Petch & Gill Get Behind World Cup

At a live sponsors day held in Nuneaton yesterday, SGP Motorsport and the Sun Scalextric Rally Team showed off their new cars decked out in the England colours.

The two cars, a Subaru Impreza and an Evo 9, also had the numbers 19 & 66 allocated in memory of our world cup triumph.

Rob Gill/Anders Howard (Impreza) and Stephen Petch/Michael Wilkinson (EVO 9), were also kitted out in the three lions rally suits and were looking forward to the opening rounds in Carlisle on 12/13th May.

Sun journalist Rob, 33, said: “Just like England, it will be important to get a result and get some points on the board.

“Kielder forest has some of the fastest gravel tracks in the world - and some of the biggest ditches. The smallest mistake will be heavily punished so we need to drive with our heads."

Stephen Petch, son of recently retired Steve Petch, said: “I love the long, fast stages. It was a special feeling to finish third in Group N behind two former British champions last year - and it would be great to repeat it.

“I’m also looking forward to making my debut at the Wales Rally GB, the final round of the BRC and the FIA World Rally Championship.”

Infiniti To Launch Across Europe in 2008

Next generation models, premium ownership experience drive new luxury entrant

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd, today announced that its Infiniti luxury brand will launch across the European market during 2008. The announcement was made in Tokyo by President and CEO, Carlos Ghosn, during a press conference for the 2005 fiscal year results.

Launched in the US and Canada in 1989, Infiniti is currently sold across North America, Taiwan, the Middle East and Korea. In 2006, Infiniti will be launched in Russia followed by China and Ukraine during 2007.

"In 1999 we made the decision to re-invest heavily in the Infiniti brand, focusing on outstanding products and a premium ownership experience," said Ghosn. "That investment has made Infiniti the fastest-growing luxury brand in the US and one that is recognised globally for its blend of design, performance and luxury. We are now ready to bring this unique brand to consumers in Europe," continued Ghosn.

Infiniti will be distributed in Europe through a dedicated sales and service network that will start operations during 2008. Full details of the final product range, ownership experience and business structure will be disclosed closer to launch.

"This is the ideal time for Infiniti to launch in Europe," said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Nissan Europe. "This timing allows us to bring the next generation of Infiniti models, including a fully competitive line-up of petrol and diesel engines, specifically designed for the demanding needs of our European premium customers," Carolin added.

Infiniti has built a reputation for top-ranking customer service, contemporary design and driving performance. Since the company renewed its focus on Infiniti in 1999, sales in the US grew from 72,637 vehicles to 136,401 vehicles in 2005, an 88% increase.

In Europe, Nissan employs 12,000 people in its design, research and development, manufacturing, logistics, and sales and marketing operations. In 2005, the company produced a total of 508,901 vehicles in its British and Spanish plants and sold 540,954 vehicles in Europe. Nissan Europe’s headquarters is based in Trappes (Paris), France.

Additional information about Infiniti can be found on the media website at: http://www.nissannews.com/infiniti/index.shtml. Be sure to click on the Infiniti icon in order to view the latest news and model information coming from the recent New York Auto Show.

Ford Dagenham Designs & Builds New V8 Diesel Engine

The launch of a new premium V8 diesel engine at Ford's Dagenham Diesel Centre has further strengthened the site's role as the company's global centre for diesel engineering and manufacturing.

Dagenham Diesel Centre specialists have exclusively engineered and produced this new top of the range engine for Ford Motor Company. It is a state-of-the-art twin-turbo 3.6-litre V8 power unit and the first came off the line today. Vehicle applications for the new engine will be announced later this year together with further technical details.

More than £12.2 million has been invested in the development and manufacture of the V8, bringing the total spent at Dagenham to £644.2 million since it became Ford's diesel centre of excellence.

Phil Lake, Ford's chief diesel engineer, said: "This new V8 engine underlines Ford Motor Company's commitment to engineering and manufacturing in the UK. It is a credit to Dagenham where employees have embraced their role as diesel specialists – engineering and producing advanced quality engines."

The V8 will be built on the same production line which has turned out 110,000 examples of Dagenham Diesel Centre's highly acclaimed 2.7-litre V6 engines for Jaguar, Land Rover and PSA Peugeot Citroën. Both V6 and V8 engine blocks are loaded onto cradles prior to assembly, which enable operators and the line itself to switch between the different units seamlessly.

Dagenham Diesel Centre is one of the most advanced manufacturing sites in the country. It features an ultra modern assembly hall where air is filtered to minimise dust particles that could interfere with the quality of the high tech diesel engines. A clean production environment is required for the high pressure common rail fuel and turbo charging systems featured on the latest advanced diesel engines.

The new V8 boasts a power output of over 270PS and develops up to 640Nm of torque. Dagenham Diesel Centre is gearing up to production volumes of up to 25,000 units a year. The cylinder heads for the V8 will be machined in Dagenham's adjacent original engine plant, where V6 machining already takes place. Both engines are made from lightweight compacted graphite iron, offering strength, durability and quietness.

Ford's Dagenham Diesel Centre was opened by the Prime Minister in 2003 and a total of 2,350 engineers and production operators are employed at Dagenham where 700,000 engines will be produced this year. Further new business for Dagenham assembling 1.4 and 1.6 diesel engines will take the site beyond a million units annual output from early next year.

Dagenham is the source for half of Ford Motor Company's diesel engine requirements globally. Around one in four engines in Ford Motor Company vehicles worldwide were built in Britain – assembled either at Dagenham or Bridgend engine plant, in Wales.

The New Audi TT Coupe

Power born from passion

A cult car, an icon – the Audi TT, launched in the autumn of 1998 – took the sports coupé segment by storm and sharpened the brand profile. Now the second generation of this successful model is making its debut. The new TT Coupé is even more dynamic than its predecessor– in terms of its design, its drivetrain, and its running gear.

The very architecture of the new Audi TT Coupé embodies the style, stability and power of a pure driving machine. The bullish stance of the base body and the low, narrow styling of the greenhouse together form a sculpture of simple, unfussy lines. The Audi design team has lovingly adopted and enhanced the visual code – the motif of circles and domes – of the predecessor model. The new TT appears more stretched, and even at a standstill seems to be striving to move forward; taut panels emphasise the impression of dynamic movement. The new TT is 137 mm longer than its predecessor at 4,178 mm, and 78 mm wider at 1,842 mm.

The body is constructed in the ASF Space Frame design developed by Audi and consists of aluminium and steel. This is the first time that it has combined different materials alongside each other. 69 percent of the superstructure is made of aluminium. The steel components making up the remaining 31 percent are to be found at the rear end, so as to ensure balanced distribution of the axle loads. To improve downforce, a spoiler is extended from the tailgate when the vehicle reaches a speed of 120 km/h.

The new Audi TT, like its predecessor, is initially available as a 2 + 2-seater coupé; the separate roadster model is scheduled for later launch. The basic luggage capacity of the easily accessible boot, under its large-format lid, is 290 litres. This capacity can be increased to 700 litres by folding down the rear seat backs. The sports seats provide outstanding side restraint. There is a choice of three different leathers for the covers.

The cockpit is oriented strictly to the driver and is perfectly ergonomic in design. It embodies the classic circles motif of the TT in a number of ways, such as in the three centre air vents.

Two powerful petrol engines are available to power the car. The 2.0l turbocharged four-cylinder TFSI unit featuring FSI direct injection develops 147 kW (200 bhp). With a six-speed manual gearbox, it accelerates the TT to 100 km/h in just 6.4 seconds, reaching a top speed of 240 km/h. The sonorous-sounding, naturally aspirated 3.2-litre V6 engine develops 184 kW (250 bhp), accelerating from zero to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and reaching a top speed of 250 km/h (electronically governed).

Both engines are equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox. On request they can be combined with the dynamic S tronic dual-clutch gearbox. Whereas the four-cylinder engine comes with front-wheel drive, the V6 distributes its power across both axles by way of the quattro permanent four-wheel drive system – an exclusive technology feature in the sports coupé segment.

The Audi dynamic suspension was newly developed and tuned for the TT Coupé. One of its hallmarks is its self-steering behaviour right up to the handling limits, which ranges from neutral to light understeer. This sporty orientation produces driving fun, agility and supreme handling characteristics.

The track enlargement, with larger wheels ranging from 16 to 19 inches in size, and extensive changes in the area of elastokinematics were key areas of the developers’ work. The new multi-link rear suspension ensures optimum driving dynamics at a sports car level.

The high-tech Audi magnetic ride damper system is available as an option. In this system, tiny magnetic particles circulate in the oil inside the shock absorbers. When a voltage is applied to them, they alter the damping characteristics within milliseconds. This adaptive system simultaneously ensures high levels of ride comfort and thoroughly sporty dynamism, according to the specific driving scenario and the preferences of the driver.

The standard features of the new Audi TT include an automatic air conditioning system and a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel. The latter is not only entirely suitable for the sports car but also makes it easier to get in and out. The air vents, steering wheel spokes and many of the controls are finished in an aluminium look.

With regard to options, customers can choose from a variety of high-tech solutions, including the adaptive light dynamic cornering light system and the Audi parking system which aids parking.

The new TT marks the premiere of a new generation of audio systems. It is characterised by state-of-the-art reception and playback technology and intuitive user control. Six so-called softkeys control a variety of functions depending on which menu is selected. The chorus radio system with single CD drive comes as standard. A Bluetooth interface is available for mobile phones. The telephone function can be operated via the MMI, the multifunction steering wheel and by speech control. The operator control for the optional navigation system takes its cues from the exemplary MMI system familiar from the Audi A6, A8 and Q7 model series.

Subaru Dealer Expansion Continues Apace

Subaru’s record-breaking dealer expansion is continuing apace with the latest opening being a Ford dealership which has operated for over 60 years from the same site.

‘Lifestyle Subaru’ based in Mount Ephraim in Tunbridge Wells, Kent chose Subaru because it believes its performance-biased all-wheel drive range is ideal for its affluent catchment area.

The Ford franchise continues unaffected but ‘Lifestyle’ Managing Director, Peter Isted feels Subaru will prove totally complementary to the existing operation.

He said: "The new Subaru showroom used to be our Ford RS Performance Centre so we are hoping for some pull-through from previous customers."

Peter added: "Our dealings with Subaru UK staff have been excellent with exceptional dealer development support. This is illustrated by us being fully operational within six weeks of signing."

‘Lifestyle’s’ £150,000 refurbishment is backed by the appointment of dedicated Subaru salesmen while its location is on a busy link road to both the M25 and A21. Sales potential is further enhanced by the dealership being opposite the busy Kent and Sussex Accident and Emergency hospital.

Meanwhile, Subaru (UK) Limited National Franchise Development Manager, Terry Leach, said: "We enjoyed a record year for appointments in 2005 resulting in 20 new dealerships applying for the franchise.

"So far this year we have a further 20 dealers in line to be appointed and all of a very high calibre.

"One example is John R Weir, an established Mercedes-Benz dealer for part of Scotland who has taken on Subaru for the Perth area, bringing best practice service and customer satisfaction."

Other imminent new dealerships include the Manchester and Cornwall areas – all helping Subaru reach its eventual dealer count of around 120 outlets.

Mitsubishi Displays Its Support For The Royal Navy Historic Flight

Mitsubishi Motors UK has teamed up with the Royal Navy Historic Flight (RNHF) for the 2006 air display season. Equipped with an all-new Mitsubishi L200 Warrior pick-up, the RNHF team will travel the length and breadth of the UK to entertain around 3 million spectators during the summer months.

Attending around 60 air displays, the RNHF will take part in shows at locations as diverse as Duxford, Lowestoft, Southend, Eastborne, Southport, Sunderland and Clapton. The highlight of the RNHF’s 6 month tour will be their home air display at Yeovilton on 8th July. Here the expected crowd of 40,000 people will witness the first ever race between a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX supercar and a Lynx helicopter.

The RNHF was established in 1972 in order to preserve part of the UK’s naval heritage and be a living memorial to those who served in the Fleet Air Arm. Run by volunteers who are ex-service, the RNHF relies upon charitable contributions and donations from industry. The air shows also form an integral part of the organisation’s fundraising.

On taking delivery of the L200 pick-up, Flight Commander Phil Thornton commented, "This is the perfect vehicle for our needs; it combines the comfort and capacity we need for transporting our people to air shows all around the country, along with the ability to carry all the kit needed to support our aircraft at the shows. Furthermore, it is a pleasure to drive."

Aiming to maintain Mitsubishi’s domination of the pick-up segment, the new L200 has had a flying start, with 1,500 pre-orders taken before the vehicle had even reached the dealers in early March. The L200 Warrior is expected to be the best selling model and features Super Select 4WD, climate control, 17in alloy wheels, CD player with MP3 compatibility and Mitsubishi Active Stability & Traction Control – a first for the pick-up segment. Prices for the L200 pick-up range start at £12,249 rising to £19,999 CVOTR.

Resources: Mitsubishi L200

£1/2 Million Duesenberg To Headline H&H May Sale At Syon Park, London

First came the grand German Mercedes-Benz 500K, then the elegant English Alvis, now a stunning American gangster-style 1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe has been entered for H&H’s sale at Syon Park, London on May 24.

This highly desirable automobile was delivered new in 1929 to top CBS executive and co-founder of the WBBM radio station, H Leslie Atlass of Chicago. Its striking LeBaron Sweep Panel Phaeton coachwork was so admired by friend and fellow Duesenberg-owner Philip K Wrigley (of the chewing gum company fame), that he persuaded Atlass to swap bodies. J147 thereby acquired its current rakish Murphy Convertible Coupe coachwork in circa 1930.

Perhaps regretting his decision, Wrigley seems to have purchased J147 sometime thereafter and retained it until 1940, when history relates he traded it in for, of all things, a Mercury Town Sedan! At that stage the car had covered a mere 28,311 miles. For 10 years it comprised part of the renowned Imperial Palace Auto Collection, arriving in the UK in 2000.

Finished in black with beige trim, this magnificent machine carries an estimate of £400,000-500,000.

Brooke Special

The 1936 ERA/Riley Brooke Special is a proven winner in HGPCA circles. This single-seater race car was built by Brooklands competitor and scrap dealer Lesley Brooke around a Riley Imp. Fitted with various MG, Riley and ERA engines in its day, it was raced very successfully, as now, with a blown ERA unit. In its time, it featured in the 1938 South African Grand Prix and won the 1949 Manx Cup.

Still competing most successfully in England and mainland Europe, it has full FIA papers and has secured many victories, including the 2002 Trofeo Alberto Ascari. Finished in blue, it is estimated to fetch £130,000-160,000.

Works MGB

Just entered as we went to press was the No.47 Works Sebring MGB of 1964. Genuine Lightweight Competition Roadsters of such considerable pedigree very rarely now come to sale. It carries an estimate of £40,000-50,000.

Further information on this and all other H&H sales can be found at www.classic-auctions.com or by calling +44 (0)1925 730630.

New VW Golf Heads Lex Top 10 Car List

The new Volkswagen Golf has retained its position as the best selling car on Lex Vehicle Leasing’s fleet of 178,000 vehicles, the first time a car has won this accolade two years running.

Reflecting the fleet market’s trend towards driving smaller, more tax friendly and fuel efficient company cars, the five door Golf 140bhp TDi was the pick of the bunch of the 46,000 vehicles supplied by Lex to its fleet customers in 2005.

Vauxhall’s new Astra showed its increased popularity among drivers in second place, while the new BMW 3 Series retains its position on the list at number three boosted by its diesel engines and introduction of its M options on the car.

The new VW Passat not only achieved fourth place, it also took the accolade of the most quoted car of 2005. Both the Honda Accord and Vauxhall Vectra rose one place in the list to fifth and sixth respectively.

The Saab 9-3 enjoyed something of a renaissance in 2005, entering the chart for the first time at number seven as did the Audi A4 which crept into the list at number 10.

The run out and new model Honda Civics also enjoyed a surge in interest, clinging onto its top ten spot for the second year running.

Diesel growth on the Lex fleet has slowed, but has still grown from 62% of all purchases to 64% in 2005.

“Drivers are constantly re-evaluating the make and model of car they drive based on its tax and mpg performance, which is why it’s interesting to see the same car take top position for the second year running,” explained Peter Knights, Lex Vehicle Leasing’s Head of Communications.

Peter added, “The appearance of the Saab 9-3 and Audi A4 for the first time also reinforces the fact that companies are making their car choice lists more flexible, which spells good news for all drivers.”

Ranking 2005 - Make and Model - 2004 - 2003 - 2002

1 - VW Golf - 1 st - 3 rd - 2 nd

2 - Vauxhall Astra - 4 th - 4 th - 5 th

3 - BMW 3 Series - 5 th - 5 th - 3 rd

4 - VW Passat - 9 th - 9 th - 8 th

5 - Honda Accord - 6 th

6 - Vauxhall Vectra - 7 th - 6 th - 7 th

7 - Saab 9-3

8 - Ford Focus - 2 nd - 1 st - 4 th

9 - Honda Civic - 10 th

10 - Audi A4

The New Cadillac BLS – The Key To The European Sales Door

Cadillac, once the chosen luxury car for film stars, starlets, rock icons, US politicians and corporate moguls, after years of dwindling sales has achieved a re-birth over the last five years in its home market - now its time expand in Europe.

Cadillac’s annual sales in the US have risen quickly to 253,322 vehicles in 2005 to become America’s fastest growing luxury car brand ahead of BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Lexus.

Driven by this domestic success, GM Corporation officially re-entered the European market with Cadillac last year when they sold 2,145 cars, a sales increase of 73 per cent. A very small number of Corvettes were also sold.

The BLS four-door saloon range with one diesel and three petrol engine options is the key product for Cadillac and they say it will grow their worldwide market potential four-fold, from 750,000 annual sales to three million.

Cadillac and Corvette Europe Limited, part of the Dutch run Kroymans Group, are now running things in 28 European countries and they uniquely appointed one of the world’s largest dealer groups, Stratstone-Pendragon, to distribute and sell both model ranges in the UK from May 2005.

Supporting the dealer group, Cadillac and Corvette Europe Limited do have a small UK liaison operation based in Bracknell, Berkshire headed by Malcolm Wade, Director of Sales Cadillac Europe and Managing Director for the UK.

2005 saw the return to the UK market for the Cadillac brand after a break of three years. Initially sales started in 1998 through 11 Vauxhall dealers selling Cadillac Seville, Chevrolet Blazer and Corvette models. The prices were too high, the driving qualities were not up to European requirements and even huge discounts did not lift sales much above 3,000 units in nearly five years.

Cadillac Europe admit than in the UK their biggest problem is to convince customers this time the brands are here to stay and that the products are now engineered equipped and priced to meet European requirements.

Currently the Cadillac and Corvette brands are represented by a mixture of right and left hand drive model ranges, the executive CTS, the SRX monster 4x4, the STS touring saloon, the XLR two-seat roadster and the Corvette C6 sports car.

But the key model to their survival in Europe is the new BLS ‘premium mid-sized saloon, designed in Europe and built in Europe at Trollhattan, Sweden, GM’s Saab factory. The BLS fits into the GM’s European range above the Saab and its main competitors will be the BMW 3-Series, Mercedes C-Class, Audi A4 and Lexus IS 220/250.

The BLS goes on sale in the UK from 8 April and Malcolm Wade said at the UK media introduction currently taking place that the new model range would more than double the brand’s sales volumes in Europe during 2006. European BLS sales are expected to be around 10,000 units this year but the UK’s target was not forthcoming. However industry pundits believe 1,500 BLS sales in the UK this year would be realistic, and depending upon market conditions, 2,000, to 2,500 in a full year should be achievable.

Wade added, "With the American Cadillac heritage, but with the BLS designed and built in Europe to meet European requirements, we are promoting Cadillac as an aspirational brand – it’s a Cadillac. The BLS is aimed at customers who want something different, they don’t need it but they want it. It has all the driving sophistication and specification of a European luxury car but with Cadillac’s distinctive bold styling. We acknowledge it will be a love or hate decision for some customers."

In the region of 75 per cent of UK customers for the BLS models will come from business and corporate sales.

With prices ranging from £21,473 to £32,398 the BLS range has four turbocharged engine options each with the choice of manual or automatic transmissions. Prime seller will be the 1.9D, 150bhp common-rail diesel models which are expected to account for two thirds of all BLS sales in the UK. Three petrol engines are on offer. At launch it will be the 2.8-litre, V6 255bhp unit followed in six to eight weeks by two 2.0-litre petrol engines, one with 175bhp the other with 210bhp. All these units come from the GM’s European family of brands.

Stratstone-Pendragon are currently expanding its Cadillac and Corvette UK dealer network with the recent announcement of five new locations and confirmation that at least seven more will be added by the end of the year bringing the total number to 19. The very recent takeover of the Reg Vardy dealer group by Pendragon plc has resulted in more sales and service sites for the two GM brands becoming available.

The current and future dealer locations confirmed are, Park Lane London, Birmingham, Cheltenham, Reading, Derby, Leeds, Newcastle, Hagley, Luton, Cardiff, Manchester, Weybridge, Leicester, Northampton, Poole, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Plymouth. Open points are East Anglia, the North West, Bristol, Lincolnshire and Kent. Stratstone are also offering UK customers a collection and delivery service for their cars to anyone of their 22 service centres.

Nedcar To Be Restructured

The negotiations on the future of NedCar, between the NedCar Supervisory Board, NedCar management and the social partners, did not arrive at a conclusion, and will be continued on April 11th.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has requested NedCar to draft a restructuring plan for a one-shift operation, based on a current production volume of the Mitsubishi Colt, in the context of intended smart forfour exit.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation confirmed the continuing commitment to produce the current Mitsubishi Colt at NedCar without any change.

PSA Peugeot Citroen Rapidly Expands Its Development In China

PSA Peugeot Citroën and Dongfeng Motor Group are expanding their industrial plan for their joint subsidiary Dongfeng Peugeot Citroën Automobiles (DPCA) to reflect their growth in China.

After doubling capacity at the Wuhan plant, which is being stepped up to 300,000 units a year in 2008, the DPCA board decided on April 1 to actively search for a new production site. The exact location and schedule for the new facility will be announced within the next few months.

DPCA also intends to strengthen its product plan, produced on the two new Group platforms used in China since mid-2004, as well as platform 3, which will be introduced by the end of the decade for the production of upper mid-range models. This will eventually enable DPCA to offer a comprehensive range of vehicles, from compact cars to large executive saloons. Production of nine models is scheduled to begin at the Wuhan plant between 2006 and 2009, including three new models this year alone.

In addition to the Peugeot 307, which has been produced on platform 2 since July 2004, and the Peugeot 206, produced on platform 1 since March 2006, production of two new Citroën models will begin this year—the Citroën C-Triomphe (platform 2), unveiled in Shenzhen in February, and later in the year, a new compact Citroën that will increase Wuhan’s range to eight models.

These developments reflect the favourable outlook for the Chinese automotive market and DPCA’s ability to produce cars which meet the needs of Chinese customers, thanks in particular to its 650-strong team of highly-skilled engineers and technicians, in charge of automotive development. In 2005, DPCA sales rose by 57.5% to 140,400 units from 89,100, in a market that expanded by 24%. The 2006 sales target has been set at over 200,000 units.

In response to strong business growth in China, PSA Peugeot Citroën has created Peugeot Citroën China Automotive Trade Company Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary that will strengthen the Group’s presence in China, while contributing to the development of DPCA. By importing additional Peugeot and Citroën models not produced in China, the new subsidiary will also help to enhance the image of both marques.