Have VW Lost The Plot?

As 'brand protection' continue's to be the buzz word in today's cut throat market, we sometimes wonder if some take it all a little too seriously.

Take VW for example. Apparently little known artist Don Stewart has upset the 'Teutonic' car giant by re-drawing an image of a Beetle with a ball point pen.

Faster than you can say "beetle bug", VW had its lawyers bearing down on Don with a cease-and-desist letter accusing the artist of seeking to "capitalize on and profit from the goodwill and reputation of VWoA by misappropriating VWoA's registered trademarks and trade dress in its products."

What a load of tosh! Anybody who visits Don's gallery can see that he draws everything from Aeroplanes to Bag Pipes and has been doing so for 20 years. Whats his crime? Wanting to make a profit is hardly breaking the law is it?

VW are making themselves look silly here and should quietly let this one go, better still, they should purchase one of Don's pictures as way of compensation for making his life a misery.

But Don is fighting back as he rightly puts it "On the advice of attorneys representing DS Art, and firm in our belief that we are fully protected by the rights and privileges embodied in the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, we have decided to reinstate our beloved Bugs® to this web site."

Good for you Don!

Kia UK Appoint New Communications Director

Kia Press Release

Stephen Kitson has been appointed Communications Director at Kia Motors (UK) Limited to reflect a wider role including internal responsibilities.

In addition to retaining his overall responsibility for Press and Public Relations he will also be developing Kia's internal communications and corporate identity as well as being involved in other aspects of the UK subsidiary's business activities.

Kitson joined Kia in February 2004 from the Hyundai World Rally Team where he had been in charge of marketing and press relations for two years following his return from Hyundai Motor Company's head office in Seoul, where he was Director of International Public Relations.

A former industry and motoring journalist, Kitson has been involved in the automotive industry in press and public relations activities since 1986.

Paul Williams, Managing Director of Kia Motors (UK) Limited said: "Steve has extensive experience with the Korean automotive industry and has seen their development from small national companies making vehicles under licence to major global players producing advanced, reliable and still good value products all over the world.

"Since joining us at Kia Motors UK he has played a central role in helping to build understanding of the brand and its ambitions amongst the UK media and although still focused on that he will also be ensuring the professionalism of our PR effort is reproduced throughout our internal departments in order to deliver the clearest possible communication to our partners, dealers and customers," he added.

Kitson commented: "I have a first rate team looking after Press and PR matters at Kia in Louisa Sharp, Sue Cugley and Laura Hardy. These new responsibilities will allow us to introduce some of the adjustments we have made in terms of improving communication to the media to our own internal people, our dealers and ultimately present Kia more effectively to the customer.

"Too many companies take their eye off the ball of ensuring their customers know who they are, what they are and that the customer is the first priority. I hope that by ensuring we communicate clearly and effectively within our organisation we will automatically communicate more simply to our dealers and our customers," he said.

Hyundai UK Release New Amica Information

So one can assume the embargo is lifted as Hyundai dealers in the UK were given the low down on the all new Amica.

Due for launch on the 1st March, Hyundai hope the Amica (picture not UK spec) will attract the older generation as opposed to the young car buyers eager to snap up today's value-for-money supermini's.

The Amica/Atoz was last seen in UK showrooms in 2002 when it was eventually replaced by the more modern looking Getz. Now Hyundai are hoping that previous fans and owners of the car will buy into this revamped version until an all new model comes out in 2007.

With its high driving position, the Hyundai Amica was always popular with the more mature driver as it was easy to get in and out of. It also offered high levels of specification and was always a reliable car with little or few faults. At that time the car came with a 3 year warranty, but Hyundai have moved on since then and an industry leading 5 yr warranty package should go some way to making the Amica an attractive proposition to buyers.

The price will be pitched at £5995 for the 1.1 GSi 5dr and will go head to head with the likes of the Chevrolet Matiz, Suzuki Alto and Vauxhall Agila. There will also be a top of the range 1.1 CDX manual and also an automatic version at £6495 & £7345 respectively.

7 colours will be available in 3 solid, 3 metallic and 1 mica paint finishes. These are Ebony Black, Daffodil Yellow and Chilli Red solid, Bright Silver, Aqua Tint and Thunder Grey metallic and Electric Blue mica.

Specific Targets

• Mature Market
• Current owners of Amica / Atoz looking to trade in a 3-5 year old model
• Owners of Getz looking for a smaller even more economical car
• Owners of competitor Mini (e.g. Chevrolet Matiz, Suzuki Alto, Vauxhall Agila) / Supermini cars looking for a product that will met their needs better
• Motability Customers
  

Mazda Bringing Back Sakata Range

At its Annual Dealer Conference, Mazda UK decided to re-introduce its popular 'Sakata' limited edition range back in time for the March 1st rush.

In the past the Sakata range has extended itself to the Mazda 3 and Mazda 6 only, but this time Mazda are introducing it to the 2.

Launched as the Mazda Sakata Special Version Range, the limited editions are designed around the strategy of offering a sporty 'Zoom-Zoom' experience at an affordable price.

The vehicles in the Sakata range provide two major enhancements to create a retail proposition around entry level to the small-mid sized family car segment.

• Exterior - sporty: rear spoiler and free metallic paint (Mazda 2 also adds 15" alloy wheels)
• Interior - functional: air conditioning

The full line up of the Sakata range is as follows:

• Mazda 2 1.4 5dr Sakata - model build 350 - price £8,995 (Free metallic paint, spoiler & 15" alloy wheels)
  
• Mazda 3 1.6 5dr Sakata - model build 800 - price £11,745 (Free metallic Colours willor mica paint, spoiler, air conditioning)
  
• Mazda 6 1.8 5dr Sakata - model build 600 - price £13,895 (Free metallic or mica paint, spoiler)
  
• Mazda 6 2.0 D 5dr Sakata - model build - price £14,995 (Free metallic or mica paint, spoiler)

Colour availability will vary depending on which model you choose, but the choice is either Black Metallic, Black Mica or Strato Blue Metallic.

Cars will be despatched to arrive at dealerships in late January to mid February.

Hyundai And Kia Storm Ahead

Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia Motors sold 3.55 million cars in 2005 at home and abroad, overtaking Peugeot Citroen (3.39 million) to become the world's seventh largest carmaker. In 2004, the Korean company ranked eighth with sales of 3.36 million cars behind the French company, which posted sales of 3.38 million.

GM sold the most cars with some 9 million, followed by Toyota (8.09 million) and Ford (6.6 million). Renault-Nissan came fourth with 6.15 million, Volkswagen fifth with 5.24 million and DaimlerChrysler sixth with 4.5 million.

Korea's largest automotive group may be able to challenge DaimlerChrysler for sixth place this year if it achieves its sales target of 4.12 million. It aims to become one of the world's top five motor companies by 2010. Hyundai Motor Vice Chairman Kim Dong-jin on Wednesday announced a target to become the world's fourth largest automaker by increasing production capacity to 6.5 million by 2010.

Kia Growth Spurs On Plans For 2006

Kia’s record-breaking growth continued in 2005 laying the foundations for the final stage of redevelopment of the entire Kia product range by the end of 2006.

In a market down 5%, Kia achieved a 19% increase with sales finishing at 39,761 year-on-year putting them ahead of popular consumer brands such as Seat, Fiat and Volvo.

The Picanto, Kia’s best seller in 2005 with 12,761 units, originally announced the arrival of a new generation of Kia vehicles back in June 2004 and was swiftly followed by an overhaul of design for Sportage and Rio and the introduction of Cerato to the range.

The final phase of the successful re-launch programme starts in 2006, with the public launch of Magentis in spring available for the first time with a 2.0-litre diesel engine, and is followed by a complete redesign of Kia’s MPV range.

Frequently the nation’s favourite MPV since its introduction in 1999, Kia is bringing the all new 7-seater Sedona to the UK market in the summer time which is then followed by the replacement of Kia’s mid-sized MPV, the Carens. The Carens presents the most radical design departure from its predecessor and will make its worldwide debut at the Madrid Motor Show.

Kia’s best sellers in 2005 were Picanto (12,761), Sedona (5,865), Sorento (5,269) and Sportage (4,730).

Kia Revises Sportage Diesel Engine

Kia has made significant changes to the performance of its diesel Sportage, giving the 4x4 a substantial 25% increase in power and torque and introducing a new Euro IV compliant engine.

Sportage now benefits from a 6-speed transmission mated to a revised 2.0-litre variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) four-cylinder engine that sees an increase in power from 111 bhp to 138 bhp @ 4,000 rpm. Torque is also increased from 245 Nm to 305 Nm at 1,800 – 2,500 rpm.

Combined fuel economy and CO₂ figures remain unchanged at 39.8 mpg and 187 g/km respectively. Urban and extra-urban performance is only slightly revised with the urban figure rising to 31.7 mpg and extra-urban output reduced to 45.6 mpg.

Fiat Release Grande Punto Specification

With the launch of the all new Fiat Grande Punto just around the corner (Feb 1st), Fiat have released the full specification and model line-up to its dealer network in time for launch.

The Punto has been the most successful Fiat ever and currently accounts for 52% of Fiat sales in the UK. So it's vital that this be one of the most important car launches of its kind for many years - an all-new, 'next generation' replacement: the Grande Punto.

The Grande Punto range consists of 15 versions – 13 of which are available at launch. The 1.4 16v engine (available as Eleganza and Sporting) is not available until mid 2006.

Grande Punto Range

• 1.2 8v - Active 3 & 5 door
• 1.3 Multijet 75 bhp - Active 3 & 5 door
• 1.4 8v - Active Sport 3 door
  
• 1.2 8v - Dynamic 3 & 5 door
• 1.4 8v - Dynamic 3 & 5 door
• 1.3 Multijet 90 bhp - Dynamic 3 & 5 door
• 1.4 16v - Eleganza 5 door
• 1.9 Multijet 120 bhp - Eleganza 5 door
• 1.4 16v - Sporting 3 door
• 1.9 Multijet 130 bhp - Sport 3 door

Grande Punto Specification

Active - models will have remote central locking, CD player, steering wheel audio controls, electric windows, height adjustable drivers seat, adjustable steering wheel, 2 airbags, 3 rear seats and seatbelts.

Active Sport - as Active plus 15" alloy wheels, leather steering wheel, spoiler and sideskirts, fog lights, MP3 player, side and window airbags, body coloured and electric door mirrors, additional 12 bhp.

Dynamic - as Active plus air conditioning, rear head restraints, leather steering wheel, side and window airbags, body coloured and electric door mirrors, interior trim, 15" alloy wheels, split rear seat.

Fiat are confident dealers won't be hampered with supply problems which usually go hand-in-hand with new product launches and are sending each one of their networks plenty of stock in time for launch.

Mazda Kabura Concept: Redefining The Compact Sports Coupe

Mazda Press Release:

The essence of Mazda’s Zoom-Zoom spirit is to provide customers with stylish, insightful, spirited products capable of enriching their lives in exciting ways. At this year’s North American International Auto Show (in Detroit, Michigan), Mazda is presenting Kabura, a design concept that ventures beyond the compact sports coupe norm to explore several fresh ideas that could appear in future production models.

Kabura is not only the first Mazda compact coupe for the 21 st century, it’s also the first project guided by Mazda North American Operations’ (MNAO) Director of Design Franz von Holzhausen, who joined Mazda in February 2005 from GM. The 37-year-old von Holzhausen studied industrial design at Syracuse University ( New York State) and graduated from the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.

Reinvigorating the Affordable Coupe

“With Kabura, we set out to use innovative design to rekindle the passion for driving,” notes von Holzhausen. “Our intention is to rouse the segment with some intravenous creativity. While we have no plans at the moment to build a production version of Kabura, it is not a complete flight of fancy. It embodies several innovations Mazda could implement when a compact sports coupe, steeped in Zoom-Zoom, is ready for production.”

According to a recent survey performed by a major research organisation, Mazda’s new-car customers are the second youngest in North America, with an average age of only 41 years.

Generation-Y buyers are several steps ahead of the latest trends and constantly on the lookout for affordable possessions that satisfy their hunger for stylish, insightful and spirited designs. One of Kabura’s roles is exposing a likely future design direction to today’s demanding consumers.

Power is supplied to Kabura’s rear wheels by a 2.0-litre version of Mazda’s highly respected MZR DOHC 16-valve engine. Unusually, Kabura has different size wheels and tyres – 245/35 R19 Bridgestone Potenza at the front and 245/35 R20 at the rear. While this concept has been constructed over several Mazda MX-5 chassis components, basic dimensions fall between Mazda’s MX-5 and RX-8 sportscars.

Were the Kabura design study to achieve production status, it would likely be a stand-alone product rather than an extension of any existing model line.

Spirited Exterior

Von Holzhausen describes Kabura’s exterior as “a nimble-looking fuselage with a powerful stance, pronounced wheel arches and taut surfaces.” He adds , “Every line flows into another with no open ends. Surfaces are drawn tight over the wheel arches, the way a spider’s web stretches between anchor points.”

While Kabura’s profile is reminiscent of classic coupes, the windscreen and forward portion of the roof are integrated into one seamless glass surface that extends from the cowl to the B‑pillar. Admitting extra light enhances the interior’s feeling of airy space. Overhead portions of the glass have adjustable tinting so that the driver can twist a knob on bright days to change the roof’s opacity, as desired, from clear to completely opaque.

Behind its B-pillar, Kabura has a two-piece glass hatch. The uppermost glass panel normally lies flush. When pivoted-up by an electric motor, the way ailerons rise out of an airplane wing, this panel serves three purposes: it acts as a roof spoiler, it vents air from the interior and it greatly augments the rear passengers’ headroom. In addition, a photovoltaic solar cell in the panel helps to control ambient temperature as well as recharge the battery. The larger glass hatch panel has side-mounted hinges to provide ready access to Kabura’s spacious cargo compartment.

Creative Interior Composition

“While examining the habits and tastes of our youthful customers, we found that the majority have a need to carry one or at most two passengers in comfort, while a very small percentage actually use the fourth seat on limited occasions,” von Holzhausen continues, noting the level of research and planning that goes into the creation of a major automaker’s concept vehicle. “Clearly, the standard 2+2 compact coupe configuration with restricted rear access and limited seating space doesn’t really work in this context, so we created an innovative 3+1 layout for Kabura that resolves those shortcomings.”

A standard left-side door provides access to the driver’s cockpit and the rear jump seat. The right side is a wholly different and purposely asymmetrical arrangement. Removing the glovebox and minimisng the instrument panel allowed designers to shift the front passenger six-inches ahead of the driver’s seating position. In turn, the second passenger, sitting in tandem behind the right-front passenger, enjoys approximately the same leg, shoulder, and headroom.

Developed on the RX-Evolv and RX-01 showcars, Mazda designers invented the rear-hinged freestyle doors to improve the Mazda RX-8's rear-seat access. Kabura proves that inspiration can strike twice in pursuit of spirited, stylish design that provides customers more than they ever dreamed possible.

To maintain a sleek roofline while offering rear access that’s vastly superior to what’s available in today’s compact coupes, von Holzhausen’s team designed Kabura with an extra right-side door. After the front door is opened, touching a button slides the bonus door straight back and out of the way.

Instead of swinging on hinges as in the innovative Mazda RX-8, this additional door glides neatly into a cavity notched into the rear-quarter panel area the way a pocket door disappears into a house wall.

Form and Function Meet the Future

Building on Kabura’s innovative styling and interior packaging, von Holzhausen’s team decided that introducing a level of sustainability and recyclability was a critical part of the concept. By partnering with Sustainable Solutions, Inc (SSI), a leader in reengineering post-industrial waste materials into quality consumer products, Mazda shows it has an eye toward the future in everything it does.
Kabura's interior is produced from SSI's innovative regenerated leather substrate. Itself produced from 100 per cent post-industrial waste – in this case, much of the waste was material recovered from the manufacturing of Nike brand athletic shoes – SSI's leather-grind is able to be dyed and printed in any colour or design and appears in Kabura as a technical yet inviting material.

Mazda KABURA Specifications

Dimensions

Length - 4, 050 mm
Width - 1, 780 mm
Height - 1, 280 mm
Wheelbase - 2,550 mm
Seating capacity - 4 people

Engine

Type - MZR 2.0 L DOHC 16-Valves

Transmission

Type - 6-speed manual

Suspension （ Front/Rear ）

Type - Double Wishbone/Multi-Link

Tyres

Size - Front : 245/35 R19 Rear: 245/35 R20 Bridgestone Potenza

Used Mazda MX5 Hassle Free

In a recent survey carried out by Whatcar? magazine, the Mazda MX-5 was voted the convertible least likely to go wrong. The survey which covered a wide variety of models from BMW's, Audi's, Porsche and Mercedes to the more modest Hyundai Coupe.

Awarding the roadster 5 stars and claiming only 6 out of 100 owners of the 1998-2005 model suffer problems, the magazine also declared that the MX-5 was one of quickest cars to repair and costs on average, a relatively modest £256 to put right.

Read coupe’s cabriolets and roadsters

Kia Bears Its ‘Soul’ In The Heart Of The US

Kia Motors Corporation (K.M.C) and Kia Motors America (K.M.A) today unveiled the all-new Soul concept car during a press conference at the North American International Auto Show (N.A.I.A.S) in Detroit. The Kia Soul concept is a crossover utility vehicle (C.U.T) with a sporty, bold look that builds on design cues from the Kia Mesa concept vehicle introduced at the 2005 N.A.I.A.S.

"The Soul really was a collaborative effort between our design studio in California and our design studio in Korea," said Tom Kearns, chief designer for KMA. "We went so far as to send one of our California designers to Korea for a month and half during the project.

"We wanted to inject some living, breathing life into this car’s design – give it a soul, if you will, and the word ‘Soul’ is a homophone for the home city of Kia Motors Corporation headquarters, Seoul, South Korea."

The architecture of the Soul’s stance and wide track is reflective of its sporting, confident-handling character. A wrap-around windscreen, muscular wheel arches, stylish front headlamps and a sloped roofline help convey Soul’s athletic appearance.

Atop the sloped roofline is an automatic panoramic sun/moon roof. The front section of the panoramic roof slides backward and fits over of the rear section allowing for open-air driving with unobstructed views for both front and rear passengers. Roof racks are integrated into the Soul’s design with rails for sliding objects forward and backward.

A symmetrical combination headlight design builds on previous touches from the Mesa concept. The front brush guard with integrated fog lamps is functional and helps convey the Soul’s SUV toughness.

The Soul’s side panel construction was designed with safety in mind and is strong enough to allow "freestyle" passenger doors (rear-hinged in back) that, when opened, reveal the lack of a B pillar, which makes for easier ingress and egress. High taillight placement lends to a contemporary look but also to better visibility and safety for occupants.

A rear brush guard smoothly envelopes the license plate underneath a power lift gate activated by the key fob. And the rear lift gate includes a unique backpack compartment that folds out like a mail slot for wet or muddy items such as a wetsuit and hiking shoes.

The Soul’s interior was inspired by high-quality audio equipment. In fact, "The dash area was designed around the front audio speakers rather than the other way around," said Kearns.

Furthering the multimedia entertainment system is a notebook computer with a multi-purpose video game monitor housed in the glove compartment area. The notebook sits on a tray that swings outward and becomes accessible to either the passenger or driver seating positions. The multimedia system includes Blue-tooth and MP3 technology as well as multiple USB ports, Wi-Fi and telematics. Video monitors that fold up and out airline style from the centre console, which runs the length of the cabin, are available for rear seat passengers’ entertainment.

Cabin ambience is accentuated by upscale interior lighting. Instead of a typical dome light there is a lighting element surrounding each panoramic sun/moon roof.

Soul’s shape promises lots of interior space relative to its footprint; though small on the outside, Soul is big inside with reconfigurable cargo space. Two semi-bucket seats in front comfort the driver and front passenger, while flat-folding rear seats create even more storage space.

"The Kia Soul proves that you don’t have to sacrifice style to have an extremely flexible vehicle that can meet the demands of an active and engaged lifestyle," said Len Hunt, executive vice president and COO of KMA. "It’s sporty but useful, exciting and enabling."

The front-drive Soul is powered by a 2.0L, inline four-cylinder petrol engine. The powerplant is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift capability and adaptive cruise control for active driver control and convenience.

Opened in early-2003, the Hyundai • Kia Motors Design & Technical Center is a 90,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility that houses more than 100 auto designers, engineers, model makers and technicians in Irvine, California.

First Award Of 2006 Goes To New Mazda MX-5

Test Drive magazine have announced in its February issue that the all new Mazda MX5 is worthy of its "Best Roadster 2006" award.

Being the first award presented in 2006, the MX5 was given a run out across the Welsh hills in cloudy and windy weather. Not exactly California dreams but open-top motoring has always been popular in the UK whatever the weather.

The magazine were also impressed by the roadsters evolution which sticks to the principal design of the old model: "The MX-5's manual hood can be lowered in seconds. Simplicity is the watchword. The temptation to tweak, to tamper, to temper and to tame has been resisted.

"This car can trace more than its name back to the first model in 1989; its purity and its simplicity remain intact. So drop the hood. Don't woory about the rain when it comes. If it can't catch you, it can't soak you. Go fast enough and the wind will be your roof." said the reporter who test drove the car.

Not just satisfied with the design and balance of the car, Test Drive thought they would test out the performance too. So out came a £22,750 BMW 2.0i Z4 to see how the £18,900 MX-5 2.0i Sport would cope.

So how did it cope? Well so impressed with the outcome of the test the reporter went on to say: The Mazda didn't just win this award on a value-for-money footing. It won it on the twisting, rain soaked mountain roads. It won on the mile straight of the proving ground. It won on the fast, sweeping corners of the Rockingham racing circuit.

The Mazda is quicker than the BMW, its steering is sharper and its six-speed gearbox sweeter. But you don't need a satellite-linked data recorder to tell you all that. The grin on your face will do just fine. Downgrade to the slower, five-speed 1.8-liter version and the experience may be a little less intense, but the smile will still be there." High praise indeed.

This is the second award the all new Mazda MX5 has won since its launch following the Top Gear Roadster of the Year 2005 award in December. We have a feeling it won't be the last.

New Mazda Kabura Concept Pic

Looking ahead to the N.A.I.A.S Detroit in January there's one car that we are particulary interested in seeing and that is the Mazda Kabura Concept car.

Especially after seeing this new picture which came from a Japanese car magazine (via www.leftlanenews.com.

Naturally these concept images are one thing and usually when they appear in the flesh they are a different thing entirely. A point Apple CEO Steve Jobs made recently in an interview in Time Magazine when he said: "You know how you see a show car, and it's really cool, and then four years later you see the production car, and it sucks? And you go, What happened? They had it! They had it in the palm of their hands! They grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory!"

Although i would agree with this statement, Mazda do have a habit of sticking their necks out and daring to be bold. The Kabura Concept reminds me a little of the RX8 but perhaps we could be seeing the new RX-7 which is rumoured to be on the cards.

One way or the other this is a concept car we are looking forward to seeing very much indeed.