Εuropean Car Sales In First Half Of 2007: VW Takes First Place

According to the data released today by the European vehicle manufacturers trade association (ACEA), Europe’s car sales were down by a mere 0,2% in the first half of 2007 - 8.510.288 units compared to 8.525.086 units in 2006. First semester cumulative figures confirmed an upward trend in Italian and British registrations (+6.5% and +2%, respectively) while Spain (–1.6%), France (–2.6%) and Germany (–9.2%) saw their results deteriorate. EU new member states showed a vigorous performance during the first half of 2007 with sales up by 14.8% compared to 2006

Manufacture-wise, Volkswagen managed to hold on to the first place in the first semester despite a 3,5% loss with 846.887 units sold. In the second place we find Opel/Vauxhall with 727.993 units (-1,0% compared to the first half of 2006) while the bronze metal goes to Ford with 702.161 units (+0,2%). Details after the jump. -Continued: Click “Read More…” below

2009 Ferrari Dino: Who Needs Ferrari, Portuguese Create 1:1 Scale Prototype!

The Dino is on, the Dino is off, the Dino is on; how many posts have you read about Ferrari’s hypothetical plans for reviving the Dino nameplate in the near future? Certainly more times than you can handle. So the hell with Ferrari! A Portuguese designer named Ernesto Freitas decided to take action and build a real-life size prototype of a future Ferrari Dino without any Ferrari involvement at all! We don’t have all the details on our hands yet, but we’ve contacted Ernesto and we hope he’ll be able to answer all our questions soon enough. So for the time being, follow the jump and check out the current image gallery. -Click "Read More..." below to check out the gallery

We thank our friend Vincent from Autoblog.nl for the tip!

Pics Via: Ferrarichat

Bravo! Forum Members Restore ill Friend’s Lotus Esprit!

What a magnificent heart-warming story; Simon Pritchard, a 36-year-old car enthusiast from Abergavenny UK and a member of the Lotus Esprit online forum website was in the process of rebuilding his 25-year-old Esprit when he suffered a stroke. While he was recuperating in the hospital, his fellow forum-members took it upon themselves donating money and time to complete the restoration in just five weeks without him knowing anything! You can just imagine his surprise when he left the hospital and saw the completely restored Esprit!

-Click “Read More..." below to see the rest of the post along with a video of Simon and his Esprit

What makes this story even more special is the fact that Simon has been suffering from several illnesses including Reiter's Syndrome (a form of arthritis that develops as a reaction to infections in the body) and lung complaint. Despite his health problems, Simon has tried to live a normal life and among other things, he spent his time restoring the classic 1982 Lotus Esprit. His online quest for help led him to the Lotus Esprit online forum, the members of which, proved to be a lot more helpful than he or for that matter, anyone, would have bargained for.

Via: BBC

China: Cars Sales And Production Rise +20% In First Half Of 2007

According to the data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), car sales and production both grew more than 20% in the first half of the year. In particular, vehicle production reached 4.46 million units, up by 22.36 percent compared to the same period last year while sales rose 23.31 percent to 4.37 million. Local analysts believe that the trend will continue throughout the year with both sales and production topping a record 8.5 million vehicles by the end of 2007.

China became the world’s second-largest automobile market in 2006 when sales reached 7.28 million units surpassing the then No2, Japan. Industry experts believe that sales of passenger vehicles in China will maintain this kind of high-speed growth (15 to 20 percent) for at least 10 years meaning that it won’t take long for China to become No1. God save the earth…

Via: CAAM

1.500 Pound Wrecking Ball Causes Chaos In Pennsylvania

Holly bowling! A wrecking ball used by a crane in Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania, suddenly broke loose from its chain and rolled downhill injuring three people and causing damages to a dozen or so cars in the process before coming to a stop slamming the rear end of a car waiting to cross an intersection!

Take in consideration that we’re talking about a massive wrecking ball that weighs in at about 1.500 pound or 680kg and measures 3-feet across. As you can see from the picture, the wrecking ball completely destroyed the rear end of the Ford Taurus which as the Police noted, was pushed by the ball about 20 feet before coming to a halt! Crazy, but at least no one got seriously injured.

Via: dailymail

Mayor in Chinese City Urges people to stop buying cars!

Τhat’s a new one. Xu Zongheng, mayor of Shenzhen, a metropolis of 10 million people just north of Hong Kong, has issued a request that residents in the city refrain from buying any more cars.The plea was issued as a result of the increasing traffic and pollution problems in this already congested city.

As a result of the 70% percent of air pollution that car exhaust fumes are accounted for, China is feeling pressured to create certain obstacles to deter people from purchasing vehicles such as increasing fuel costs and creating congestion charges. In Shanghai, new car owners were required to separately purchase license plates, which have recently sold for almost 48,000 yuan ($6300). With all these cars and all these people, aside from the pollution issue, I can’t help but wonder where do all these people park?

Posted by Dani

Via: theaustralian

Top Gear Stirs Trouble In Bostwana

The speed demons and risk addicts over at Top Gear are stirring up trouble again. This time, they are being accused of “leaving scars across the Makgadikgadi salt pans in Botswana, Africa. Conservationists claim that the tracks left by the vehicles could remain for decades. There is also worry that the Top Gear people are setting bad examples for others to follow suit and race all over prohibited conservation areas.

Apparently, this isn’t the first time Top Gear is being accused of ruining nature. In 2004, the programme took a 4x4 vehicle a mountain in Scotland, causing substantial ecological damage. And of course, let’s not forget the injured co-host Richard Hammond who crashed while driving a jet-powered car at speeds up to 300mph last September. Despite the hardcore fans of Top Gear, many audiences disagree with the violent driving nature they suggest and ask the program to “cool it.”

Posted by Dani

Via: bbc

Fiat 500: Italians Are Studying SUV And SW Derivatives

Fiat’s is determined to capitalize on the momentum by planning to introduce several derivatives of the recently introduced New 500. The Italian firm has already announced that it will unveil an Abarth performance version equipped with a 1.4-litre Turbo engine at the Tokyo Show in October and a convertible in 2008 (most probably in Geneva, March). Now, Fiat is considering whether it should plan a full-head attack by developing two more variants, an SUV/Crossover obviously based on the Panda 4x4 mechanics and a Station Wagon (pic above).

“By the end of the year, we expect to decide on the New 500 Station Wagon and SUV,” a Fiat executive told Automotive News Europe under condition of anonymity. From the looks of things, Fiat is pretty darn serious about it as they showed the Station Wagon version in a video during the New 500’s media introduction last week. In the clip, Fiat 500’s designer Roberto Giolito displayed the station wagon version, giving journalists a taste of what they should expect if plans go ahead. Sounds like Fiat Group’s CEO Sergio Marchionne has learned his lesson well from BMW’s MINI renaissance. Now if he could just find a way to get the 500 into the North American market...

Via: ANE

Shuanghuan Sceo: Chinese BMW X5 Copy-Cat Coming To Europe!

They just won’t let it go, will they? What if every Chinese car tested by Germany’s ADAC has miserably failed at the crash tests; who cares! Just keep bringing them in and at some point we’ll accept them. Following the Landwind SUV and the Brilliance BS6 Sedan, next up from China is the Shuanghuan Sceo SUV that will be distributed by a new French car dealer named “AZ Motors”. The latter announced that it has been appointed as distributor of the Chinese 4x4 in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

However, with the Sceo, safety isn’t the only thing Europeans should be worried about as you don’t need the imagination of J.K. Rowling to see that Shuanghuan’s SUV is inspired from the previous generation BMW X5 with a touch of Toyota Land Cruiser up front. We might find it hilarious, but we’re sure as hell that BMW execs aren’t finding this at all funny… -Continued: Click “Read More…” below

Via: Autoblog.nl , Source: Edmunds

Beijing peels off 1million cars of the road to test population effects

You know how they say if everyone in China jumped at the same time it would cause an earthquake? Well, with a population of 1.3 billion people, anything that everyone does in China will have some sort of affect on the rest of the world. The process has begun in Beijing where authorities are planning to conduct a trial period that consists of keeping one million cars off the road to test the effect on population.

One million of Beijing’s cars represent about 1/3 of the vehicles on the road in that city. The trial is going to last for two weeks, from August 7th-20th. This test is being conducted in plans for the upcoming 2008 Olympics in Beijing to see whether it’s worth limiting the amount of traffic on the road for the Olympic period. We’d agree this is a step into the right direction for China since, according to analysts, China could overtake the US this year as the worlds largest emitter of greenhouse gases.

Posted by Dani

Via: bbc

Confiscated Booze Used To Created Bio-Fuel In Sweden!

Ever wonder what the cops and customs agents do with all the confiscated drugs and alcohol? I always had a sneaking suspicion that they just using it for their own personal fun, but in Sweden, alcohol that is seized by customs officials are being turned in bio-gas. Customs spokesperson Ingrid Jerlebrink said that ”We used to just pour it down the drain, but because of the increased volumes we had to look around for new solutions.”

The transition process helps to fuel the country’s public transportation system. Last year 184 gallons or 700.000 litres (!) of confiscated booze was transferred into fuel for over 1,000 buses, Lorries and one bio-gas train. The process includes heating the alcohol and turning it into bio-gas. Its good to know the authorities aren’t having crazy booze fests back at the station and they’re using the loot for better causes.

Posted by Dani

Via: Sveriges Radio

Chrysler Seals Deal With Chinese Carmaker Chery

After several months of negotiations and in the midst of Chrysler Group’s divorce with the Daimler Group, Chrysler and Chery Automobile Co finalized their agreement today in Beijing to jointly develop, produce and distribute small and sub-compact cars.

Under the agreement, the Chery will manufacture the cars in China and the Chrysler Group will distribute them under the Jeep, Chrysler, and Dodge brands for North America, Europe and other major markets. Just before the boyz in white let the ink roll down the paper, Chrysler’s CEO Tom LaSorda said that the agreement with Chery will play a big role in the American car manufacture’s plan of doubling sales in the next three to five years. -Continued after the jump

According to LaSorda, exports of the Chinese made mini and sub-compact car will begin in Latin America and eastern Europe within 12 months while U.S. exports are expected to commence in mid-2009. However, the first model exported, a Dodge badged vehicle based on Chery's A-1 small car will not be exported to the U.S. or Europe.

Via: automotivenews

Japan Car Sales Plummet 10,5% In First Half, Lowest Level Since 1975

According to a report conducted by Bloomberg, Japan's regular vehicle sales fell in the first half of the year to their lowest point since 1975. Excluding minicars, the sales of trucks, buses and cars have fell 10.5% to 1.8 million in the first six months of 2007 from a year ago. What’s even more interesting is the fact that the report blames the continuing sales slump to Japans rapidly aging population and having the lowest birth rate in the world. It’s said that Japan’s work force will shrink as much as 33% by 2050 due to this factor that will most likely effect the production of the Japanese cars. Consequently, if we got it right, they had better start making some looove over at the “Land of the Rising Sun” or find new markets to sell their cars. Guess the second option sounds a lot much easier…

Posted by Dani

Via: Bloomberg

Alfa Romeo's Official Product Plan Reveals Details On Junior, 149 & GTA Models

Last Tuesday, during the 10th Morgan Stanley Automotive Conference in London, Alfa Romeo’s CEO Antonio Baravalle revealed official details and technical specifications on the Italian carmaker’s future portfolio. For those of you who have been “stalking” Carscoop for a while, you’ll probably remember that last year, in a similar gathering, Fiat Group unveiled the 2008–2010 product plans for all three makes of the Group (Alfa, Fiat & Lancia). In Alfa Romeo’s case, what’s new here is that we get details about the forthcoming Junior and 149 models.

So let’s see what Alfa Romeo has in store for us. Beginning from the Junior, Alfa’s “MINI killer will go on sale in the second quarter of 2008 with a starting price of €16.000.- $21.800. Based on the B-Segment Fiat Grande Punto,” the Junior will be available with a variety of engines, from an entry-level 95Hp unit (Fiat’s 1.4-liter 16v) to a 230Hp top-notch version wearing the GTA badge. All Juniors get a standard 6-speed gearbox with an automatic transmission being offered optionally. As you can seen on Alfa’s official sketches, the premium sport hatch’s design is inspired from the extravagant 8c Competizione. -Continued: Click “Read More…” below

Following the Junior, in the first quarter of 2009 Alfa Romeo will present the successor to its 147 C-Segment hatch that will most probably be called 149. Designed to compete against the likes of Audi’s A3 and BMW’s 1-Series hatch, the 4.3m long 149 will use an evolution of the Fiat Bravo platform featuring a multi-link rear suspension and Active Roll Control. In the engine department Alfa say’s that the 149 will be offered with several powetrains starting from a base 120Hp unit (Fiat’s 1.4-litre T-Jet) up to 265Hp (Alfa’s 3.2 V6) for the GTA version. Transmission options include a standard 6-speed gearbox and an automatic. Like the Junior (though less aggressive), the 149’s design takes several design cues from the 8c Competizione.

All well? Mmm, I’d definitely say no, because I nearly had a heart attack upon viewing the 149’s basic price tag: €28.000 or…$38.200! For the love of God Alfa, that’s BMW 3-Series territory! Even if you get everything right -which I seriously, seriously doubt judging from the Fiat Group’s latest product portfolio (…), who the hell will give €28.000 for a 120Hp 1.4-litre 149 when you can get a 160Hp Audi A3 1.8TFSI for much less? Tell me that was a typo mistake, please…

Crazy but anyway, before we close this post lets see the other two products that Alfa’s readying for 2009/2010. Alfa 169: think of it as something like a “poor-man” Maserati Quattroporte. The sporty 4-sedan will cost between €40.000 to 55.000 ($54k to 75k) but it remains unknown whether it will get a FWD, 4WD or RWD biased platform –yeah right… Second up the CXover, Alfa’s first ever SUV that will be available in the first quarter of 2010. Unlike the Junior, the CXover will be (?) priced logically at €28.000 to 45.000 ($38k to 61k).

Mercedes To Abandon Plans For Next-Generation A & B-Class?

According to a report from the German financial newspaper Wirtschafts Woche, Daimler-no-more-Chrylser has scrapped its plans to introduce a successor to the MPV-like A & B-Class hatches in 2011. Instead, Daimler boss Dieter Zetsche is said to have given the o.k for an all new sporty compact hatch in order to compete head on with the sportier Audi A3 and BMW 1-Series models. -Continued after the jump

Wirtschafts Woche notes that the new sporty hatch could also spawn a compact coupe as replacement for the somewhat larger, C-class based, Sportcoupé. Even though the German newspaper doesn’t say it, we’re guessing that, unlike the current FWD A and B-Class models, all three versions of Mercedes’ compact model (3d, 5d and coupe) will make use of a rear-wheel drive biased platform.

Via: Autoblog.nl , Source: Wirtschafts Woche

England Bans Smoking In Trucks...

English smokers get ready for a new ban as from July 1st, lighting a cigarette is prohibited in vehicles used for work, including lorries and vans, and there is no exemption for heavy goods vehicles with a sleeper cab. According to England’s Freight Transport Association, the ban is designed to protect shift and other workers who use the same vehicle from the health risks associated with second-hand smoke and provides consistency with other non-mobile work places.

What a democratic society; ok, I fully understand that non-smokers are totally justified to demand that they not have to deal the so-called “second hand smoking”, but isn’t this taking it a bit too far? I mean, what about the rights of people who do want to smoke? If a government or an organization believes that smoking is bad for everyone then in my humble opinion, politicians should ban the product, not the consumer...