's two Canadian assembly plants, which could have been shut down later this week because of a supply shortage.</p><p>The United Auto Workers union reached a tentative four-year contract agreement with Chrysler LLC just hours after 49,000 U.S. workers went to the picket lines.</p><p>``This is obviously good news,'' Canadian Auto Workers president Buzz Hargrove told The Canadian Press in a phone interview.</p><p>``Had this strike lasted for another 48 hours, they would've shut down the Canadian operations and over 9,000 people who worked for Chrysler (Canada) would've been impacted and laid off.''</p><p>He added that thousands of other workers at auto parts manufactuerers in Canada would also have been laid off if Chrysler's U.S. plants remained idle for long.</p><p>With workers expected to go back to their jobs immediately, the stoppage was likely to have little impact on the auto producer's Canadian operations in Ontario.</p><p>Earlier Wednesday, before the strike was settled, Chrysler Canada spokesman Ed Saenz said a lack of U.S.-sourced parts would likely hit the 5,000-worker minivan plant in Windsor, Ont., within 24 hours and the 4,000-employee sedan plant in Brampton, Ont., within 48 hours if the UAW strike continued.</p><p>``We take axles, engines, transmissions from the U.S., and when those stop coming because the employees at those plants are not building them, it'll force us to stop production on the vehicles here,'' Saenz said.</p><p>He added that the U.S. job action would not affect Chrysler's 300-worker Etobicoke casting plant in Toronto ``in the near future.'' That site produces pistons and other pieces for engines and transmissions.</p><p>After the settlement agreement was announced, Saenz said ``we don't expect production will have to stop at either of the two major plants (or in Etobicoke).''</p><p>A two-day UAW strike against General Motors in the United States late last month forced GM Canada to briefly close its two sedan assembly plants in Oshawa, east of Toronto, affecting 5,600 workers, and a 1,300-employee transmission factory in Windsor. GM's Oshawa pickup-truck plant, with 3,900 employees, kept operating.</p><p>Even if a long strike had happened, retailers would havve been prepared, according to Chrysler's Saenz. He said Canadian dealers still have abundant inventory to offer prospective buyers.</p><p>"We've got a fair amount of most products on the ground," he said.</p><p>"It's going to depend on how long this thing goes, and that's something I really can't estimate."</p><p>//autonews24h.com</p>morphine@freeartists.ruFri, 12 Oct 2007 15:15:00 +0400http://www.freebestcars.com/news.html?id=11_1_news.txthttp://www.freebestcars.com/news.html?id=11_1_news.txt<p>Mercedes is one of the few automakers to offer a convertible in nearly every size of vehicle it produces, from the compact SLK to the mid size CLK and on to the large SL roadster. With the Ocean Drive concept the company unveiled in Detroit this year, it seems a four-door convertible may be added to the foray in the future. But for now the range-topping SLR McLaren Roadster will have to do.</p><p>This latest addition unites styling cues of the successful SLR racing models from the 1950s with the innovative technology of modern Formula 1 vehicles from the McLaren-Mercedes team. The arrow-shaped tip of the F1 Silver Arrow, a styling element in the SLR, establishes a visual link with the legendary racing cars, along with distinctive lateral louvers, side pipes behind the front wheels and wide-opening gullwing doors. Its lightweight top folds down in just 10 seconds.</p><p>The SLR Roadster body is made entirely of carbon-fiber reinforced plastic materials and two aluminum frames cradle the AMG V8 compressor engine. Riding atop a complex carbon-fiber monocoque chassis, the car benefits from low weight and high torsional rigidity, while its wind tunnel-honed aerodynamics incorporate an 'airbrake' - to slow the car down from its 207mph top speed - and a diffuser in the rear bumper to increase downforce during 3.8 second stints to 62mph. </p><p>//<a href="http://www.cardesignnews.com/site/home/new_cars/page/?portlet_action=true&action_wid=2738#75062" title="">cardesignnews.com</a></p>morphine@freeartists.ruThu, 10 May 2007 15:31:00 +0400http://www.freebestcars.com/news.html?id=10_1_news.txthttp://www.freebestcars.com/news.html?id=10_1_news.txt<p>Porsche has revealed a new convertible version of its 911 Turbo set to go on sale in September. The open top 911 Turbo weighs 154lbs. more than the coupe, largely due to reinforcements in the chassis, convertible body and automatic extendable rollover protection behind the rear seats. The three-layer fully-automatic soft top contributes to a low center of gravity and can be raised or lowered in 20 seconds. </p><p>The Cabriolet is powered by the same 3.6 liter twin turbocharged six-cylinder as hardtop variants, capable of generating 480bhp and 457lb-ft of torque. Up to 501lb-ft of twist is available if the box labeled "Sport Chrono Turbo Package" is ticked off the options list. Contrary to traditional figures, the semi-automatic Tiptronic S propels the car to 62mph in 3.8 seconds, two-tenths quicker than its manual counterpart. A 193mph top speed is identical for both manual and Tiptronic-equipped cars. </p><p>The 911 Turbo Cabriolet is a highly aerodynamic car, with a drag coefficient of just 0.31Cd. The active rear spoiler - which extends 30mm further than that of the coupe - is automatically extended at speeds above 75mph to generate negative lift at the rear axle. The front wheels are fitted with high-performance brake calipers derived from those found on the range-topping Carrera GT.</p><p>//<a href="http://www.cardesignnews.com/site/home/new_cars/page/?portlet_action=true&action_wid=2738#75062" title="">cardesignnews.com</a></p>morphine@freeartists.ruThu, 10 May 2007 15:30:00 +0400http://www.freebestcars.com/news.html?id=9_1_news.txthttp://www.freebestcars.com/news.html?id=9_1_news.txt<p>Volkswagen has just announced that Walter de'Silva, 55, has been appointed Head of Volkswagen Group Design. Since March 2002, de'Silva has been Head of Design at the now discontinued Audi brand group. There, in addition to supervising the Audi brand design, he was also in charge of SEAT and Lamborghini. With his new position he will be responsible for design for all Volkswagen Group passenger car brands, including Bentley, Bugatti and Skoda. The change of direction will be effective February 1st 2007, although we understand de'Silva to be active in this position as of this week.</p><p>Before joining the Volkswagen Group at SEAT in 1999, Walter de'Silva was in charge of Alfa Romeo's Centro Stile since 1986. At Alfa, during the nineties, de'Silva led the renewal of the brand's design language and very effective repositioning. His long career in the automotive world began at Centro Stile FIAT in 1972, when he was just 21 years old. This experience was followed by nine years at I.DE.A Institute under the direction of Franco Mantegazza and Renzo Piano before being recruited by Alfa Romeo.</p><p>With this new global design leadership position for Volkswagen Group, Walter de'Silva replaces Murat Gunak, who is leaving the company abruptly "by mutual agreement" as stated by Volkswagen. Gunak joined Volkswagen in 2003 after working for Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot and Ford.</p><p>These changes occur after some major management shuffles at VW; among them the departure at the end of this month of Wolfgang Bernhard CEO of Volkswagen brand, and the appointment of Volkswagen Group CEO Martin Winterkorn in November, who was previously chairman of Audi - where he would have worked closely with de'Silva.</p><p>//<a href="http://www.cardesignnews.com/site/home/display/store4/item64899/" title="">cardesignnews.com</a></p>morphine@freeartists.ruWed, 31 Jan 2007 18:00:00 +0300http://www.freebestcars.com/news.html?id=8_1_news.txthttp://www.freebestcars.com/news.html?id=8_1_news.txt<p>Kia has released a design sketch of its newest concept car - the Kue. With distinctly grand SUV styling, Kue majors on greater driving dynamics and performance. The focus is very much about an exciting driving experience, as opposed to the typical SUV or CUV [Crossover Utility Vehicle] lifestyle and is the first major new concept launched under the guidance of new design chief Peter Schreyer.</p><p>Kue is based around a dynamically focused monocoque chassis and features large seven-spoke 22-inch alloy wheels and doors that feature a distinctive sill-to-waist door crease which can be clearly seen on the all new cee'd. Size wise, the Kue measures up with an overall length of 4,720mm and a 2,900mm wheelbase. Kue will be unveiled at the NAIAS in Detroit in January 2007.</p><p>//<a href="http://www.cardesignnews.com/" title="">cardesignnews.com</a></p>morphine@freeartists.ruThu, 21 Dec 2006 12:42:00 +0300http://www.freebestcars.com/news.html?id=6_1_news.txthttp://www.freebestcars.com/news.html?id=6_1_news.txt<p>Volvo will introduce the XC60 concept at the Detroit Auto Show in January. The production version of this compact premium crossover should follow rapidly and reach the showrooms in the first half of 2009. Many of the XC60's formal characteristics represent a quantum leap for the brand's design language that's been almost stagnant since the 1992 ECC concept. With the XC60, Volvo reveals the direction they are heading for future vehicles.</p><p>Aiming to improve brand recognition, Design Director Steve Mattin declares he now wants to use "more expressive, emotive shapes" to "elevate Volvo's design DNA to an entirely new level". The new grille with a bigger logo and angled headlights, the racy DLO shape and roof profile, the sculpted flanks and dramatic tailgate/taillights treatment are all testimonies of this new design philosophy at Volvo.</p><p>Presumably built on a mechanical foundation derived from Land Rover's LR2, the XC60 will bear large wheels and offer plenty of ground clearance. The interior features slim seats and an innovative floating center stack. The multifunctional tailgate has a transparent lower section that improves rearward visibility.</p><p>//<a href="http://www.cardesignnews.com/" title="">cardesignnews.com</a></p>morphine@freeartists.ruThu, 21 Dec 2006 12:41:00 +0300http://www.freebestcars.com/news.html?id=5_1_news.txthttp://www.freebestcars.com/news.html?id=5_1_news.txt<p>Succeeding the first Fabia that helped revive the Czech brand with 1.5million sales comes its second iteration. Blending the original car with the more recent Roomster, the new Fabia sports two-box packaging with a wrap-around glass graphic. And though the car has grown, it still slips in under 4 meters.</p><p> </p><p>Rear knee and headroom remain especially generous, while passengers there also benefit from head airbags. Other technology includes Bluetooth connectivity, six-speed Tiptronic transmission and the de rigueur iPod plug. Under the hood, one can opt from seven engines, four gas (60PS -105PS) and three diesel (70PS - 105PS). The world launch of the Fabia will take place in Geneva next year. Key dimensions are: length 3992mm, width 1642mm, height 1498mm. Trunk volume is 300 liters rising to 1163 liters seats folded.</p><p>//<a href="http://www.cardesignnews.com/" title="">cardesignnews.com</a></p>morphine@freeartists.ruThu, 21 Dec 2006 12:40:00 +0300http://www.freebestcars.com/news.html?id=4_1_news.txthttp://www.freebestcars.com/news.html?id=4_1_news.txt<p>Following the 207 Epure concept shown at the Paris Motor Show, Peugeot has revealed the production version, the 207CC - though without the concept's fuel-cell powertrain. Succeeding the popular 206CC launched in 2001, the 207CC obviously doesn't differ much from the show car, which was the first model touched by Co-Director Peugeot Design Jerome Gallix.</p><p> </p><p>Replacing the fuel cell is a range of IC engines; two gas and one diesel. All three motors have 16 valves and 1600cc, the diesel producing 110PS and the turbos of the two gasoline options tuned for either 120PS or 150PS. Key dimensions for the Peugeot 207CC are: length 4037mm, width 1750mm, height 1397mm. The wheelbase is 2540mm, and roof up trunk capacity is 449 liters dropping to 187 liters when lowered. Sales begin in March with prices to be announced nearer the time.</p><p>//<a href="http://www.cardesignnews.com/" title="">cardesignnews.com</a></p>morphine@freeartists.ruThu, 21 Dec 2006 12:39:00 +0300http://www.freebestcars.com/news.html?id=3_1_news.txthttp://www.freebestcars.com/news.html?id=3_1_news.txt<p>Hafei Loujun was one of many compact minivans on display on this year's Auto China 2006. Located in a rather obscured area of the main 1A hall at the show, Loujun in many ways deserved a better stage. Surprising many of the observers, Loujun was designed by Pininfarina, and the overall styling displayed solid volume with crisp and refined surfacing.</p><p>Standing just around 4000mm, thus in a tough position to compete against of Japanese minivans, the key styling theme of Loujun was to give a solid stance. With 17-inch alloy wheels supported by large wheelarches and a pronounced sill volume running from the front to the rear bumper, the vehicle indeed stands firm to the ground.</p><p>A single, robust shoulder line running down from D-pillar and wrapping around the vehicle acts as the styling 'anchor', that defines the boundaries for details such as the headlamps and radiator grille. The rear-end styling is simple and effective, where the shutline boundaries, which runs around the rear fender sets the boundary lines for the tailgate opening, tailamps and the two-tone rear bumper.</p><p>//<a href="http://www.cardesignnews.com/site/home/display/store4/item58464/" title="">cardesignnews.com</a></p>morphine@freeartists.ruWed, 06 Dec 2006 15:28:00 +0300http://www.freebestcars.com/news.html?id=2_1_news.txthttp://www.freebestcars.com/news.html?id=2_1_news.txt<p>Xingqing, which means 'clear sky', was inspired by the romantic atmosphere which fills people when looking up to the sky and seeing the stars on a clear night. Measuring at 3500mm x 16500mm x 1550mm on a 2365mm wheelbase, this entry level compact minivan CUV is targeted at young urban professionals, whom the company would describe as "using this car to commute during weekdays, as well as enjoying the outdoor life on the weekend."</p><p>Styled in Italy, the Xingqing concept and the theme is much like that of the Fiat Multipla from more than a decade ago, focusing on interior functionality and the user interface of the driver and passengers, more than flashy exterior styling. While this is a compact mini, seating arrangement allows up to five adult passengers and their luggage as well.</p><p>The simple and almost 'abstract' interior surprised many, with almost no details apart from the steering wheel visible around the cluster and the center console. Overall use of the interior space was equally impressive with functions such as a fully opening tailgate which effectively turns into a tent, fold-and-dive rear seat, and a B-pillarless clamshell door allowing for easy ingress/egress and to load large equipment.</p><p>The exterior design, which in effect was styled to support the interior functionality, has its share of strong characteristics. The overall form of the vehicle is a one-box minivan with excellent stance. Details such as the headlamp located around the A-pillars, clever use of the orange and black two-tone around the sill area to create dynamic stance, and a Y-shaped front grille were all executed well.</p><p>While a vehicle such as this won't have much chance of making it out of the auto show display booth, the Xingqing concept definitely was a pleasant surprise to many with clever ideas and well-resolved design.</p><p>//<a href="http://www.cardesignnews.com/site/home/display/store4/item58464/" title="">cardesignnews.com</a></p>morphine@freeartists.ruWed, 06 Dec 2006 15:27:00 +0300http://www.freebestcars.com/news.html?id=1_1_news.txthttp://www.freebestcars.com/news.html?id=1_1_news.txt<p>The only foreign manufacturer to display a concept car at Auto China 2006 was Volkswagen, unveiling the Neeza crossover concept. As one of the first major overseas manufacturers to enter the Chinese market more than 20 years ago, it's evident that Volkswagen is again intent on leading the motoring trend in China by displaying a Coupe/Wagon CUV, with strong Chinese automotive styling flavor. Built on an extended A-platform — as used on the VW Concept A and Golf - Neeza was developed by the local VW design studio in Shanghai.</p><p>The name Neeza comes from a Chinese folk tale of a little boy named Ne-Zha, who fought against the evil spirits with magic weapons, and VW claims "His unequalled will, his youthful and foresighted spirit and courage reflect the idea hidden behind the character and the name of the concept"</p><p>Overall styling is sleek and extremely fast, with the proportion deceiving many people to a point where, until the unveiling of the vehicle on Saturday, many automotive designers actually thought Neeza was the brother version of the Audi Q7. However the Neeza is much smaller, lower and sleeker than the Q7, and displays virtually no characteristics of an SUV.</p><p>Clad in a Flame Red body color, its proportion is very well resolved. And much like recent Volkswagen concepts, Neeza also displays restrained details where it makes clear that designers were intent on showing the overall surfacing of the vehicle, more so than the details. Apart from the front lower grille displaying the flowing 'Oriental' line, they have managed exceptionally well in letting the details support rather than dominate the overall styling.</p><p>What would have been a fine concept car was let down somewhat by the overall interior design, with an impression that the interior was almost an afterthought in the overall design process. The door trims and dashboard lacked the exaggerated tension, volumes and refined details that you would expect from a concept car.</p><p>While there has been no official response from VW regarding future production plans, Neeza indicates we should expect a bright future for the region's automotive design in the future.</p><p>//<a href="http://www.cardesignnews.com/site/home/display/store4/item58464/" title="">cardesignnews.com</a></p>morphine@freeartists.ruWed, 06 Dec 2006 15:19:00 +0300