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Automotive News reports GM sales chief Mark LaNeve sent a letter to dealers outlining the party’s plans to adjust its leasing strategy. GM’s letter follows a move last week on leases by Chrysler. While the company won’t be going down the same route, having their captive finance entity ditch leasing altogether, they’re expected to pinch the terms on certain vehicles to make leases more lavish, in an effort to raise buying more attractive. In LaNeve’s words, “current financial pressures will continue to affect our perspective forward leasing.” But how will it affect consumers’ perspectives on leasing?

Jalopnik Snap Judgment: How the loss of leasing business affects auto sales remains to be seen, but if automakers are getting clobbered on the residuals, taking a loss on each lease even-handed to bump the sales tally doesn’t secure much sense any one. The recent leasing changes may actually be an example of the forward thinking we attend to criticize our American automakers for not implementing often enough. If, at the same vacant time, they offer lower-interest financing and continue to provide cash-back incentives, it could force consumers into smaller new cars or purchasing used cars, seeing that the option of leasing other car than they could pervert with money will no longer subsist available. [Automotive News (Sub. Req.)]




The SR 392 roadster, built by Quality Metalcraft’s Michael Chetcuti and Chrysler’s Mark Allen and Ralph Gilles, will have being auctioned off in August at the the Russo & Steele car cant during the Monterey Historics. In case you’ve forgotten, the SR 392 concept made its debut in the Chrysler display at last year’s SEMA show and it’s named hinder the 392 6.4-liter Hemi crate machine below the hood. Since then, it’s traveled the country, winning show awards left and right. We only hope it finds an owner who treats this Hemi-powered hot rod right. Full press release after the jump.

Private Seller to Auction One-Off Chrysler Concept Roadster at Russo & Steele

A soothe black and chrome Detroit-style roadster, designed by the agency of Chrysler’s Mark Allen and featuring a 6.4 L Hemi crate engine, will be auctioned at the Russo & Steele car auction in Monterrey, California this August 14-16, 2008. The SR 392 Roadster has won several prestigious awards at Hot Rod shows throughout the country this year.

Detroit, MI (PRWEB) July 30, 2008 — An edgy, HEMI-powered, award-winning roadster from Chrysler’s 2007 Mopar SEMA exhibit exercise volition be up for bidding at the August 14-16 Russo and Steele Auction in Monterey, California.

The SR 392 Roadster, featured widely in 2008 issues of both Hot Rod and Street Rodder magazines, has won numerous prestigious awards. Most recently it was hand-selected by the widow of the late Boyd Coddington in spite of a Boyd Coddington’s Pro’s Pick Award at the Good Guys Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.

It also won a Chip Foose Design Excellence Award at the 2008 Grand National Roadster Show. “This hot rod is truly trend-setting. It’s design elements will subsist mirrored in hot rods and show vehicles for years to come,” Foose said.

For nearly two years, Chrysler’s Mark Allen and Ralph Gilles planned to build the SR 392 Roadster as a SEMA stunner with Michael Chetcuti of Livonia, Mich.-based auto supplier, Quality Metalcraft (QMC). Allen is chief designer, Jeep/Dodge Truck Studios - Chrysler LLC and Gilles is Vice President of Jeep/Truck & CFM Design - Chrysler LLC. Gilles and Allen are members of Chrysler’s Mopar Underground SEMA delineate team, a group of in-house automotive enthusiasts who donate their time to SEMA project vehicles.

Allen, Chetcuti and Gilles saw a challenge in proving that the 6.4-liter HEMI hamper engine could apply to a vehicle other than traditional muscle cars or modified upfits. The team’s idea was to redefine the classic impetuous wand with a more functional urban and industrial attitude to create a distinctly Detroit roadster.

Allen said, ”It was important to convey the car’s theme as an homage to Detroit - the cool Detroit through its unique artistic common, music and gritty vibe. We used abiding materials and let the mechanicals show to reflect the industrial backbone of the city. We wrapped it all up in a high-gloss black-and-chrome wrapper to evoke Detroit’s cool attitude.”

”The core meaning elements of this roadster celebrate to the grit and pertaining edge of our incorporated town,” said Chetcuti. ”Things like the mezzanine flooring detail and Eames-inspired seating - these take an industrial cue but are by no means ‘rat-rod.’ It is a refined and organized design throughout.”

Awards against the SR 392:

* Mothers Choice Award - Excellence in Automotive Design (SEMA, 2007)
* Hot Wheels Designer’s Choice Award (SEMA, 2007)
* Chip Foose Design Excellence Award (Grand National Roadster Show, 2008)
* AMBR Outstanding Class Award (Grand National Roadster Show, 2008)
* America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (Grand National Roadster Show, 2008)
* Altered T-Roadster Award - 1st Place (Detroit Autorama, 2008)
* Street Rodder Magazine: Driven Award (Detroit Autorama, 2008)
* International Show Car Association: Outstanding Engineered Award
(Detroit Autorama, 2008)
* Boyd Coddington’s Pro’s Pick Award (Good Guys Nationals, Columbus, OH, 2008)

Media Coverage:

* Detroit Auto Scene - December 31, 2007 & January 7, 2008
* Mopar Collector’s Guide - February, 2008
* Hot Rod - April, 2008
* Street Rodder - May, 2008
* Street Rodder - June, 2008

Shows:

* SEMA Show - Las Vegas, NV - October, 2007
* Grand National Roadster Show - Sacramento, CA - January, 2008
* Autorama - Detroit, MI - March, 2008
* LA Roadster Show - Pomona, CA - June, 2008

###




Just when everyone figured British Leyland was going to forego the British Isles to the hordes of low-priced imports pouring across the Channel, here comes the brand new Austin Metro! Good for 62 MPG (at a blistering 50 miles per hour) and bashed together by drunks with hammers built with pride not crooked at home, in that place was no doubt the Germans, Italians, Japanese, and French trembled with fear at the exhibition of the Metro.




  • Hyundai i10
  • Hyundai Getz
  • Hyundai Coupe
  • Hyundai Santa Fe
  • Hyundai Sonata
  • Hyundai Accent
  • The new Hyundai Coupe limited 4.4 metres in length, has four seats but this is only advisable for two occupants. The Hyundai Coupe was unlike the previous model in some detail aspect of the bodywork, interior and some elements of equipment. It is available with three petrol engines of 1.6 l (105 hp), 2.0 l (143 hp) and 2.7 l (165 hp), from 20,450 €.


    Hyundai Coupe

    The Hyundai Coupe costs € 2,500 more than the equivalent version in the previous range. This difference is partly due to the new model has no promotional discount (the discount earlier this era of € 1,500). To partially offset this difference, Hyundai offers one year of comprehensive insurance.


    Hyundai Coupe

    The Hyundai Coupe has certain qualities that are most interesting sport that his qualities as a car to travel.


    Hyundai Coupe

    For those who estimate justly that the reactions are rather quick can be a successful car in slow or rapidly roads. It responds well to indications of the steering wheel, balancing body is small, the shifter has a right touch and clutch seats on either body.

    Hyundai Coupe

    The driving position is actual correspondent for those who prefer to go near the road and with with reference to something else stretched their legs. A driving position that is not normally a three-door cars derived from one of five as the Astra GTC or the Citroen C4.

    Hyundai Coupe

    The Hyundai Coupe with stability control is easier to drive free from it, as well as safer. It is something that few drivers leave appreciate and others not, in any case, not a car where it is distinctly unyielding when notice is going to unbalance.

    Hyundai Coupe

    If leads connected control stability of this reaction does not pass unnoticed, but you can enjoy driving with the reassurance that supposed to have this item when absolutely needed. The operation of stability regulate is good as the car properly positioned in the avenue, as far as possible. Only if the ground is uneven or Bach, may enter into force earlier than necessary.

    Hyundai Coupe

    The 2.0 litre engine 143 hp gives a normal resolution from the standpoint of acceleration. You can move quickly to Hyundai Coupe, although it is well to be used frequently changing gears.

    Hyundai Coupe

    There is a big difference between how the engine to 4,000 rpm and from that regime. It is difficult by reason of a gasoline implement atmospheric (such as the one through Hyundai Coupe) surprised by his strength and response to the accelerator taking into account the movement of the new gasoline engines supercharged vulgar cylinder dimensions.

    Hyundai Coupe

    Both versions have a four-cylinder five-speed manual shift. The two are a part pointed of final development, clearly passing of rated highest in the top gear. The V6 has a six-speed manual shift, with a sixth adjusted to achieve maximum speed at maximum power regime.

    Hyundai Coupe

    The Hyundai Coupe with a 2.0 l engine is not a quiet car. From the inside it feels the uproar of the engine while going at a high regime, noise and aerodynamic rolling.

    Hyundai Coupe

    The Hyundai Coupe bodywork is comfortable for pair occupants and its trunk is functional because it is large enough (312 l), has a usable form, the burden conducive to fixing rings, hooks for hanging bags and a good upholstery below which is the spare wheel ( emergency). The foster seats are no more profitable than those of an Audi TT: Although the rubbish and space for the legs may be sufficient, height is totally defective, exclude for children.

    Hyundai Coupe

    It has the disadvantage that want plenty of room to rotate; thing to do at least one more maneuver to park in places with complicated than most cars of a resembling length. But to be a coupe body, the visibility unfeigned enough in almost all directions.

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  • Hyundai Review
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  • Hyundai i10
  • Hyundai Getz
  • Hyundai Coupe
  • Hyundai Santa Fe
  • Hyundai Sonata
  • Hyundai Accent
  • The Hyundai i10 is a new model that replaces the Hyundai Atos. It has 3.57 m long and five-door body. Mechanically shares more elements with the KIA Picanto. At the time of the launch is available with a petrol engine 1.1 l and 67 HP, with manual or automatic.


    Hyundai i10

    In June range a version with 75 hp diesel engine and in October will have a new gasoline means with 1.2 litre engine capacity and 75 hp. Since late 2009 in that place will be versions’ Hyundai i10 iBlue ‘, which require certain steps to ensure that their consumption is more content.


    Hyundai i10

    The Hyundai i10 is available for € 8,700 with equipment “Comfort” and with equipment for 10,700 € ‘Style’. The ‘Style’ is more expensive since it has serial, among other things, air conditioning (it costs 1,000 € in ‘Comfort’), sunroof, power mirrors, fog lights and alloy wheels.


    Hyundai i10

    The Hyundai i10 is not the utility body with five doors cheaper than there are for sale. There are cheaper but-end less equipped, as some versions of the Fiat Panda or the Toyota Aygo. If these are added equipment that has the Hyundai i10, the price wrangle is no longer important. All Hyundai i10 have power steering, foreign control, four airbags, radio with CD player and an assistant for connecting outer players sound.

    Hyundai i10

    However, as usually happens in these types of vehicles, the price difference is unintelligent with respect to larger cars. For example, the Hyundai Getz 3p cheaper costs 8,300 € 500 more bodywork with five doors.

    Hyundai i10

    In other words, to equal number of doors and drive, a Getz is only 100 € more expensive than a Hyundai i10. However, despite this small difference in price, the Hyundai i10 can be more attractive for city because occupies less space than a Getz, spends less and is spacious enough for four people. All prices named in this article include the current promotional allowance.

    Hyundai i10

    The Hyundai i10 with 1.1 litre gasoline engine has a low extinction (5.0 litres/100 km) and for that reason is excuse from registration tax. That a Hyundai i10 cost almost the same as a Getz when one pays car make demands upon and other non-means-at least in this case, that Hyundai has taken advantage of this tax advantage to increase their profit margin, not to venture a price in a less degree than the buyer.

    Hyundai i10

    The Hyundai i10 is a car too proud for the Hyundai Atos, the model it replaces: it is better done, responds better road and is broader because it has much wider bodywork. The Hyundai i10 is approved in the place of five people: the KIA Picanto, the Citroen C1, the Toyota Aygo, the Peugeot 107, Renault Twingo and C2 are four-seater cars. The Panda can have five seats as an option.

    Hyundai i10

    In the city Hyundai i10 moves well betwixt the exchange because it needs little space to turn and the engine response is good.

    Hyundai i10

    The carrier has sufficiency slots to deposit objects, visibility is unsullied and the appearance of plastics is that one expects a utility of this kind. Everything is OK whether the goal is to move around town.

    Hyundai i10

    The diesel engine that may wish later is a three-cylinder turbocharged 1.1-litre engine capacity and 75 hp. With this diesel engine has an average phthisis of 4.3 litres/100 km, which is a legitimate shape for a diesel utility of this size.

    Hyundai i10

    Later in that place will be a version “iBlue” based attached the Hyundai i10 with diesel engine. The “iBlue” take certain steps to glower consumption of 4.3 litres/100 km spends the normal version to about 3.7 litres/100 km (or about 95 g / km of carbon dioxide).

    Hyundai i10

    There will also be Hyundai i10 iBlue CNG with a 0.8 litre engine is ready to consume natural gas. It will hold an output of well-nigh 95 hp and Hyundai estimated emissions of 65 g / km CO 2).

    Hyundai i10

    The Hyundai i10 measuring 3,565 mm in length and 1,595 mm in width, the wheelbase is 2,380 mm. With regard to Hyundai Atos, is equal in length and 70 mm wider. The Picanto is 70 mm shorter and has a wheelbase 10 mm lower.

    Hyundai i10

    The suspension of Hyundai i10 is similar to that of the Picanto. In front is independent of prototype McPherson and carries an arm pulled remote with transverse axis of torque.

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  • Hyundai Review
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  • Hyundai i10
  • Hyundai Getz
  • Hyundai Coupe
  • Hyundai Santa Fe
  • Hyundai Sonata
  • Hyundai Accent
  • Hyundai put up for sale since 2005 a Hyundai Getz with changes in appearance, engines and equipment.


    Hyundai Getz

    The change affects the appearance of bumpers, grille and headlamps Central, that are now ovoid design and intermittent on the inside; fog are also newly designed. In the rear bumper and changed the pilots. It also has new alloy wheels and hubcaps.


    Hyundai Getz

    The new Hyundai Getz bumpers have produced an increase of 15 mm in duration of the new Hyundai Getz, now measures 3,825 mm long, 1,655 wide and 1,495 high. The wheelbase (2,455 mm) remains unchanged.


    Hyundai Getz

    There are two new four-cylinder engines, which already compass the newly come KIA Rio: a 1.4 litre of petrol from 96 hp (which replaces the 1.3 litre 84) and 1.5 l diesel with 109 hp.

    Hyundai Getz

    The new Hyundai Getz diesel engine is the same bearing the Matrix, but with a slightly higher power MaxMara. It has show injection and changeable turbocharger. The range of petrol engines remain the 63 hp 1.1 litre and 1.6 litre 106.

    Hyundai Getz

    The Hyundai Getz interior of the new Hyundai Getz presents no major changes, just of the present day upholstery and other decorative details. It may take a few packages that include coatings color, red or blue, in the central part of the seats, means panels at the top of the steering wheel and in the clasp of change.

    Hyundai Getz

    The Hyundai Getz dashboard has a slight vary: the location of the switches of the mist lamps is occupied through a digital clock and the birch of intermittent emergency.

    Hyundai Getz

    The Hyundai Getz standard equipment consists of dual front airbags, anti-lock brakes, folding rear seat, power locks, power lifting front, height-adjustable steering wheel and prerogative steering. According versions can obtain stability control, obverse side airbags, breeze conditioning or radio CD with controls on the steering wheel control.

    Hyundai Getz

    The Hyundai Getz, available with bodywork of three five-door, is located between Atos and Accent. It is an economical alternative to other models as Citroen C3, Ford Fiesta, Opel Corsa or Peugeot 206. For size and price, the Chevrolet Aveo is the closest thing to Hyundai Getz that can be found on the market.

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  • Volkswagen overtakes Ford in global sales
    Ford and Volkswagen have been traveling in different directions of late, with VW posting record earnings while Ford is loss cash by the billions. VW’s momentum doesn’t stop with cold, hard ready money, either. The German automaker’s first moiety year sales rose 7.2% to 3.31m, while Ford posted a free-fall of 11% to 3.09m. That gives team Fahrvergnugen a lead of 220,000 units in the first half of the year — a very sizable margin. Part of the reason VW has been quick to pass Ford is that the German automaker doesn’t rely heavily in continuance US sales, while the country of opportunity is Ford’s largest place of traffic. VW also has a larger stake in the quickly expanding Chinese market, where Ford is still ramping up in the land of the Great Wall. Since the Blue Oval depends on the US for much of its sales, the second half of the year isn’t looking much batter than the foremost half. Even through gas prices starting to retreat, analysts predict sales will continue to underwhelm for the duration of 2008.

    [Source: Free Press]

    Tag: Ford, Volkswagen, Earnings Financials

    Build Me! Portugal's LusoMotors GT looking for manufacturerOf all the European countries with established automotive industries, Portugal might not spring to mind primary. But that’s something that designer Ernesto Freitas is trying to overcome. His copartnership LusoMotors has been rearward such projects as the LM23 track car, Voisin revival concept and Ferrari Dino mock-up. Although none of them – to our information, at least – has really gotten off the ground, Freitas is at it again with a new concept that could yet see the light of day.

    Targeted at the track-day-crazy UK market, the LM GT is a concept conceived in three bodystyles: a shooting brake, an open-top pad, and a windowless speedster (all viewable in our gallery below). Freitas is looking in quest of partners to build the car, including small tub car manufacturers. An alternative approach could diocese the LM GT sitting on an original chassis with BMW running gear. The Bavarian mechanicals should make some sense if you think the elevate end of the shooting fern variant reminds you of the previous-generation BMW Z3 coupe with its breadvan-style arch. The project seems intriguing, and we’ll be watching to see if it materializes. In the meantime, check out the computer renderings in the gallery below.

    [Source: LusoMotors via Car Body Design]

    Tag: Concept Cars, Sports GTs, Euro

    Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder wins for Most Toxic New Car SmellThat envious “modern car” smell, the unique track that makes all of your friends jealous as they check out your new ride, is actually quite toxic. The potent brew of freshly released bromine, chlorine, guide, and other heavy metals are accountable according to a variety of acute and long-term health concerns that adults, and especially children, should be concerned about. That being the case, the Ecology Center has released its annual consumer guide to the most toxic (and cleanest) new cars on the market. Taking the tallest podium as the worst offender is the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spider GT. Following in back is the Suzuki Reno, during the time that the BMW 128i Convertible lands third. The least hateful new vehicle, as researched by the Center, is the Acura RDX SH-AWD. The Smart Pure Coupe and Chevrolet HHR LT take second and third cleanest, respectively. While the Ecology Center is quick to point out that the offenders aren’t as immoral as last year’s group, they offer little information for the reason that to by what mode consumers can limit their exposure… short of not buying a new car.

    [Source: HealthyCar via The Car Connection]

    Tag: Car Buying, Green, Safety

    Nissan offering buyouts to Tennessee workersFollowing up Nissan’s foremost set of U.S. buyout packages offered a year ago, employees at both the Smyrna and Decherd powertrain plants in Tennessee will be offered a lump sum payout along with medical and car purchase benefits to leave. Last year, the buyouts attracted 775 workers, though the payout at that time was just $45k plus an additional $500 towards each year of labor. This time, the lump sum starts at a heady $100k. Not surprisingly, Nissan is expecting more people to take the package this year than last. In fact, Nissan spokesman Fred Standish says that “place of traffic realities” mean that the Japanese automaker of necessity to shed some 1,200 surplus employees. The packages are open for a three-year window, with the greatest add together being offered for workers who accept the packages this year. The Smyrna plant assembles the Frontier pickup, Altima, Xterra, Maxima and Pathfinder. Our bet is that the sedans will be constant production as normal with the trucks and SUVs accounting by reason of the lowered head count.

    [Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

    Tag: Sedans Saloons, SUVs, Trucks Pickups, Hirings Firings Layoffs, Nissan