The 2007 Volkswagen Eos has arrived in U.S. showrooms. Consumers now may test-drive hot convertible, which features unique a five-panel folding hardtop roof with integrated sunroof. Volkswagen offers the Eos with two engines: an 2.0 liter turbo, 200 hp, four cylinder starting at $27,990 and a 3.2 liter, 250 hp version of Volkswagen’s narrow angle V6 starting at $36,850. The Volkswagen EOS will go on sale this fall.
Forbes has posted a very interesting list of unknown automotive brands. For example, how many people have heard of Koenigsegg? Or of Leblanc?
Sweden’s Koenigsegg builds the $550,000 CCR supercar. Switzerland’s Leblanc makes the $650,000 Mirabeau. Both companies are little known because they produce their modified race cars in very low quantities.
Hongqi, for example, is the luxury-car subsidiary of China’s massive First Auto Works, which has assets of $12.4 billion (photo above). Long the provider of limousines for Chinese bigwigs, Hongqi unveiled its HQD prototype at last year’s Shanghai Motor Show. It looked like the Rolls-Royce Phantom sedan and showed the Chinese automaker taking aim at top-drawer competitors.
The China-based Shanghai Automotive will pay BMW about $22 million to use the Rover name. Rover logo will placed on its version of the Rover 75 sedan.
New Rover badge has been designed, and a press conference announcing the deal with BMW is scheduled for Aug. 22. The first Chinese-made Rovers have been testing in Europe and China and are scheduled to go on sale in China and eventually Europe in 2007 or early 2008.
The official launch of the new Mercedes-Benz CL coupe is expected for the Moscow Auto Show in August, 30. For Europeans CL will unveiled later, at the 2006 Paris Auto Show, in September.
The CL600 is powered by a 510-horsepower twin-turbo 5.5-litre V12 mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. Mercedes quotes a 0-60-mph acceleration time of 4.3 seconds. The CL500, with its 382-hp 5.5-litre V8, can sprint from zero to 60 mph in less than 5.4 seconds, according to Mercedes.
Make over. Toyota Camry cabrio now. Without accident victims 🙂
Meet the new 2007 Ford Expedition. The new Ford Expedition and Expedition EL are better in just about every way when compared to the 2006 model. The styling is more “butch,” it has a 6-speed automatic and new safety features are standard. It has a new-and-stronger frame, and a new-and-improved IRS. The all-new EL model, which replaces the Excursion, is a far better competitor to go up against the Suburban.
Entry-level 2007 XLTs have a MSRP of $5,485 less than a comparable 2006 model.
Saturn plans to selling a local version of the Opel Astra, a compact euro car. The Astra is a cool little model – stylish, comfortable and sporty.
The plan for the Astra – Saturn is still mulling names for the U.S. market, including Ion and Astra – aims to learn from those mistakes. The U.S. version will look like the Opel, and it will compete with other compacts, just as it does in Europe.
Kia has shown the first pics of the Kia Cee’d hatchback. Cee’d as concept was shown at the Geneva Motor Show.
“Our new C-segment model marks a major turning point in Kia’s history and is named cee’d for several reasons,” – explained Jean-Charles Lievens, Senior Vice President of Kia Motors Europe. “cee’d is a short, dynamic and innovative name. It’s unconventional, a name which breaks the automotive rules. A surprising name for a car destined to surprise our rivals and delight our customers. I’m sure the name will get people talking about Kia and also be easy to remember.”
The Kia Cee’d will go on sale in Europe in December.
BMW has released images of the 2007 Mini Cooper. The new car will be offered in Mini Cooper (120 hp 1.6 liter four-cylinder engine) and Cooper S (175 hp 1.6 liter four-cylinder engine) guise. The Mini Cooper reaches its peak 120 hp output at 6,000 rpm and peak torque of 118 lb-ft at 4,250 rpm. The turbocharged Cooper S makes 175 hp at 5,500 rpm, and peak torque of 177 lb-ft comes at just 1,600 rpm. BMW describes the new Cooper’s interior as “revolutionary.” For increased safety, curtain airbags now protect all passengers. Despite the car’s increased measurements, its weight has been reduced by 192 lbs for the Cooper S manual, 72 lbs for the Cooper S auto, 181 lbs for the Cooper manual, and 49 lbs for the Cooper auto.
Above snapshot of the new toy for danger boys, called Panhard A4 Fast. It look like a Hummer, but the Panhard A4 Fast is really strong vehicle. The 2.8-liter Iveco diesel inline four pushing out a meager 146 horsepower and 236 ft.-lbs of torque. Panhard A4 Fast is equipped with anti-mine flooring, ABS brakes and a range of nearly 500 miles. It can carry two troops plus cargo, or four if they’re only taking along sandwiches and coffee.
