Bentley launchs the car to compete with the Rolls-Royce Ghost

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Bentley launchs the car to compete with the Rolls-Royce Ghost
 

-Bentley (luxury branch of the VW Group) launchs the Flying Spur new generation, a sport limousine that competes directly with the Rolls-Royce Ghost (BMW Group). Unlike the coupe and convertible Continental, simply retouched during the past year, the Flying Spur limousine  has been  entirely  relifted. It remains equipped with the W12 engine (12 cylinders) and ranks as the fastest sedan in the history of the brand.

 

-Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, the Flying Spur definitively abandons the term "Continental" which appeared in its name.
The Bentley brand’s characteristic curves meet crisp, clean new edges in a remarkably sleek silhouette.
The side feature line runs along the car from the rear wheel arch in parallel with the low roof, down to its hand-fitted chrome front grille
It is 5.30 m long, i.e. 28 cm shorter than the Mulsanne (which competes with the Rolls-Royce Phantom).

 

-This Bentley runs  actually even faster than the Rolls-Royce Ghost V12 (320km / h against 250 km / h), which makes sense given the sporting past of the Bentley brand.

 

 13-08-08

 

Data source : File #10 - Start of Production (SOP) of new and modified vehicles in Europe

  

Probability is low for German market to reach again its peak level

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Probability is low for German market to reach again its peak level
 
- The German market maintained a  high level between 2000 and 2008 (between 3 million and 3.5 million cars each year).
The scrapping bonus  installed in 2009 revived the sales momentarily. The market reached 3.8 million units in 2009.
 
- In 2010, the German market has logically been adversely affected by the stop of the scrapping bonus. Sales have not exceeded 2.9 million units.
 
- In 2011, the German market returned to a level close  to the one before the scrapping bonus (3.2 million units).
But a poor economy and demography factors specific to Germany (more deaths than births) lead the  market to decrease  down to 3.1 million units in 2012. A fall down to 3 million in 2013, and less than 3 million in the following years, can be expected.
 
- Carmakers: the VW group confirms its clear leadership position with sales well ahead of BMW’s and Daimler’s. The two U.S. carmakers GM and Ford lose market share each year . By itself, the VW group occupies 38% of the German market in 2012 against 36.5% in 2011.

 

13-08-05

  

The BMW 3-Series GT in competition with the Audi A5 Sportback

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The BMW 3-Series GT in competition with the Audi A5 Sportback
 
- BMW has unveiled the 5-door version of its 3 Series, named GT like the 5-door version of the 5 Series, which has been available since October 2009 (5 Series GT). 
The BMW 3 Series GT will be fitted with the most powerful enginesof the 3 Series range, especially because this version is heavier, longer (20 cm) and taller (8cm) that the 4-door sedan version.
 
- 5-door versions were not usual at Premium manufacturers who have designed them very lately (the Audi A5 Sportback dates back to October 2009), while generalist carmakers (Renault, Citroen, Ford, Opel) sedans have offeres 5-door versions for decades. The Renault 16, launched in 1965,  is the pioneer in this field.
BMW has learned its lesson from the commercial failure of the 5 Series GT. It has designed a more elegant silhouette for its 3 Series GT, with only one opening tailgate system (instead of two on the 5 Series GT). The Audi A5 Sportback, its direct competitor, however, is more thoroughbred.

 

 

13-08-02

  

PSA stated that it will market a “Hybrid-Air” car from 2016 on

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PSA stated that it will market a “Hybrid-Air” car from 2016 on
 
- PSA will present a Citroën C3 Air Hybrid at Geneva motorshow.
 Equipped with this technology, a C3 VTI 82 car does emit only 69 grams of CO2/km and a 2.9 l/100 km is expected. The consumption would be 30% lower  than a thermal model and even 45% lower in a city driving.
 
- The Hybrid Air will likely be offered on PSA standard vehicles in PSA from 2016 on. Developed with Bosch, it combines a gasoline engine and an energy compressed air storage system  which are connected by two hydraulic pump-motors  and an  automatic transmission.
 
- Equipped so, a model can run in three modes: Mode "Air", which allows compressed air to be transmitted to the wheels via hydraulic motors and the gearbox; Mode “Thermal", which transmits power to the wheels without interaction from the air (this mode is mainly interesting for an use outside of urban areas) and then the mode "Combined", which combines the power of the engine and compressed air, especially useful for accelerations.
 
- This hybrid compressed air (compatible with the EMP2 platform ) can be actually used instead of an electric motor . But the model weighs 100 kg more than a thermal model, i.e. 20kg more than an electric  model. However  the cost should be half the cost of an hybrid-electric solution.

 

 

13-08-06

  

The American carmakers continue to offshore production to Mexico and Canada

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The American carmakers continue to offshore production to Mexico and Canada
 
- The United States have offshored much production to Mexico in the 90s. 
This offshore strategy (vehicle manufacturing to countries with cheaper labor) continues in the 2000s.
The production volume in Mexico is 29% of the production volume in USA in 2012, against 24% in 2008 and 13% in 2005. Most car manufacturers  producing in the United States are now present in Mexico.
 
- The production transfer to Canada does not relate to the same logic.  it is not an offshore. Labour cost in in the U.S. and Canada are quite close. It is however interesting to observe the volume of production in this country compared to the United States and Mexico. 
The production volume in Canada is 24% of the production volume in USA in2012 , against 23% in 2008 and 21 % in 2005. Most car manufacturers  producing in the United States are now present in Mexico.
 
- In total, the share of U.S. production in North America has declined significantly over the past 20 years.

 

 

13-08-03

 

  

  1. Opel increased in January with new Mokka and Adam
  2. Qoros unveils two new versions of its European car
  3. European market decreasing on
  4. Tofas plans to export Doblos to North America
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