MINI Design Director wants a production Rocketman

It has been some time since we have heard anything about the MINI Rocketman, but the company's design director has revealed a production version is on his "Christmas list."

Inside Line's Anders Warming said the Rocket is "a clear leap forwards" and embodies "the true heritage of the MINI brand." He declined to confirm rumours a production model wouls be launched in 2014 but, stated any future MINI's would have "authentic movements" and a "relevant bandwidth for the brand".

Source Worldcarfans.com

How Germany Builds Twice as Many Cars as the U.S. While Paying Its Workers Twice as Much

In 2010, Germany produced more than 5.5 million automobiles; the U.S produced 2.7 million. At the same time, the average auto worker in Germany made $67.14 per hour in salary in benefits; the average one in the U.S. made $33.77 per hour. Yet Germany’s big three car companies—BMW, Daimler (Mercedes-Benz), and Volkswagen—are very profitable.

How can that be? The question is explored in a new article from Remapping Debate, a public policy e-journal. Its author, Kevin C. Brown, writes that “the salient difference is that, in Germany, the automakers operate within an environment that precludes a race to the bottom; in the U.S., they operate within an environment that encourages such a race.”

There are “two overlapping sets of institutions” in Germany that guarantee high wages and good working conditions for autoworkers. The first is IG Metall, the country’s equivalent of the United Automobile Workers. Virtually all Germany’s car workers are members, and though they have the right to strike, they “hardly use it, because there is an elaborate system of conflict resolution that regularly is used to come to some sort of compromise that is acceptable to all parties,” according to Horst Mund, an IG Metall executive. The second institution is the German constitution, which allows for “works councils” in every factory, where management and employees work together on matters like shop floor conditions and work life. Mund says this guarantees cooperation, “where you don’t always wear your management pin or your union pin.”

Mund points out that this goes

"against all mainstream wisdom of the neo-liberals. We have strong unions, we have strong social security systems, we have high wages. So, if I believed what the neo-liberals are arguing, we would have to be bankrupt, but apparently this is not the case. Despite high wages . . . despite our possibility to influence companies, the economy is working well in Germany".

As Michael Maibach, president and chief executive of the European American Business Council, puts it, union-management relations in the U.S. are “adversarial,” whereas in Germany they’re “collaborative.”

Does such a happy relationship survive when German automakers set up shop in the U.S.? No. As a historian observes in the article,  “BMW is a German company and it has a very German hierarchy and management system in Germany,” yet “when they are operating in Spartanburg [in South Carolina] they have become very, very easily adaptable to Spartanburg business culture.” At Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant, the nonunionized new employees get $14.50 an hour, which rises to $19.50 after three years.

The article’s author, Kevin C. Brown, asked Claude Barfield, a scholar with the American Enterprise Institute, why the German car companies behave so differently in the U.S. He answered, “Because they can get away with it so far.”

Source Forbes.com

'Joe Schmo to Lambo'

Guess the ending: small-town truck driver wins a Lamborghini Murcielago in a competition and... If you said "he crashed it on the same day" you'd be right.

David Dopp from Santaquin, Utah won the Lambo - an LP640 roadster - after entering a 'Joe Schmo to Lambo' competition held by a local supermarket. Six hours later he'd spun it into field, crunching the carbon fibre body in several places.

Poor old Dopp told news channel KSL, "We were coming up a hill, going around a corner; and as soon as we came up the hill, we either hit some black ice or loose gravel or something, and all of a sudden we just started spinning."

He told reporters he'd picked up on a Saturday and spent the day giving rides to friends and family. But sooner or later you could just guess that 640hp was going to catch him out, even with the safety net of ESC and four-wheel drive.

"We ended up in a field, and I back-ended a couple of fence posts," he said. No word on what he plans to do with it now, but after a paying off the ruinous carbon fibre repair bill, we reckon you'll see this Verde Ithaca coloured beauty in the classifieds a few months from now.

Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo running for Italian presidency

Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo has reportedly announced his intentions to run for the Italian presidency in 2013.

In a letter published to Italia Futura, di Montezemolo called 2011 one of the "most difficult years since the war" and blamed a "paralysis of decision making" for holding the country "hostage".

As part of his campaign, di Montezemolo aims to create jobs, reform welfare, and refocus the tax burden on wealthy individuals. He also intends to cut government waste and eliminate corruption.

It remains unclear if di Montezemolo will resign from his position at Ferrari but we should learn more over the next few month. 

Audi A4 Allroad

Check out what arrived at the office today!!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/68318403@N08/sets/72157628510424433/

More Lexus LF-Lc concept car (2012) details leaked early

A concept depicting what a future Lexus SC could look like has leaked early. The new Lexus LF-Lc will be shown at the 2012 Detroit auto show in January.

Road & Track magazine in the US is being blamed for the leak, which has provided this low-res image of the LF-Lc.

It shows a sporting targa coupe and officials openly refer to it as a design study in the mould of the rare SC convertible, a kind of Merc SL from Japan.

 

Lexus LF-Lc: the lowdown

Pay attention to the styling of the LF-Lc. Lexus types admit it is exploring a fresh design expression for the company; although it persists with the L-Finesse design language, this shows a modest progression.

The spindle grille, in particular, is said to be influential - taking the new-look snout from the GS and giving it a fresh twist. It fronts up a massively elongated bonnet, with cartoonish proportions.

Another hybrid Lexus

Naturally, that long, long bonnet houses a hybrid powertrain. No word yet on its specification.

Will Lexus build this targa-top sports car? They must be feeling buoyed by the reception for its LF-A supercar, but we suspect the LF-Lc won't be at the top of their priority list.

Range Rover Evoque on fire in Dubai

Caught on video burning by the side of the motorway in Dubai just days ago.

Details of the event are unknown but the diesel engined vehicle had Abu Dhabi licence plates on it.

Whether it spontaneously combusted or was inadvertantly caused, we hope for Land Rover's sake this is an isolated incident.

Audi A1 Quattro officially unveiled

Available exclusively in Glacier White metallic, the special edition is distinguished by an aggressive front fascia, gloss black accents and unique alloy wheels. There's also a dual exhaust system, LED tail lights and a prominent rear spoiler.

The cabin is luxuriously appointed with Silk Nappa leather sport seats, gloss black trim and stainless steel pedals. Other highlights include a flat-bottom steering wheel, an aluminum gear knob and a revised instrument cluster. There's also LED ambient lighting, MMI navigation plus and a Bose audio system.

Motivation comes from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 256 PS (188kw/252hp) and 350 Nm (258 ld-ft) of torque. It is connected to six-speed manual transmission which sends power to an all wheel drive system. This enables the car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and hit a top speed of 245 km/h (152 mph)

The A1 Quattro will be launched in the second half of 2012 and production will be limited to 333 units.

Biofuel timebomb

Increased biofuel content for forecourt petrol could spell trouble if you run an older car

Owners of some older favourites will need to be on the look-out for changes at petrol pumps next year as fuels with a greater mix of bio renewables will start to become available which could harm older engines.

Under current legislation petrol can contain up to five per cent biofuel without the pump having to mention the percentage or warn the driver. This is because the mix is so low it's not thought to have a detrimental effect on the engine. Legislation is currently in place to guarantee the mix will be five per cent by April 2013 and almost all fuel already contains a small bio element.
Over the five per cent level and the pump must, by law, be labelled "Not suitable for all vehicles: consult vehicle manufacturer before use."

However, due to Europe's Renewable Energy Directive (RED) higher percentages of biofuel are on their way to the UK. RED requires members of the European Union to ensure that 10 per cent of energy used in road transport is from a renewable source by 2020. Interestingly, to reach a 10 per cent renewable energy figure, a 15 per cent mix of biofuel is required.
While this deadline is some way off, fuel companies are planning to introduce petrol with a 10 per cent bio-mix, known as E10, to the UK next year. BP is expected to be one of the first to offer the higher percentage biofuel.

To marry-up with the changes, the Department for Transport is currently considering downgrading the wording on biofuels so that only that with a greater than 10 per cent mix will have to be labelled with the words "This fuel contains more than 10 per cent biofuel."
A BP insider has likened the change to what happened when we swapped from leaded fuel to unleaded. And the reason only newer cars can run on E10 is because the higher ethanol content from has a corrosive effect on the seals and some alloy components in the fuel system. Modern engines have been built to withstand this.

While many brands, BMW among them, have declared their entire petrol engine ranges fine for E10 there are some exceptions, including 993 (and earlier) Porsche 911s. First generation FSI engines used in VW, Audi, SEAT and Skodas typically between 2000 and 2006 are not E10 compatible but all the group's current petrol engines are.
Drivers of older cars that won't take the E10 biofuel will have to seek out regular fuel, which is expected to become less common over time.

2012 Volkswagen Touareg

The Volkswagen Touareg is the German automaker's mid-size utility vehicle, and while it was known up until last year for its extraordinarily stout construction, it last year traded in some of its rugged, off-road image for more of a focus on suburban families.

While the Touareg name is inspired by that of a nomadic people inhabiting North Africa, it last year received a redesign that shrugged off some of the brawny, trek-worthy look, adding more carlike details and a softer appearance overall. The grille and front end are now more like those in VW's passenger-car lineup, and a slightly wider body enforces that impression. Functionally, a slight increase in wheelbase and length helped boost interior space a bit, although the interior layout remains much the same--with a high seating position, a more upright orientation than most crossovers, and a high, wide center console.

The most important part about last year's redesign is that VW made it lighter overall, and better-detailed inside. It engineered about 450 pounds of weight loss, making it 20 percent more fuel-efficient than the former version.

There are three different powertrains offered in the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg--all with eight-speed automatic transmissions and full-time all-wheel drive. Base versions get a conventional gasoline V-6--a 3.6-liter, 280-horsepower narrow-angle V-6 (VR6)--while two other versions show the way toward both more power and better gas mileage, albeit at a premium. Our favorite of the lineup is a clean-diesel 3.0-liter V-6 TDI that makes 225 horsepower but churns out enough torque (406 pound-feet) for confident towing or highway cruising, while a Hybrid model combines a supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 with an electric motor system, sandwiched between the engine and transmission, for a combined 380 horsepower--and an EPA rating of 20 mpg in city driving. The Hybrid system also gives a better boost than most on the highway, with its system able to smartly disengage the engine and motor for long high-speed coasting. Ride quality is quite good, but overall, the Touareg still feels a little more deliberate than some other crossovers this size; that said, towing capacity is excellent, up to 7,700 pounds.

The 2012 Touareg has an interior arrangement that will feel familiar to anyone who's cross-shopped crossover vehicles--although it's a little higher and more upright than most, and it accommodates five passengers, with no third row available. Front seats are excellent, though--more luxury-class than value-class--and the adult-sized rear bench can travel more than six inches fore and aft. In all, you can very comfortably fit four for a long trip. Cargo space is quite good, and a power-folding arrangement can easily reposition to a fully flat cargo floor.

The Touareg's interior keeps with its price range, which is in base form almost priced with other luxury-brand vehicles. While it's in synch with other VW models with respect to design, it's appointed with nicely finished materials that share more in common with Audi and look and feel premium compared to what's used in entry Jettas and Passats.

Feature-wise, the Touareg has it all covered for families who want a luxury-vehicle ambiance. Leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, and memory seats are all included in the base Sport model. Executive and Hybrid models add premium audio, rear-obstacle detection, a heated steering wheel, keyless entry and starting, and heated rear seats. Options include an impressive 620-watt Dynaudio premium sound system, and a navigation system with upgraded display and built-in music storage. What the Touareg is missing are the sophisticated high-tech conveniences of the luxury-brand models from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Lexus that it's priced against at its upper end. You won't find adaptive cruise control, active-safety features, and more sophisticated infotainment interfaces. Some models do gain park distance control for 2012

MINI MISSES 2012 WRC DEADLINE

The Mini rally team - run by Banbury-based Prodrive - has missed the deadline to sign up for the 2012 World Rally Championship, which closed last night.

According to Autosport, officials from Prodrive are in (presumably deeply embarrassing) talks with BMW HQ in Germany and the FIA in order to get the deadline extended.

This is a deeply awkward moment for the fledgling WRC team, which is aiming for a full-on assault on the WRC after participating in selected championship events this year as part of a development programme.

Most awkward of all is the fact that the first round of the 2012 championship is the Monte Carlo rally - the scene of some famous victories for Mini in the 1960s and an event that the team, and BMW, are evidently keen not to miss.

"We have made two podiums already in the development year, we can't fail but to be very happy with what we are achieving," a Mini source told Autosport. "There are a few things to talk about and time has beaten us on the deadline, but the cars will be in Monte Carlo - we couldn't miss the Mini's return to that rally."

INFINITI MOVES MORE PRODUCTION OUT OF JAPAN

Global ambitions and a strong Yen push Infiniti production out of Japan.

Infiniti is to move more of its production out of Japan, as it fights the profit-devouring strength of the yen on its export products - and increases its global ambitions.

Nissan's upmarket arm, which will build its JX crossover in the US from February next year, is planning to move more and more production from Japan to Europe and China. This is particularly important, reckons Infiniti, for upcoming cars such as the compact hatch based on the Etherea concept, which will share much of its technology with the next Mercedes A-Class - and which is crucial for the firm's European expansion.

The move out of Japan coincides with a far-reaching tech-sharing venture with Mercedes, which will include the sharing of hybrid and diesel tech, and even Mercedes input on the next G-series saloon platform.

And the ultimate aim of all this? To move Infiniti from a company that makes 150,000 vehicles a year to one that makes 500,000. By 2017.

In UK terms that means going from selling 500 cars via six dealers, to selling 20,000 from 40. A tough target, sure, but you can't fault Nissan's ambition...

A New Chapter powered by M - Step 2

"This is a new kind of car," says Brian Watts, the BMW M division's head of marketing. "On every road, you feel like you're on a race track. It deserves the M badge."

This is a pretty brave thing to say about the X6 M, from a purist's point of view, but when we tell you that this is expected to be a teaser for a new diesel version of the M-badged X6, you might find it even more upsetting.
But then again there is a possibility that a 381hp, tri-turbo 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel powerplant might be more than a little appealing. Especially with 546lb ft of torque.
It's called (we think) the X6 M50d. And it's certainly going to prove controversial. Whether it'll prove to be good, well, that's something we can't call just yet...

A new chapter Powered by M - Step 1

BMW is adding to the already feverish speculation about the possibility of a diesel-powered M car with this teaser-tastic video clip of an X6 M - but is it really an oil-burner?

BMW isn't saying a dickie-bird, other than the fact that this is 'a new chapter powered by M'. So it might be something else entirely.

Any hint of what might be under the bonnet is artfully blurred out in the video, but smart money is going on the fact that BMW is preparing the ground for an M-tweaked version of the X6 with its new tri-turbo diesel installed.

And that is surely going to prove controversial. After all, talk of an M-tweaked diesel 5-series has been tough enough for some to swallow. But an X6 diesel M? It's hard to think of anything more at odds with the original motorsport-driven philosophy of Munich's M division...

Volvo V40 to take on A3, 1 Series

The S60 and V60 showed that Volvo is putting some real effort into creating cars that are sexier and more dynamic and now the Swedish carmaker is focusing its efforts on the compact premium segment.

Beneath the cover in this official teaser image is Volvo's all-new V40, and though the sheet will only come off to reveal all at the Geneva Motor Show next March, we can see its basic shape and bold, S60-like grille.

Said to be replacing the C30, S40 and V50, the V40 wagon-hatch will have to be a lot of things to a lot of people but its upright shape should make for a practical interior.

It's expected to compete head-on with the BMW 1-Series, Audi A3 and Lexus CT 200h.

No official word on the engine options as yet, but it will almost certainly pack in Volvo's latest range of downsized petrol and diesel engines as seen in the S60 and V60, and perhaps a smaller engine or two as well.

Audi's plan to replace its mid-engined R8 supercar

Car Magazine has announced Audi is gearing up to replace the R8 supercar in spring 2014 and the next R8 tipped to follow an evolutionary look, as depicted in our new artist's impression.

But it's not the first change to the R8. Later in 2012, Audi will give the R8 a mild facelift and tech update. It will be fitted with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission instead of the sequential six-speeder, the improved MMI hard- and software we know from the latest A6, the power output of the V10 increases from 525bhp to 540bhp, and at the end of 2012 the limited-edition electric RSe will satisfy those Prius owners who crave a bit more zero-emission grunt.

Audi R8: the new 2014 Audi supercar

In early 2014, Audi will replace the R8 and the second-generation German supercar pursues an evolutionary styling theme. According to the Ingolstadt grapevine, the sideblades and the manual transmission disappear, the packaging is a little more generous here and there, and the MMI system switches to a single multi-functional colour monitor positioned between speedometer and rev counter.

Plenty of new tech will be sprinkled on the new R8. A head-up display will be available as an option and the redesigned lights are variable-intensity LED units.

Carbon and aluminium for the next 2014 R8

The current 100% aluminium-based ASF structure gives way to a multi-material mix on the new R8, introducing carbonfibre for the rear firewall, the transmission tunnel and the B-posts that double-act as rollover protection elements.

This approach makes the body in white 24 kilos lighter and 13% stiffer, CAR understands. The total kerbweight is expected to tumble by a stout 100kg.

Engines in the new Audi R8

While the base model remains loyal to the naturally aspirated V8 good for 450bhp, the power output of the V10 version goes up to 550bhp. Mid-term, the relatively thirsty if charismatic ten-cylinder may give way to a turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 good for 600bhp; the latter is the same engine you'll find in the Audi S8 and, soon, the Bentley Continental GT.

One year after the R8 coupe, the new R8 Spyder should be ready to charm the in-crowd with a launch in 2015.

The new R8, and its Lamborghini twin, the Gallardo replacement coming in 2013, will both stick with the MSS (modular sports car system) architecture masterminded by Audi. But the generation after that will be part of MSB-M (modular rear-wheel drive maxtrix, mid-engined variant) conceived by Porsche.

Hyundai reveals i-oniq concept teaser

Hyundai has hinted at its future design direction with this single teaser shot of its ‘i-oniq’ concept car. Further details will be revealed in the run-up to next March's 2012 Geneva show, but judging by this glimpse, the concept will take the form of a large coupe with a hatchback tail. It stops short of the full shooting-brake silhouette, but there’s a hint of Brera in the curvature of its rear end.


‘Two strong arched curves define the silhouette of i-oniq, creating a playful contrast between the sharp character lines and soft but muscular features’ says Thomas Bürkle, Hyundai’s European Chief Designer.


Is Hyundai gunning for the premium coupe sector, then?


We can’t say – details are pretty sparse at the moment – but there might be room in the Hyundai family for a value coupe that slots into the range above the Scirocco-sized Veloster.


Conceived at the Korean firm’s European R&D centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany, the concept is an evolution of Hyundai’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ design language. That means following the form of Hyundai’s rakish Mondeo-sized rival, the i40.

Alfa Romeo Giulia (2014) - the latest on new 159

Alfa Romeo will replace the ageing 159 with the new Giulia - but not until 2014. Our artist's impressions reveal how the Alfa Romeo Giulia should look, in saloon and estate bodystyles.

Again offered as saloon and five-door Sportwagon, the Giulia will be derived from the Fiat-Chrysler CUSW platform (C-segment, US compatible, Wide) which underpins about a dozen different upcoming Fiat Chrysler models, including the Dodge Dart unveiled this week.

Alfa Romeo Giulia: based on CUSW

CUSW is a flexible front-wheel drive, AWD-capable modular components set which can trigger a wide variety of products from a compact two-seater coupé to a near full-size seven-seater crossover.

It is not yet clear whether the proposed CUV will be marketed as part of the Giulia family, or as individual model which may yet be named Kamal.

So the Giulia is Alfa's next life saver?

Never mind the numbers. Sergio Marchionne, master of ceremony at Fiat Chrysler (make that Chrysler Fiat) adjusts them as he moves along the steep and winding road to promised prosperity.

For 2011, Alfa Romeo had to scale back its sales forecast from you-don't-want-to-know to, at best, 160,000 units. Despite this correction, its grande capo kept predicting 500,000 Alfa sales for 2014 - until September when the very loyal Harald Wester, senior brand manager for Alfa Romeo and Maserati as well as leading R&D person for the group, felt compelled to lower the target by 100,000 cars to 400,000 units. It's still a massive 150% increase over the 2011 result.

Alfa Romeo: what else can we expect?

To reach this goal, the Italians leave no stone unturned to prepare seven new models and four brand-new car lines. Acknowledging the fact that Alfa Romeo does not yet quite see eye to eye with the German premium brands in most areas that matter bar design and emotion, the Italo-Canadian promoter of blue turtleneck sweaters has selected North America as the starting point for The Great Alfa Romeo Revival Tour.

Why? Because this move gives the brand a little more time to get the hardware and quality issues sorted before it challenges Audi, BMW and Mercedes on their home turf. Until Alfa is fully competitive, the pricing for the new products will be quite aggressive, and at the same time the strategists are preparing a comprehensive peace-of-mind warranty.

Lexus to unveil new concept at Detroit 2012

Lexus has released this teaser shot of a new concept, set to be unveiled at next month’s Detroit auto show. Although only a glimpse, this concept is clearly a sports car in shape - begging the question as to whether Lexus is developing a 911 rival, or at least dipping its toes into premium sports car water to gauge public reaction.

What’s the significance of this new Lexus concept?

Penned by Calty, the company’s Californian design studio, the concept ‘showcases the new design direction embraced by Lexus’. That means continuing to move away from sedate, Saga-friendly styling to embrace sharper, edgier detailing with more overt visual tension.

Lexus told CAR its new design direction is an evolution, rather than a reinvention of its current language, dubbed ‘L-Finesse’ - and we can expect to see similar front-end treatments on future cars. That means deep, sculpted air intakes and spindle-shaped grilles that shout ‘out of my way’ in a way that the blandly polite Lexus of old didn’t.

L-Finesse was ushered in during the mid-noughties to inject more identity and character into the Lexus brand, and recent concepts like the LF-Gh, unveiled earlier this year in New York, have kept on-brief with strikingly aggressive front-end treatments, as has the production LFA supercar.

So does this mean there’s a junior LFA or a new Supra on the way?

Or perhaps a more upmarket version of the GT-86 with a Lexus badge? All speculation at this stage - it’s officially just a concept and Lexus remains tight-lipped. Interestingly, insiders have hinted to CAR that there’s a rear-drive sports car in development. That could fill the void left by the be-winged twin-turbo Supra of the mid-nineties and take the fight to Nissan’s mighty GT-R - at a less eye-watering price than the £350k LFA. 

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