Purpose

I will try my best to provide detailed info on various cars and what is like to live with them, I have already produced a few for Jaguar-car-forums, I will do my best to be unbiased, but it will be hard for some cars. I will re-produce press releases and copy from other motoring news.

Friday 10 July 2015

SPAIN/WORLDWIDE - OPEL SALES JUNE - Growth in many segments continues for the German marque.

  • In June sales increased 9% in Europe and 25% in Spain.
  • In the first quarter have increased by 3% in Europe, exceeding 18% in Spain.
  • Increase registrations in 20 European countries.
Opel maintained its good performance in the European market: according to preliminary figures from June, new car registrations have increased by more than 9,800 units for the month of June last year - an increase of 9% , a total of 118,600 units. The market share recorded in this past month was 6.35%. 

The result of Opel in the first six months of this year is also positive. Between January and June 2015, the German manufacturer has sold 582 300 vehicles, representing an increase of 3%, or 18,400 units more than in the same period of 2014. With these figures has achieved a market share of 5 9% slightly better than in the first half of last year.
In Spain, during the month of June, Opel has enrolled a total of 10,201 units, querepresenta an increase of 25.2% over the same month of 2014. These sales represented a market share of 7.93% market share Total Spanish (passenger cars and commercial vehicles) and Opel has risen to fourth in the ranking of sales. 
In the car market, Opel sales were of 9,701 units, which represents a share of 8.7% and an increase of 23.1% compared to June last year. For models, the Zafira has been boosted to the first position in its segment, while the Meriva keeps the second position and the compact SUV Mokka reaches the quarter with an increase of 340% higher sales.
"The increase in volume in more than 20 European markets in the first six months of this year shows that our customers like models. The new Opel KARL, which already have more than 30,000 orders, the personal service of connectivity and OnStar assistance and the new Opel Astra will give us new impetus for further growth, "said Peter Christian Küspert, VP of Sales and Aftermarket Group Opel.
In the first half of 2015, Opel has registered sales increases in more than 20 European markets, including Germany (+ 2%), the UK (+ 4%), France (+ 7%), Spain (+ 18%), Italy (+ 17%), Portugal (+ 21%), Poland (+ 20%) and Turkey (+ 36%). The German brand has also increased its market share in more than 13 markets.Countries where more has increased its participation have been in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Estonia, Bulgaria, Serbia and Macedonia Poland.
During the month of June, Opel has been the best-selling brand in the passenger car market in Hungary, with a market share of 11.3%. It has also achieved the second position in Austria (7.57%) and the Netherlands (8.1%). In addition, the British subsidiary Vauxhall was the second best-selling brand in England during this month (11.66% share) and in the first half of this year (10.35%).
In Spain, during the first six months of this year, Opel has enrolled a total of 47 057 units, representing an increase of 18% from the first half of 2014 and a market share of 7.31%. The brand remains in third all passenger car sales with 44,247 registrations place and a market share of 8.0%. The Insignia and Meriva models occupy second place in their respective segments, while the Zafira and Corsa reach the third position and reached the fifth Mokka, having increased its sales by 180% over the previous year.
Also in Europe the Mokka is registering very good figures, with sales have increased by more than 20,000 units, or 28%, while Corsa registrations grew by more than 18,000 units, or 12% and ADAM, which It is growing by more than 2,500 units or 9%.
Likewise, Opel is achieving very good results in the market for light commercial vehicles during the first half of the year. Registrations are up 25% to 51,000 units in Europe. The market share has increased by 0.56 percentage points and now stands at 4.03%. The three ranges of commercial vehicles have experienced an increase in volume in the head Movano (+ 34%), followed by Vivaro (+ 27%) and the Combo (+ 15%).

USA - Mazda3 now with added tech, better Kit and lower pricing - what's not to like !

- Mazda3 goes on sale this month with two new options packages -
Mazda North American Operations today announced pricing for the repackaged 2016 Mazda3 four- and five-door models, starting at an MSRP[1] of $17,845.
Mazda3 is available with a 155-horsepower SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter engine in Mazda3 i configuration or a 184-horsepower SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter engine in Mazda3 s vehicles. 

Either engine can be paired with a six-speed manual or available six-speed automatic transmission and in four- or five-door body styles. Mazda3 comes standard with premium features that are rare among compact cars and available class-above options like adaptive high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights and Mazda Radar Cruise Control. 
With KODO—Soul of Motion design, Mazda3 stands out in a segment awash with conformity.
For 2016, the Mazda3 is equipped with a standard backup camera on all models. The popular Mazda3 i Sport kicks off the lineup with more standard features while lowering MSRP[2] by $600 to $17,845 for the i Sport sedan with six-speed manual transmission and $18,895 for the six-speed automatic. Additional standard equipment includes power windows with a driver-side one-touch up/down feature, power door locks, 16-inch steel wheels with covers, dual-power folding exterior mirrors, a tilt and telescoping adjustable steering wheel, air conditioning with pollen air filter and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat.
Additionally, Mazda3 i Sport models come with MAZDA CONNECTTM, a six-speaker audio system, Bluetooth phone pairing and audio streaming, cruise control, trip computer, push button start, remote keyless entry and map lights.
New for Mazda3 i Sport is the available Preferred Equipment Package, which adds 16-inch alloy wheels, bright beltline trim, heated body-color dual power door mirrors with integrated turn signal lamps, premium cloth-trimmed sport seats, a rear-seat armrest with cupholders, auto on/off headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers and Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and  Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA).
The mid-level Mazda3 Touring features 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels, halogen fog lights, heated body-color exterior door mirrors with integrated turn signals, bright beltline trim, Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA), Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry, moonroof, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a leather-wrapped hand brake handle, shift knob and three-spoke steering wheel with contrast stitching, a rear folding center armrest with cupholders, premium cloth-trimmed sport seats, and a rear spoiler on sedan models.
For 2016, the new Mazda3 Touring Popular Equipment Package is available, adding an auto-dimming interior mirror, dual-zone (driver and front passenger) automatic climate control system, Bose® nine-speaker surround sound system with Centerpoint® 2 and AutoPilot® 2, SiriusXM satellite radio with four-month subscription, a CD player and shark fin antenna.
Anchoring Mazda3’s lineup is the Grand Touring model, which is available with either engine in sedan or five-door body styles. Mazda3 i Grand Touring comes with leatherette seating surfaces, while Mazda3 s Grand Touring has leather seats. Additionally, both Mazda3 Grand Touring models come with navigation and heated seats; Mazda3 s Grand Touring adds adaptive xenon HID headlights and 18-inch alloy wheels.
Top-trim Mazda3 s Grand Touring models with the Technology Package include i-ELOOP, Mazda’s brake-energy regeneration system that captures kinetic energy to power accessories and help increase fuel-efficiency compared with other SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter models, as well as the full suite of i-ACTIVSENSE features including Mazda Radar Cruise Control, Smart City Brake Support, High Beam Control, Lane Departure Warning System, and Forward Obstruction Warning.
MSRP[3] for the 2016 Mazda3 is as follows:
Four-Door
  • Mazda3 i (2.0L)
    • Mazda3 i Sport six-speed manual: $17,845
    • Mazda3 i Sport six-speed automatic: $18,895
      • Preferred Equipment Package: $1,000
    • Mazda3 i Touring six-speed manual: $20,045
    • Mazda3 i Touring six-speed automatic: $21,095
      • Popular Equipment Package: $1,100
    • Mazda3 i Grand Touring six-speed manual: $22,545
    • Mazda3 i Grand Touring six-speed automatic: $23,595
  • Mazda3 s (2.5L)
    • Mazda3 s Touring six-speed automatic: $24,795
    • Mazda3 s Grand Touring six-speed manual: $24,745
    • Mazda3 s Grand Touring six-speed automatic: $25,795
      • Technology Package: $2,600
Five-Door
  • Mazda3 i (2.0L)
    • Mazda3 i Sport six-speed manual: $18,545
    • Mazda3 i Sport six-speed automatic: $19,595
      • Preferred Equipment Package: $1,000
    • Mazda3 i Touring six-speed manual: $20,745
    • Mazda3 i Touring six-speed automatic: $21,795
      • Popular Equipment Package: $1,100
    • Mazda3 i Grand Touring six-speed manual: $23,245
    • Mazda3 i Grand Touring six-speed automatic: $24,295
  • Mazda3 s (2.5L)
    • Mazda3 s Touring six-speed automatic: $25,495
    • Mazda3 s Grand Touring six-speed manual: $25,445
    • Mazda3 s Grand Touring six-speed automatic: $26,495
      • Technology Package: $2,600
The 2016 Mazda3 arrives at Mazda dealerships nationwide in late July.

WORLDWIDE SALES JUNE - PORSCHE - The SUV and sports car company continues to grow sales.

More than 7,200 Porsche Macan delivered to customers

Porsche delivered 20,831 new vehicles globally to customers in June 2015 – an increase of 28 percent compared with the same month last year. In the first half of 2015, the Stuttgart-based company had approximately 114,000 vehicles sold worldwide, which boosted its deliveries to customers by 30 percent compared to the same period in the prior year.



“In the first half of the year, Porsche was carrying forward its successful growth trajectory”, says Bernhard Maier, Member of the Executive Board Sales and Marketing of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. “We continue watching the development of the global markets very attentively. The general conditions in North America are remarkably positive at the moment. Looking at the European markets, we are cautiously optimistic yet remain vigilant so we can react flexibly to demand, if need be. In China, Porsche has performed well so far in a difficult market environment.”
The Porsche 911 sports cars made a major contribution in June with more than 2,900 delivered to customers. The growth in sales of the Cayenne SUV (+19.7 percent) and the mid-engine Cayman (+28.5 percent) were particularly pleasing. With 7,281 vehicles delivered, sales of the Macan more than doubled in June; the compact SUV had not yet been launched on all markets worldwide in June 2014.
PORSCHE AG
Deliveries
JuneJanuary - June
20152014Variance (%)20152014Variance (%)
World20,83116,32527.6113,98487,80329.8
Europe6,8806,13612.138,68929,83929.7
Germany2,4992,4810.715,06112,28322.6
America5,3004,9347.430,11926,73612.7
USA4,2234,1022.925,13822,9199.7
Asia Pacific, Africa
and Mideast
8,6515,25564.645,17631,22844.7
China5,6823,32071.129,35519,78548.4

The Webb Ellis Cup has arrived at its ultimate destination via a bespoke Land Rover Defender.

  • Land Rover is a Worldwide Partner for Rugby World Cup 2015
  • As part of the 100 day tour of the UK and Ireland managed by England Rugby 2015, Land Rover delivered the Webb Ellis Cup to a customer event at the Land Rover Experience Centre in Honiton, Devon
  • The Webb Ellis Cup is being transported around the country during its 100 day tour in Land Rover’s custom build Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender, a product of Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) department
  • Land Rover ambassador and Rugby World Cup 2003 winner, Lewis Moody, attended the activity to meet with customers and to preview the Tournament  
In the build-up to Rugby World Cup 2015, Land Rover helped to bring a taste of the highly anticipated global Tournament to Devon on Thursday 9 July.

As part of a 100 day tour of the UK and Ireland, organised by England Rugby 2015, local Land Rover customers and media were invited to Land Rover Experience West Country in Honiton to get a closer look at the sought-after Webb Ellis Cup and the unique Trophy Tour Defender. 
Land Rover ambassador and Rugby World Cup 2003 winner, Lewis Moody, was also in attendance as he looks forward to seeing his home nation in action at Twickenham when the Tournament kicks-off in September. Speaking about England’s chances, Moody said; “England definitely have a chance to win the World Cup, but it will be a big ask. Having Australia and Wales in your pool isn't ideal so it's important to play well and win the warm-up games so that they go into the tournament with confidence. The opportunity that these guys have is huge and I hope they take it because the nation will get behind them with every ounce of their being.”
The visit to the West Country marks the quarter stage of the 100 day tour, which has already seen the Webb Ellis Cup being transported through Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and Wales, in the custom-built Land Rover Defender. The Defender took nearly 6,000 hours to design and was built at Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations base in the West Midlands.  So far on its Tour, the vehicle and the famous Trophy have already visited Scotland, Ireland and Wales, travelling over 2,500 miles to give thousands of people of all ages the chance to see the most coveted prize in Rugby.
The Tour will continue to excite fans in the run-up to the Tournament, incorporating visits to over 300 events including rugby clubs, schools, community festivals and iconic landmarks. Travelling approximately 9,000 miles during the Tour, the Defender and Webb Ellis Cup will endeavour to inspire the nation and leave a lasting legacy of Rugby World Cup 2015.
Moody has also been involved with Land Rover’s ‘We Deal In Real’ Rugby World Cup 2015 campaign, which celebrates grassroots rugby in the UK and around the world. As part of Land Rover’s activity the Rugby World Cup 2003 winner has been helping to give youngsters aged between seven and 13-years-old the once in a lifetime opportunity of being one of 96 Rugby World Cup 2015 mascots. 
“We launched the mascot competition a while ago now and it has been absolutely brilliant. We’ve even had some of the current England players getting involved to congratulate the winners, it’s been awesome.
“The best thing about the Trophy Tour is, that it’s engaging the next generation. Sometimes the World Cup can seem a bit inaccessible but the fact that the Trophy is going around to as many grassroots clubs as possible and that the mascot competition is getting so many youngsters involved in the Tournament is fantastic. It's like the World Cup is coming to you and I love that.”