Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from The Motoring World

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

FROM

THE MOTORING WORLD

WOW, Another year has passed, and 2014 can be classed as one of the best for motoring in a very long time, sadly we lost SAAB, but good news seems to be on the Horizon, with a new owner who have very deep pockets, and a need for a premium brand within their range.

The continued expansion of Jaguar Land Rover continues apace with two brand new models the XE and Discovery Sport launched to the world, and over the next couple of years, a vast aray of new, replaced or refreshed models will increase sales significantly, but thats not all, JLR brought us brand new E-Types for the first time in decades, a new SVO devision, that has given us the RR Sport SVR, we saw this model some months ago at Solihull, as you can see below.

For me, the biggest disapppointment of the year was when Land Rover confirmed that they would not be building teh DC100, this modern version, of the evergreen Defender, oozed modernity, with teh familiar look of teh car it should have replaced, this car would have sold, and sold really really well, i just hope that what ever they replace it with, is equally as stunning.

The continued recalls of 2014 broke new records, with nearly 61 million cars just in the USA, from the Takata Airbag scandal to the GM ignition switch farce and so many more inbetween, shows that some car makers either do not really care, or have little interest in making their products safe and secure for us, the buying public, 2015 will continue to be huge for recalls, with the two examples above to carry on well into the New Year.

The Motoring World Blog has seen some really big numbers, which surprised us a great deal, although this month (December) has seen a dip, and no matter what we do the numbers have failed to grow, we have great hopes for 2015, but back to 2014, the biggest read news Story is not on a car, infact it is a Yamaha Bike, and can be read >>HERE<< it is followed by three Stories on Skoda and one from Porsche, the top ten is rounded off with two on MG, one of recalls of 2014, our Goodwood festival of Speed (GFoS) 2013 and the BMW i3.

The United States remains our #1 port of call for readers with over 125,000 hits follwed by the United Kingdom, Germany, France, The Ukraine, Turkey, Russia, Canada, Poland and last in the top ten, India with 2190 hits, and many many more inbetween, Firefoz, Chrome and Internet Explorer take the top three browser platforms, Operating Systems from Wndows, Macintosh and Linux take the top three.

28,123 hits in October was our biggest month to date, followed by September, November and March, all 2014, so this year has been huge for the worldwide Motoing industry and for us too, I really hope you enjoy my little blog, and that we have achieved, what we set out to do, and thats to inform, enjoy and offer our own take on all things wheels.

So, Thank you all so very much, from the bottom of my heart without you guys taking time out of your busy lives to spend a part of it here, reading our posts, offering your own comments and allowing me to be a small part of your time, makes me proud.

I will continue to offer more news, reviews and updates next year, and with 2015 looking so far to be a good year for the automotive industry, hopefully we can break some records too, so, from me to you all, Have a very Merry Christmas, and no matter how you celebrate, or how you spend your time over the last week of the year, have a happy and peaceful time, and for 2015, i hope you all achieve all you set out to do.

And lastly, Thank you all so very much

Renault to compete with Citroen and its all new C4 Cactus ?

Renault is developing an affordable small car that could preview a future rival to the Citroen C4 Cactus.Renault has created a prototype, called the Value Up, that has a lightweight design, high fuel economy and advanced connectivity features.

The Value Up weighs less than 1000kg and has a 1.0-liter engine with CO2 emissions of less than 100 grams per km. A hybrid variant emits less than 50g/km of CO2.

Renault would not comment on whether the Value Up previewed a car to compete against the C4 Cactus.

"The leading carmakers are all going in the same direction by developing affordable models that appeal to a younger generation of customers," a spokesman told Automotive News Europe. "But I will not make a direct comparison to the Cactus."

Some of the Value Up's features will likely show up in future production models but the prototype "does not reflect any specific production model that Renault plans to launch at this time," the spokesman said

IHS Automotive Tim Urquhart said a production car with the Value Up’s design and connectivity would appeal to younger demographics like the C4 Cactus does.

"The Value Up’s premise appears to be the utilization of established hardware in terms of platforms and powertrains but spend more money on the design, interior and technology content to attract younger, urban buyers."

Like the C4 Cactus, the Value Up has a a front seat without a divider in the middle and infotainment features such as a touch screen in the middle of the cockpit and another on the passenger side. These features appeal to younger buyers, Urquhart said.

 Bruce Gain

REPORT HERE

CHINA - Jaguar's new XE to be built in China from Scratch, with a new engine plant to come.

Jaguar’s new XE will be the brand’s first model made in China, a Jaguar Land Rover executive toldAutomotive News Europe.

The midsize premium sedan will be built alongside the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport premium SUVs at the automaker’s new plant in Changshu, JLR global fleet director Ken Forbes said. He declined to say when XE production would begin. JLR started making the Evoque at its joint plant with China’s Chery Automobile in October.

Expansion plans

Adding production in China is part of Jaguar’s ambitious expansion plans that include the launch of at least three all-new or heavily revised models by 2016.

European sales of the XE start in May followed later in the year by the arrival the new-generation XF large premium sedan with a midsized crossover due in in 2016. All three models will be underpinned by Jaguar Land Rover’s new aluminum platform. Analysts predict the new cars will increase Jaguar’s global sales to almost 200,000 by 2017 from a forecast of 80,000 for 2014.

Jaguar expects 2014 China sales to be about 20,000 cars, which is less than one-fifth of total JLR sales in the country. Jaguar’s volume in the world’s largest car market is expected to get a big boost from the XE.

“Our spearhead vehicle for China is the XE and we think it could make significant inroads -- it's inevitable that's going to be case,” JLR Sales Operations Director Andy Goss told Automotive News Europe.

Jaguar hasn’t confirmed whether it will build a long-wheelbase XE variant, which would rival models such as the stretched BMW 3 series. Customers in China favor vehicles with roomier interiors, especially for rear-seat passengers.

JLR’s China plant is forecast to reach its 130,000 capacity by 2016, the company has said. The automaker will add an engine plant in 2015. With both facilities running the XE would become the first Jaguar to be fully assembled outside the UK. The brand currently assembles Jaguars from kits at its factory in Pune, India.

2020 target: 850,000

The company, owned by India’s Tata Motors, has said it wants to double combined Jaguar and Land Rover sales to 850,000 by 2020 and is expanding its production base to accommodate the extra growth.

In 2016 JLR will start production in Brazil at a new factory with a capacity of 24,000. The first car off the line will be the new Land Rover Discovery Sport, which will debut next year as a successor to the Freelander (sold as the LR2 in the U.S.).

JLR said that construction of the Brazil plant, which is in Itatiaia, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, would start at the end of the year at a cost of 750 million reals ($304 million). Production will likely start with kits imported from the UK, said Richard Else, who is director of Land Rover’s plant in Halewood, England.

JLR CEO Ralf Speth confirmed earlier this year that the company also has started talks to open a plant in Saudi Arabia. In addition, JLR has neither confirmed nor denied media reports that it is looking to build a U.S. plant.

REPORT HERE

USA recall number tops 60.5 MILLION, yes thats right 60,500,000 and still rising for the year.

U.S. automobile recalls surpassed the 60 million mark for the first time in a single year, largely because of the rush to prevent more deaths from defective General Motors ignition switches and Takata Corp. airbags.

The tally of 60.5 million through today is almost double the previous annual record of 30.8 million recalled vehicles set in 2004, according to an analysis of data on the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The number will rise further as recent recalls that have been announced by automakers are recorded in the database.

“I don’t think we’re going to see a year like this for a long time,” said Neil Steinkamp, a managing director at Stout Risius Ross who studies warranty and recall issues.

Recalls may remain above historical levels for a while, he said. The Takata airbag crisis continues to grow, and following its slow response to GM’s ignition-switch defect, NHTSA has been pressuring automakers to recall cars more quickly when evidence of a flaw is discovered, using subpoena power and the threat of $35 million fines as motivation.

“Automakers do not want to be accused of dragging their feet, so they’re very quick to issue a recall” now, said Michelle Krebs, a senior analyst at Autotrader.com. “We’re going to see lots of recalls because cars have gotten so complex and there’s so much sharing of parts by all automakers.”

The flood of recalls hasn’t deterred buyers this year. Light-vehicle sales in the U.S. rose 5.5 percent to 15 million vehicles through November, according to the Automotive News Data Center, and are heading for their biggest total since 2006.

GM, Honda 

GM alone has recalled almost 27 million cars and trucks in the U.S. this year, a record for any single automaker. The company has issued 10 safety actions of more than 1 million vehicles each, according to the NHTSA database. Defective GM ignition switches in small cars have been linked to at least 42 deaths and 58 injuries.

Honda Motor Co., the third-largest Japanese automaker, has recalled 5.4 million vehicles to replace Takata airbags. Exploding Takata airbags have been tied to at least four fatalities in the U.S. and more than 100 injuries caused by shrapnel.

Other recalls of more than 1 million vehicles this year included those related to steering, cruise control, engines and seat belts, according to the NHTSA data, which is compiled from automaker filings to the agency. NHTSA plans to release its official recall numbers for 2014 next year.

The Takata airbag flaw investigation led to the recall of more than 8 million vehicles. Unstable propellant in airbag inflators can cause the devices to explode with too much force and spread shrapnel through the car in a crash. Takata on Nov. 6 widened an annual loss forecast and said it can’t estimate the full financial liability of the defect.

Fiat Chrysler 

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV said Dec. 19 that it would accede to a NHTSA request and expand an existing airbag recall from hot, humid areas of the U.S., where most failures have occurred, to the entire nation. That will add 2.89 million vehicles to the recall total for the U.S. when reflected in the government database.

GM has said its ignition-switch recalls have cost about $2.7 billion through the first three quarters of this year. GM has said the switches, which it knew were defective for more than a decade, can shut off when bumped, disabling the vehicle air bag and increasing the risk of death or injury in a crash.

With the focus on more and quicker recalls, 2014 will probably signify a period of elevated safety fixes, Steinkamp said. The average number of recalled vehicles per year from the 2004 through last year was 16.1 million, according to NHTSA data.

“It’s a landmark year; it’s the start of a new era,” he said.

REPORT HERE

Refreshed Infiniti Q70 goes on sale in the UK from January,

• New Infiniti Q70 range to cost from £32,650
• 129g/km CO₂ 2.2 diesel engine replaces 3.0 V6 diesel
• Full LED headlights among equipment enhancements
• Q70 Hybrid now faster and more efficient than ever

An attractive new entry price point, lower CO₂, extra equipment including full LED front and rear lighting, and a sharp new family look sum up Infiniti’s premium Q70 saloon range for 2015, prices for which have been confirmed.

The upgraded line-up, on sale across Europe from January, starts with a new Q70 2.2d model, powered by a four-cylinder diesel engine developed as part of Infiniti’s strategic cooperation with Daimler.

Mated to a standard seven-speed automatic transmission with available paddleshift (depending on model), the new 2.2 diesel unit in the Q70 emits just 129g/km of CO₂ while offering stirring performance thanks to 170PS and a generous 400NM of torque.

Replacing the 3.0-litre V6 diesel in the Q70 range, the new Q70 Premium 2.2d is priced from £32,650. The car comes as standard with full LED headlights, chromed accents on the front grille, a rear-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, with standard Connectiviti+ navigation,  18-inch wheels and leather seats with ventilation, in what is a typically generous  Infiniti standard specification.

It is expected that such attractive pricing for a large premium saloon endowed with exceptional technology and equipment will make the new Q70 2.2d model the most popular Q70 variant in the UK market.

Other versions in the new line-up comprise of ‘Sport’, with an even more expressive look to the front bumper, uprated brakes and 20-inch wheels, among other changes.

Available with selected Premium and Sport models, Tech models come with Infiniti’s Dynamic Safety Shield (intelligent cruise control, lane departure prevention and blind-spot intervention), Bose Premium Surround Sound with 16 speakers and Around-View Monitor with Moving Object Detection and Forest air-conditioning.

As well as the new 2.2 diesel engine, the Q70 for 2015 is available with both 3.7-litre V6 petrol power and, for the flagship, the award-winning Infiniti Direct Response Hybrid powertrain. Benefitting from the enhancements introduced on the Q50S Hybrid, the latest Q70 Hybrid offers even more performance – accelerating from 0-62mph in just 5.3s – and better efficiency, with CO₂ emissions at 145g/km.

Marking their European debut at the Paris Motor Show last October, the latest Q70 models are upgraded both under the skin (with improvements to refinement and ride comfort) and above it. A new, more chiselled look to front and rear bumper sections enhances the seductive shape while bringing the Q70 closer to the new family look introduced with the Q50. The headlights retain the distinctive Infiniti design but, for all models in the range they are full LED, like the rear lights.

Prices for each of the versions and their options are attached. The new Q70 will arrive in the Infiniti network from  January 2015.

Grade availability by powertrain

	Q70 Premium	Q70 Sport	Q70 Premium Tech	Q70 Sport Tech
2.2d	●	●	●	●
3.7				●
Hybrid	●		●

                                                                  

Infiniti Q70	2.2d	3.5h	3.7
Configuration	In-line 4	V6	V6
Displacement	2143cc	3498cc	3696cc
Compression ratio	16.2:1	10.6 : 1	11 : 1
Bore x stroke	83x99mm	81.4x95.5mm	86.0 x 95.5mm
Power	170PS	364PS	320PS
Torque	400Nm (1600-2800rpm)	546Nm	360Nm(5200rpm)

Skoda previews Third generation Superb Flagship model with a rear end Sketch.

• New ŠKODA flagship revolutionises the brand’s design language
• Strong appearance: expressive, elegant, dynamic, discrete and modern
• Striking:design elements from the ‘Škoda VisionC’ coupé study

The new ŠKODA Superb revolutionises the familiar ŠKODA design language. A new sketch shows an expressively designed saloon full of class and passion. The design is sophisticated, elegant, dynamic, discrete, modern and expressive.

The new ŠKODA flagship has striking, expressive shapes from the ‘Škoda VisionC’ show car with new, dynamic proportions. From the front to the rear, from the large wheels to the gently rearward-sloping roof line, the new Superb features clear geometry, strikingly contoured surfaces, sculptural shapes, purist precision and elegant lines as if made from one piece.

With its expressive exterior, the top ŠKODA model makes a visual impact in the automotive mid-class segment, offering a sharp and muscular look that is more poised and full of emotion than ever before. The expressive shapes of the exterior can also be found echoed inside the car.

The new model takes the ŠKODA Superb to the higher level of the automotive mid-class segment. The third generation model is expected to get new customers interested in both the brand and model. The new ŠKODA Superb will make its world premiere in Prague in the middle of February 2015, followed by its introduction at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The market launch is planned for mid-2015 for Europe, and autumn for the UK.

The amazing Mazda6 achieves the three million mark, in just 12 years.

Mazda Motor Corporation has announced that total global production of the Mazda6 (known as Mazda Atenza in Japan) reached three million units*1 at the end of November 2014. The milestone figure was reached in approximately 12 years and nine months after production of the first-generation Mazda6 began in February 2002 at Hofu Plant No. 2 in Yamaguchi, Japan. 

It is the second fastest time for a Mazda model to reach three million units of production, following the Mazda3 (Mazda Axela in Japan).

Since the first generation, the Mazda6 has stayed true to its original aim of offering driving pleasure, and along with Mazda’s Zoom-Zoom brand message has been leading the company’s product lineup since its introduction. The model is currently produced at Hofu Plant in Japan and FAW Car Co. Ltd. in China. Additionally, it is assembled locally at MAZDA SOLLERS Manufacturing Rus in Russia and Vina Mazda Automobile Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in Vietnam.

The current, third generation Mazda6 was fully redesigned in 2012. Adopting the full range of SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY and the KODO—Soul of Motion design theme, it became the second model to join Mazda’s new generation line-up. The redesigned model has received high praise in markets all over the world. Including being named 2014 RJC Car of the Year in Japan and nominated as a finalist for 2013 World Car Design of the Year, it has claimed over 40 different awards globally.*2

An updated Mazda6 will be rolled out to global markets from January 2015, with launches starting from Japan and USA. Adopting Mazda’s latest ideas and technologies, the updated model offers new levels of depth and maturity. It features a more refined design expression, enhanced dynamic performance for a more comfortable, higher-quality ride, the Mazda Connect new-generation car connectivity system*3 and i-ACTIVSENSE advanced safety technologies.*4

Moving forward, Mazda will continue to develop products which offer all customers driving pleasure and outstanding environmental and safety performance, with an aim of enriching people’s lives and becoming a brand that builds a special bond with its customers.

# # #

*1 1st generation: 1,945,850 units; 2nd generation: 718,882 units; 3rd generation: 335,773 units.

Total: 3,000,505 units

*2 As of end of October 2014. Based on Mazda data.

*3 The name Mazda Connect is used in Japan, US, Canada and Mexico. The system is referred to as MZD Connect in other markets.

*4: Available features vary by country or region.