Monday, 30 June 2008

Thursday, 26 June 2008

Tata to create 700 jobs in the UK

Indian car maker, Tata recently announced a £ 700 million investment plan with the creation of 600 jobs at Jaguar Land Rover. It is also launching a new programme to recruit new graduate engineers in September. That's great news for the Midlands.

I have no idea why but unlike other companies, there is absolutely no news about this in both the Jaguar or the Land Rover sites. Only got to read bout it in the local newspaper.

Tuesday, 24 June 2008

McCain to issue Clean Car Challenge

Republican John McCain want's to be seen as environmentally friendly. He said that he would issue a Clean Car Challenge to U.S. automakers. If he was elected, he would propose "A $300 million prize for the development of a battery package that has the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars."

Read the Reuters report "McCain calls for $300 million prize for car battery".

Friday, 20 June 2008

Ford to reduce production of bigger vehicles

Hit by falling demand for their bigger vehicles - namely pickups and sport utility vehicles, Ford will produce 25% fewer vehicles in the third quarter of this year as compared to last year.

They also announced the delay in launching their new F-150 pick-up truck. It will now come out in late fall.


The 105th Anniversary Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 bears the Bar & Shield logo on the center caps of its 22" polished forged aluminium wheels. It comes in two distinctive paint treatments (shown in Black monotone exterior). From the ford website.

Read the report in CNN Money: Ford delays launch of new F-150
The BBC Report: Ford 'to make fewer big vehicles'

Friday, 13 June 2008

Lancer Sportback to be unvieled at Paris Motor Show

The new Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback will be unveiled at the Le Mondial de l'Automobile 2008 (Paris Motor Show 2008). The show is being held in Halls 1-8 of the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from October 2 to 19 and will be open for the general public on 4th October.

The Lancer Sportback is a 5-door sport hatchback with a unique inverted-slant nose and trapezoidal grille. It will be available 1.5-liter (109PS), 1.8-liter (143PS) gasoline engines and a 2.0-liter (140PS) turbo diesel engine versions.


Lancer Sportback (Europe spec.)

Other cars that will be on display at the Mitsubishi stand include the Lancer Ralliart and Lancer Sportback Ralliart models.


Lancer Sportback Ralliart (Europe spec.)


Lancer Ralliart (Europe spec)

These models are powered by a turbocharged engine mated to Mitsubishi's Twin Clutch SST (Sport Shift Transmission) and delivering power to all four wheels through an Active Center Differential.

Friday, 6 June 2008

Wednesday, 4 June 2008

Asian brands beat American brands in the US

According to a report in the International Herald Tribune, the three big US car makers, namely, General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler, combined sold less than (44.4 %) than the Asian brands - 10 brands in total (48.1 %) for the first time ever. The data was provided by the Autodata Corporation.

Amazingly, Toyota overtook GM in United States sales.

The drop in sales of pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles with growth in sales of compact cars show that consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about fuel economy of their cars.

Read the full report here: U.S. cars lose to Asian rivals for first time