RPMGO Car Blog |
- Mini Countryman Dakar
- 2012 Cobra Jet Mustang Announced
- Custom One-Off Ferrari Motorcycle
- Top 10 Driving Rules In France
- In Depth – 2011 Jeep Compass
- 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR Announced
- Audi R18 Launched
- Cadillac Returns To Racing
- Ford Updates The Explorer Model
- Lancia Planning New Ypsilon, Thema Models
| Posted: 14 Dec 2010 02:58 AM PST  Mini Countryman Dakar It seems that Mini Cooper is getting more and more active in the exciting world of motorsport taking into consideration that the Mini WRC rally car is already in testing. The German engineers at X-Raid have unveiled the Mini Countryman Dakar racer, dubbed MINI All4 Racing. The car will make its official debut in South America, at the 2011 Dakar Rally. This special and unique car was developed in close partnership with Magna-Steyr, Heggemann and Faster and will race under the Monster Energy X-raid Team colors. The car will be driven by pilot Guerlain Chicherit and his co-driver Michel Perin in January 2011 at the 33rd Personal Dakar Argentina-Chile. The rally will set off in Buenos Aires, Argentina on New Year's Day and will finish on January 16th, 2011 in the same location. The Mini Countryman Dakar will be equipped with a twin-turbo diesel power unit that is fitted to the 2011-specification BMW X3 CC. The engine is capable of producing 315 hp and 710 Nm of torque. In comparison with the BMW model, the Mini will be shorter, lower and with improved handling. The car will have larger air intakes, a revised and updated ventilation system that uses a roof intake and a front air intake, and a one-piece bonnet. In comparison with the 2011 BMW X3 CC, the Mini is 10cm shorter, 3 cm lower and has a 10 cm reduced rear overhang. The body of the Mini Countryman Dakar is made out of carbon-kevlar in order to reduce the weight and improve handling. Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| 2012 Cobra Jet Mustang Announced Posted: 14 Dec 2010 02:45 AM PST  2012 Cobra Jet Mustang Ford has recently unveiled the 2012 Cobra Jet Mustang but without offering new images of the model. The new model is powered by a 5.4-liter power unit taken from the 2011 SVT Mustang, available with two supercharger options. The American automaker will sell the Cobra Jet Mustang with either a 2.3-liter TVS supercharger or with a 4.0-liter Ford Racing Whipple. The new model features an aluminum block engine linked to a manual gearbox and is available with a double keyed crankshaft. The car also benefits from low-drag racing brakes and Manley H-beam connecting rods. The spring rates of the car have been tweaked for both the front and rear of the Jet. In order to bring improved grip, the new model comes as standard with the Weld Racing black anodized rims along with new compound Goodyear tires which were especially developed for the Cobra Jet Mustang. The basic price for the model is $91,900 and with all the optional features included, the price goes up to $103,980. The car will be made on a limited series, following the rule first come order, first delivered. Similar with the Ford Racing's Mustang FR500S and the Cobra Jet (2010 model), the 2012 Cobra Jet Mustang will be manufactured at the AAI – Auto Alliance International assembly plant, located in Flat Rock, Michigan. The production of the car will start in the first quarter of next year. The limited series consists of 50 cars which will be built on the same production line as the 2012 Ford Mustang production car.  2012 Cobra Jet Mustang George Goddu, who is the Business Manager at Ford Racing Performance Group, stated that: "Ford Racing is proud to build the 2012 Cobra Jet and continue the tradition of delivering turn-key competitive race cars to Ford drag racing enthusiasts. With every Cobra Jet build we strive to carry the spirit of the original Cobra Jet while developing the next generation of drag racing icon. The enthusiast who races the 2012 Cobra Jet can be competitive at virtually any event, from their local track up through NHRA Stock or Super Stock classes." For racers that enjoy making their own cars, they can participate in the Mustang Competition Roller which is based on the Cobra Jet that is serialized and complete, except the power train. Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Custom One-Off Ferrari Motorcycle Posted: 14 Dec 2010 01:43 AM PST  Custom One-Off Ferrari 900 Motorcycle If you were wondering if the Italian supercar maker decided to start manufacturing motorcycles, the answer is "no". This special motorcycle was not made by Ferrari in any way; it was created by David Kay along with his people over at Kay Engineering to pay a tribute to the father of the Italian carmaker, the famous Enzo Ferrari. Although it looks like it just rolled out from the Italian factory, we can assure you that it is not an original Ferrari bike. The motorcycle was built in the mid 90s, after David Kay got the green light to put the Ferrari badge on the custom bike from Enzo's son, Piero Ferrari, with a note including the following "the approval to place the Ferrari badge on your motorbike". The specialists at Kay Engineering leaded by David Kay worked for about 3,000 hours on the bike, and the final product is at least to say, very interesting. The bike is equipped with a "scratch built" 900cc, transverse, double overhead camshaft, four cylinders, 8-valve unit that has alloy and magnesium casings, driven to a 5-speed transmission.  Custom One-Off Ferrari 900 Motorcycle For the body of this Ferrari bike, the engineers used hand-crafted aluminum and magnesium black casings for the engine. The estimated top speed of this motorcycle is 265 km/h, a speed achieved by the 105 hp engine (at 8,800 rpm). The one-off Ferrari bike has a dry weight of only 172 kg. If you were wondering what is going to happen with this unique Ferrari bike, you should know that it will be auctioned really soon. The Ferrari 900 motorcycle will be on the auction block at a Race Retro event, in Stoneleigh Park, Coventry on February 25-27. For those of you curios about the estimated price for this one-off, you should know that it will probably sell for about $400,000. However, in many cases, the estimates made before the auction are considerably less in comparison to what a certain product will actually get, which is why there are good chances that this bike will sell for even more than that. The person that will be purchasing the Ferrari 900 motorcycle will probably sell it in a few years, at a bigger price, earning himself a nice "little" profit. However, the bike is 100% functional so there are some chances that someone will be actually driving it, but taking into consideration that this is an one-off bike, the lucky (and wealthy) guy that will be getting it will be more than careful with it as there are no spare parts for it. Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Top 10 Driving Rules In France Posted: 14 Dec 2010 01:41 AM PST If you are planning on having a vacation in France or you are going for other purposes, you need to know certain driving rules so that you will not have any problems while travelling. This top 10 of driving rules in France will be very helpful once you get into the country.
Other information that you should know about when driving in France is that the fines are issued on the spot. Ensure an official receipt is issued by the officer collecting the fine. Although it is not compulsory to carry a first-aid kit, it is highly recommended to purchase one. As far as the fuel is concerned, all grades of diesel and unleaded petrol are available in France. LPG is only available at certain stations. Leaded gas is no longer available in France. You can carry petrol in a can. In most of the situations, you will be able to use your credit or debit card, but keep in mind that they will not work on automatic pumps. These automatic pumps are the only ones opened out-of-hours in rural areas, which also means lunch-time from noon to 3 PM. It is recommended to notify your card issuer that you will be travelling abroad because there are some cases in which the card can be suspended if used in unfamiliar places. This is done for anti-fraud purposes. Regarding the lights, dipped headlights must be used at all times when the daytime visibility is poor. For motorcycles of over 125cc, dipped headlights must be used at all times during the day. Speaking of motorcycles, drivers and passengers must wear crash helmets at all times. Make sure that you do not take your radar detector when driving in France as these are illegal, even when not in use. If you are caught driving with a radar detector, there are big chances that you will be fined, have the radar detector confiscated and in some cases, face confiscation of the automobile. This does not mean that you cannot use your GPS or SatNav as these gadgets will not detect radar speed cameras, they will just tell you where they are, a piece of information which is freely available. During winter, it is recommended to equip the car with snow chains. If you do not carry and fit them when the weather conditions demand, the police can prevent you from going any further. As of July 1st 2008, the warning triangle is compulsory and it can be used in conjunction with hazard flashers. As of January 2008, winter tires are not compulsory but highly recommended. As of July 1st 2008, visibility vests are compulsory in France. In addition, a replacement bulb set is highly recommended when driving in France. Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Posted: 14 Dec 2010 01:40 AM PST  2011 Jeep Compass For the 2011 model of the Compass, Jeep offers a new sophisticated styling, a bundle of standard features and improved fuel efficiency ratings. The new redesigned car borrows the styling cues of the recently launched Jeep Grand Cherokee. The SUV's fuel economy is 28 mpg, making it one of the most efficient sport utility vehicles at the moment. Inside the car, the engineers at Jeep equipped the car with new high quality materials and soft touch points. For providing an improved handling and ride performance in all weather conditions, the 2011 Compass has an upgraded suspension and steering. The new model comes with more than 30 safety features, like the standard ESC – Electronic Stability Control, Hill-start Assist, electronic roll mitigation as well as side-curtain air bags that cover all of the rows. For the 2011 model, Jeep offers the Trail Rated 4×4 capability with the Freedom Drive II Off-Road package. According to the president and CEO of the Jeep Brand at Chrysler Group, "with the new 2011 Jeep Compass, we've applied the premium design cues of our award-winning new Grand Cherokee. Combined with new interior appointments, and refinements to the suspension and steering systems, Jeep Compass provides consumers the ultimate combination of styling, capability, fuel economy, efficiency, safety and value in the important compact-SUV segment." As far as the design is concerned, the 2011 Jeep Compass features new front fenders, a redesigned hood, brand new headlamps, a new fascia plus an updated grille that now features a small dose of chrome around the Jeep badge. For this new model, the engineers at Jeep added a band of protective cladding which will fend off the debris while driving in difficult weather conditions or off-road. The back of the car was also updated; it now features a fresh new rear fascia, LED tail lamps (for the Limited model) and a new body-color rear spoiler. In addition, for the 2011 Compass, Jeep designed a new set of roof rails that have a slimmed down appearance as well as a small amount of brightwork. The car comes as standard with 17-inch aluminum rims and for the Limited model, customers can get the 17-inch aluminum wheels or the imposing 18-inch aluminum or chrome-clad wheels. As far as the interior is concerned, the 2011 model sports new soft touch front-door trim panels with a padded upper surface, a redesigned Jeep steering wheel that has integrated controls for the cruise control, audio as well as other functions of the car. The 2011 Compass is equipped with new cloth interior with premium cloth bucket front seats. As standard on all models, the Compass is equipped with speed control, door locks, a new backlighting for the door switches, windows and power mirror controls. Some of the most important features of the 2011 Jeep Compass include the following: SIRIUS Satellite Radio + navigation with SIRIUS Travel Link, a premium audio sound system that has 9 Boston Acoustic speakers, liftgate speakers, illuminated cup holders and the Uconnect media center with iPod interface. The standard features of the Compass include power locks, power windows, keyless entry, power/heated exterior mirrors, cruise control, air conditioning and sunscreen glass. As an optional, customers can get the All-weather Capability Group that includes 17-inch all-terrain tires made by Goodyear, daytime running headlamps, tow hooks, engine block heater and all-season floor mats. The Freedom Drive I is a four-wheel drive system that is available full-time and has a lock mode designed to give drivers year-round assurance with the capability to handle low-traction conditions and difficult weather. The FD I is recommended for day-to-day use, including slick conditions that come with light snow and rain. The system also sports a lockable center coupling which gives drivers the capability to put the car in four wheel drive lock mode in order to handle sand, deep snow as well as other low-traction surfaces.  2011 Jeep Compass The Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package features a second generation continuously variable transaxle with low range that is activated when the off-road mode is activated by the driver. In addition, the package includes aluminum wheels, 17-inch all-terrain tires, a full-size spare tire, tow hooks, manual seat height adjuster, fog lamps and a one-inch raised ride height. This package is recommended for moderate off-road conditions that require occasional wheel lift and rock or log climbing and steep grades. The standard power unit that equips the 2011 Jeep Compass is a 2.0-liter capable of developing 158 hp (117 kW) and 141 lb.-ft of torque, linked to the CVT2 – continuously variable transmission. With this engine, the car will do 23 mp in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, with the 5-speed manual gearbox. A more powerful engine is the 2.4-liter that offers 172 hp and 165 lb.-ft of torque. The power unit has VVT – dual Variable Valve Timing on both exhaust and intake camshafts, helping to optimize the torque curve on all speeds, producing not only more power, but also offering an efficient fuel economy and a smoother ride. With the 2.4-liter engine linked to the 5-speed manual gearbox, the Compass will 23 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. The car is capable of 2,000 lbs of towing. Regarding the exterior colors available for the 2011 Jeep Compass, customers can choose from one of the following: Pearl Coat, Mineral Gray, Deep Cherry Red Crystal Clear Coat Charcoal Gray (limited), Brilliant Black Crystal Clear Coat, Bright White Clear Coat, Bright Silver Metallic Clear Coat and Blackberry Pearl Coat. The car is manufactured at the Belvidere assembly plant located in Belvidere, Illinois. The 2011 Jeep Compass begins delivers this month. Other new models rolled out by Jeep besides the Compass model; include the Grand Cherokee, Patriot, Liberty and the Wrangler / Wrangler Limited. Jeep sells all of these vehicles outside the United States, and all models are available in right-hand drive and with diesel and gasoline powertrain options, in order to attract a vast array of customers that are looking for an off-roader like the Jeep. Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR Announced Posted: 14 Dec 2010 01:38 AM PST  2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR Last weekend Porsche unleashed the latest iteration of their very successful racing car – the 911 GT3 RSR. The 2011 model comes equipped with a 4.0-liter 6-cylinder boxer power unit that is now capable of producing 455 hp (355 kW) @ 7,800 rpm and 450 Nm of torque. The maximum rev range for the 2011 RSR is 9,400 rpm. The engine of the 911 is linked to a 6-speed transmission with sequential jaw-type shift that is offered with oil/water heat exchanger, hydraulic disengagement, single-mass flywheel and a three-plate carbon-fiber clutch. The new model sports a limited slip differential 45/65 percent. Regarding the aerodynamics of the 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, the car has now an updated front lip that gives more downforce on the front axle, a wider bodykit, a new rear wing and 12-inch front rims. The rear lid of the car has been tweaked in order to improve air ducting. The basic price for the car is 410,000 euros, and from this you have to add the various taxes from your country. For those of you that own the 2010 model, all the modifications brought to the 2011 model can be applied to the outgoing model as a kit. In comparison with the previous model, the new engine offers an additional number of 5 hp, resulted from an engine management system that adapts more efficiently to different fuel grades. In addition, the exhaust system of the GT3 RSR has been redesigned and the air intake housing has been modified. The 12-inch rims have grown from the 11-inch wheels that equip the 2010 model, giving extra grip and reducing the tendency of under steering. The position of the car's rear wing as well as the shape of the wing's mounting received several updates in order to fit the new rear fairing with extra air outlet louvers. Similar with the GT3 R and the 911 GT3 Cup, the GT3 RSR is equipped with LED rear lights inspired from the 911 road-legal Porsche cars. The car features a monocoque body of hot-galvanized steel and the front end has been aerodynamically optimized with the front spoiler. The car now has an adjustable wing and aerodynamically optimized front underfloor. The 90-liter capacity FT3 safety fuel tank is equipped with the fast filling function. The 2011 sports an electric fire extinguishing system, 6-point seat belt adapted for use of the Formula 1-inspired HANS Head and Neck Support, race seat for the driver and welded-in safety cage.  2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR Regarding the suspension of the 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, the front axle sports a McPherson spring strut axle, double coil springs, adjustable sword-type anti-roll bar, Sachs four-way gas pressure dampers and power steering. The rear axle features a multi-arm with rigidly mounted axle sub-frame. The entire suspension is fully adjustable (height, track and chamber) and the rear-axle sports a fully adjustable reinforced tie-bar. The brake system of the car has balance bar control. The front brakes consist of single-piece 6-piston aluminum fixed calipers, 380 mm diameter, inner vented, racing brake pads. The rear brakes consist of single-piece four-piston aluminum fixed calipers, 355 mm diameter, inner vented, racing brake pads. The front rims are 3-piece BBS light-alloy wheels (12J x 18 ET 34) with central bolt and the rear wheels are also 3-piece BBS light-alloy (13J x 18 ET 12.5). The electrical system sports a Motec display that features integrated data recording. The car has a multi-function display with integrated gearshift indicator. The weight of the car is only 1,220 kg. Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Posted: 14 Dec 2010 01:35 AM PST  Audi R18 Las week the German automaker Audi officially unveiled the new R18 model which will begin its testing on April 24th, 2011 at the famous Le Mans circuit, before its first race scheduled for May 8th, 2011 at the 6-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps. One month later, on June 11-12, the R18 will participate in the 40-hour endurance race at Le Mans. With this new model, Audi is targeting a tenth Le Mans success for next year. The development of the car started in 2009 and the R18 features a single component carbon fiber monocoque along with "1" shaped LED taillights, to inspire association with the company's history brand logo. According to Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi Motorsport – "in the future, aerodynamic efficiency will be even more important at Le Mans than it was in the past. A closed car has clear advantages in this respect. Our computer simulations have been confirmed in the wind tunnel and during initial track test. With the 2011 Le Mans, automakers will have to use smaller power units in comparison to the ones used before as the new rules target a substantial power reduction, a trend that will be followed by other motorsport categories in order to lower the overall costs of the competitions. With the 2011 model, Audi equipped the R18 with the 3.7-liter V6 engine that retains the diesel concept that made Audi victorious back in 2006. Ulrich Baretzky, Head of Engine Development at Audi Sport, stated that "from our point of view, the TDI continues to be the most efficient technology. There are good reasons why the share of TDI units among Audi's production models is as high as it is." The aerodynamics package and the chassis of the R18 were inspired by the R8 production model, the R10 TDI and the R15 TDI. The R18 benefits from identically sized front & rear wheels, allowing a more balanced weight distribution. One of the many technical highlights of the car are the headlights, which for the first time in a Le Mans car are powered entirely by LEDs. It is a new generation of headlights resulted from the close collaboration between Audi Sport and Technical Development – TE, a division of Audi AG. With the introduction of these headlights to a Le Mans car, it will open the doors for production models which will be equipped with the same technology in the near future.  Audi R18 The automaker's team for Le Mans will be Audi Sport Team Joest and will consist of 3 R18s. Besides Le Mans, the team will participate in the ILMC championship- Intercontinental Le Mans Cup which consists of seven endurance races (including the 24h Le Mans) on three continents. The complete list of Audi's motorsport events for next year is: Audi R15 TDI Mar 19 Sebring 12 Hours (USA) Audi R18 Apr 24 Test day, Le Mans (F) Audi A4 DTM May 01 Hockenheim (D) Audi R8 LMS Jun 25/26 Nürburgring (D) 24 Hours Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Posted: 13 Dec 2010 12:00 PM PST  Cadillac CTS-V Coupe After 4 years of pause, Cadillac will be once again entering a race series with a production-car based on the CTS-V Coupe. The CTS will be participating in the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge, which is a production-based race car series. Cadillac will not be entering this competition for the first time as in 2005 and 2007, the CTS-V sports sedan managed to win the GT Class Manufacturer's Championship. Don Butler, who is the vice president of marketing at Cadillac, said in a statement today that with the occasion of returning to the event "is a great way to demonstrate the performance and capability of the CTS-V Coupe. The race cars in this series are production-based, which allows us to validate our performance against the best of our competitors on the track and not just the showroom." Some of the production components of the automobile that will take part in the series will be customized for racing, although efforts are taken in order to keep as much production content as possible. The Cadillac CTS-V Coupe 2011 features a powerful 6.2-lier V8 engine that outputs 556 hp. Cadillac will enter the SCCA World Challenge GT Series with two teams. The drivers that will be racing in the series will be Johnny O'Connell and Andy Pilgrim. The American automaker will collaborate with Pratt & Miller, located in New Hudson, Michigan, an engineering company that specializes in motorsports. Jim Campbell, General Motors vice president for Performance Vehicles and Motorsports, said that "the SCCA World Challenge lends itself well to a natural transfer of knowledge. The series will become a key test-bed for Cadillac. We anticipate using what we learn on the racetrack to ensure the V-Series stays on the cutting-edge of performance." The first event in which Cadillac will participate will be organized in March 25-27 in Saint Petersburg. As we mentioned before, Andy Pilgrim (winner of 2005 SCCA World Challenge GT class in a Cadillac) and Johnny O'Connell (three-time GT1 champion in the America Le Mans Series) will be behind the two Cadillac teams. The CTS-V was first introduced in 2003 and since then it managed to obtain a good reputation among luxury sports car buyers. For the 2011 edition, the American automaker will start producing the CTS-V Coupe and the CTS-V Sports Wagon, creating a complete family of high-performance automobiles. Some of the most important highlights of the CTS-V include the Brembo brakes, a Magnetic Ride Control suspension system that is capable of reading and reacting to the road 1,000 times per second and the very powerful 556 hp V8 power unit. The SCCA competition was created in 1944 and since then it has been organizing and supporting races on all levels, starting with series for amateur drivers and ending with professional courses. The World Challenge in which the CTS-V Coupe will be participating, was designed in order to provide teams, manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers a very competitive production-based race series in which all of the companies can prove their various lineup of products and equipment. The race will have a 50-minute maximum time limit and the number of laps as well as the total distance will be determined upon the track configuration, race conditions and lap times. Source: AutoNews.com Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Ford Updates The Explorer Model Posted: 13 Dec 2010 11:59 AM PST  Ford Explorer According to the officials at the Ford Motor Company, the American automaker will start focusing on producing a more fuel-economy efficient Explorer model which will also offer a smoother ride, improved off-road and towing capabilities. Putting it into other words, the Explorer will be differently build but with better capabilities. The 2011 Explorer is not what you have seen from other sport utility vehicles, like rear-wheel drive, rugged body-on-frame construction and a massive V8 power unit. The car will have none of those, but officials at Ford say that the new model will behave just like an SUV, although it will feature a unibody construction that resembles to a crossover. According to Amy Marentic, who is the company's group marketing manager for North America cars and utility vehicles, "the inspiration behind the messaging is reinvention. You get all the capability of an SUV, with the fuel economy and refinement you never expect." The production of the 2011 Ford Explorer began at the beginning of this month and the deliveries started on December 6th. With the launch of the 2011 edition, the American automaker also launched a very aggressive viral campaign to promote the car. The "Explorer Live"- a web campaign, is running on the famous socializing website Facebook and there Ford will be answering to questions about the Explorer using short videos. Some of these clips feature celebrities like rapper Snoop Dogg and singer Bret Michaels. Marentic said that the Explorer Live campaign, which is an offshoot of the company's use of Facebook in order to launch the automobile this summer, managed to get about 250,000 views since it was last introduced about a month ago.  Ford Explorer In addition, the American automaker is taking the 2011 Explorer on a tour across the country, covering 49 cities in 25 states. Their goal is to show the car to more than 1 million people across the United States. Ford is also giving an Explorer to 668 of its best dealers for sales training. The company wants these dealers to hold a "dealer night" in order to invite customers to take a closer look at the 2011 Explorer and take orders. The best year as far as sales numbers is concerned for the Explorer was back in 2000, when Ford managed to sell 445,157 units of the SUV. However, the sales have plummeted steadily for 10 years and in the first 11 months of this year, only 50,588 units of the Explorer were delivered to customers. Ford has not made any predictions about the sales of the 2011 Explorer. Marentic added that "gone are the days of any vehicle selling 400,000 unless you're an F-Series pickup". The basic price for the 2011 Ford Explorer is $28,995 (including shipping costs). In comparison to the outgoing model, the 2011 model is $1,100 less. Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Lancia Planning New Ypsilon, Thema Models Posted: 13 Dec 2010 11:57 AM PST Lancia's best-selling model, the Ypsilon, will be officially launched with the occasion of the Geneva Auto Show in March 2011, along with the Chrysler-based flagship which will most likely be called Thema. The new Ypsilon model is considered to be the key of the company in its attempt to triple sales in the upcoming four years; plan stabiles by the Fiat CEO, Sergio Marchionne. The Lancia flagship model will be a re-badged version of the 2011 Chrysler 300 sedan. With the launch of the Thema, Lancia is hoping to increase the current low number of sales; however it will not be a volume seller with annual commercialization forecast of 10,000-15,000 units. The Thema will be available at dealers in the last quarter of 2011 and it will wear the Lancia badge in Europe and the Chrysler badge in the United Kingdom and Ireland, where Lancia cars are not sold. In comparison to the Chrysler 300, the Lancia model will come with minor tweaks, like Europe-specific bumpers and a different grille. According to the estimates made, 80% of the Thema sales will most likely come from the cars equipped with the new version of the V6 3.0-liter that is capable of producing 230 hp. The turbodiesel powerunit was built by VM Motori, located in Italy. The gasoline engine offering available for the Chrysler 300 will also equip the Lancia. Both models (Chrysler 300 and Lancia Thema) will be manufactured at the Chrysler factory located in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. The new model of the Chrysler 300 for the United States market will make its official debut in January 2011 at the Detroit Auto Show and will be available at the dealerships in the first quarter of next year. The updated model will replace the 6-year-old current car and will have the new Chrysler face, with the redesigned badge and grille. The Italians at Lancia are targeting a sales increase to 300,000 by 2014, in comparison to only 112,000 cars sold last year. With the addition of the 5-door Ypsilon, based on the new model of the Fiat Panda, Lancia is hoping to increase the sales figures. The current model of the Lancia Ypsilo was launched exclusively as a 3-door car in 2002 and is based on the past generation of the Fiat Punto. The production for this model will end in the last part of next year. According to Luca Napolitano, who is the head of the Lancia brand in Italy, "five-door cars cover 75 percent of subcompact sales in Europe." With the launch of the new Ypsilon model, Lancia is hoping to sell 130,000 units per year, in comparison to only 85,000 that were sold in 2004, and 60,000 in the last two years. The car will be officially on sale in June 2011. Lancia manufactured the flagship Thema from 1984 to 1994 and it was well-received by customers, managing to sell 358,000 units until it was replaced with the K model, a car that didn't do so well with just 117,000 cars sold between 1994 and 2001. The last flagship produced by Lancia, dubbed Thesis, was introduced back in 2002 and the last unit was manufactured in early 2009. The production ended due to poor sales. During the car's lifecycle, Lancia produced only 16,000 Thesis units. Post published on Rpmgo.com |
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