ВСЕ ПРО АВТО All ABOUT AVTO

Yes, we’re still bitter about the Scirocco not making it to the States, but some manner of consolation may be on the way in the form of the 2011 Volkswagen Golf R.

Although VW has yet to confirm that the fastest ever Golf is headed to the U.S., the word on the street is that the 265-hp, all-wheel drive hatch is on its way to the Colonies later this year, with a choice of either a six-speed manual or dual-clutch gearbox.

The turbocharged 2.0-liter TSI four-cylinder’s performance stats are almost enough to make us forget about the Scirocco, if just for a moment, with a 155 mph top speed and a 5.5-second run to 60 mph (5.7 seconds with the manual gearbox). While it’s hardly a lightweight hatch (coming in at around 3,400 pounds with the DSG), the massive brakes, bi-xenon headlamps, 18- or 19-inch wheels and beautifully bolstered thrones have us champing at the bit for some seat time. Here’s hoping VW sees fit to send over a few examples after the R20’s launch in Ellmau, Austria.

The clearest images yet of the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta have turned up ahead of the compact sedan’s launch this fall. Like the latest MK VI Golf, the Jetta is expected to be built on an updated version of the MK V platform, although the sedan is believed to be slightly longer and wider. This will allow it to be more competitive against the Chevrolet Cruze and next generation Ford Focus.

Under the hood, the 2.0-liter TDI diesel will carry over, but the unloved 2.5-liter inline-five will probably be replaced by a 1.4-liter TSI inline-four. The TSI is a direct injected and turbocharged gasoline engine already available in Europe with several versions from 120 to 180 horsepower being offered.

A hybrid version of the Jetta will join the lineup in 2012 with a full electric version rumored in 2013. The current Jetta Sportwagen, sold as the Golf Variant in Europe, will continue unchanged for at least several more years after getting the MK VI Golf nose and interior for 2010.

[Source: USA Sale]

It looks like Volkswagen may be continuing to raid the global buffet of lesser automakers. According to reports, Malaysian carbuilder Proton has been in talks with ze People’s automaker in an attempt to establish some sort of alliance, thought for now details are sketchy at best. Proton has made it clear that it’s more interested in upping its exports than anything else. Given that fact, it wouldn’t surprise us to see Proton-built machines wearing VW badges in some far-flung corners of the globe.US

On the other hand, reports have surfaced that claim that VW has already admitted to looking into sharing platforms and engines with Proton as part of some sort of agreement, and that both companies have already explored badging the current Jetta as a new-and-improved Proton Perdana. Either way, we’re told to expect a more solid announcement to come from the two companies by early next month. We’ll keep our ears to the ground until then.

[Source: Canadian Business | Image: David Hecker/AFP/Getty]

Several patent drawings of the Volkswagen Jetta Coupe have leaked of out of a government trademark office.

While details are limited, the car looks virtually identical to the New Compact Coupe (NCC) concept which debuted at the 2010 North American International Auto Show. Compared to the concept, the production model features a revised grille, a modified lower air intake, and a dual exhaust system.

Like the redesigned 2011 Jetta sedan, engine options like likely include a 103 hp (77 kW / 105 PS) 1.2-liter TSI, a 158-hp (118 kW / 160 PS) 1.4-liter TSI, a 168 hp (125 kW / 170 PS) 2.5-liter, and a 197 horsepower (147 kW / 200 PS) 2.0-liter TSI. On the diesel side, we can expect a 103 hp (77 / kW 105 PS) 1.6-liter TDI BlueMotion and a 138 horsepower (103 kW / 140 PS) 2.0-liter TDI.

The 2010 Tesla Roadster delivers on its promise: It's the first green alternative to a century of gasoline sportscars. Its classic, primitive two-seat soft-top shape offers kick-ass electric performance: minimal eco impact for maximum driving pleasure. Just getting the car into production guarantees the Tesla Roadster its place in history.

The 2010 Tesla Roadster is the second model year for the two-seat sportscar powered only by electricity. Based on some components of the Lotus Elise, the all-electric Tesla Roadster was unveiled in 2006 and began volume deliveries early last year at a price of $109,000. For 2010, Tesla has modified the interior to address some criticisms of its first-year model.(Usa)

Compared to the Lotus Elise, the 2010 Tesla Roadster is longer, has a sleeker snout, and sports smoother, more contoured sides-minus the prominent side air intakes found on the Elise-for a low-slung, racy, and revealing style. The look is part futurism, part work in progress-it's handsome, but there's not much brand character yet, and few details are as memorable as its battery-powered drivetrain. Inside, the instrument cluster of the 2010 Tesla lights up when the car is powered up, with a "bong" tone indicating the car is ready to roll. The driver now faces a combined 150-mph speedometer and rev counter for the electric motor (since the two move in sync) plus a slew of warning lights. A road speed of 70 mph corresponds to 8,000 rpm, and the motor turns slightly over 11,000 at 100 mph. The Roadster's electric motor is redlined at 13,000 to 15,000 rpm, for a quoted top speed of 125 mph. The center of the dash holds a small navigation screen and JVC stereo.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than 342,000 cars made by BMW AG and Mazda Motor Corp. are under investigation by the U.S. auto safety regulator for possible steering defects that could lead to loss of vehicle control.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Friday it opened probes into 293,787 Mazda3 cars from the 2007 to 2009 model years, and 48,764 BMW Z4 sports cars from 2003 to 2005.

In both cases, NHTSA is in the earliest stages of a formal review that could lead to recalls. The agency has stepped up its probes into possible vehicle defects after a massive safety crisis at Toyota Motor Corp. led to the recall of more than 10 million vehicles worldwide.

Earlier on Friday, Toyota said it would recall 270,000 Lexus and Toyota cars to replace faulty valve springs that may cause engine stalling.

NHTSA said it received 33 complaints about Mazda3 models that alleged a loss of power steering assist while driving, requiring excessive force by the driver to main control. Three of the complaints alleged that the loss of steering control caused crashes. The vehicle uses an electrically actuated hydraulic power steering system, the agency said.

On the BMW Z4s, NHTSA said it received 107 complaints alleging a loss of power-assisted steering. The complaints stated that the steering wheel sticks, binds or locks up, requiring increased steering effort to maintain control and increasing the potential to over-steer the vehicle.

The failures typically occurred at higher vehicle speeds over 45 miles per hour (about 73kph) and at temperatures above 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 Celsius). One complaint involved a crash, and several complaints reported loss of vehicle control or "near-miss incidents."(Usa)

There were no fatalities reported among the Mazda3 and BMW Z4 complaints, the agency said.

NEW YORK -- Ford Motor Credit Co.'s dedicated plan to support U.S. sales of the Ford Fiesta is good news for F&I managers who otherwise may find it tough to get the car's young target buyers approved for loans.

For example, Ford Credit in some cases will review credit applications of would-be Fiesta buyers who were turned down by other lenders and put some extra effort into getting them approved, Sam de la Garza, Ford Fiesta brand manager, said here at a recent press introduction for the car.

"Ford Credit will be doing some extra training; they will re-review everything," de la Garza said.

The Fiesta is an important part of Ford's strategy to introduce in the United States half a dozen fuel-efficient small cars that were designed in Europe. The Fiesta went on sale in Europe in fall 2008, and the first units reached U.S. dealers last month.

Since early 2009 Ford has been drumming up interest in the Fiesta on social media Web sites such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. The Fiesta Movement campaign has generated more than 2.8 million impressions on Twitter alone, the company said.

Ford Credit could undo a lot of that effort if it turns away too many of the Fiesta's young target buyers, who may not have much of a credit history.

For the Fiesta launch, Ford Credit is employing a dedicated team "to ensure every offering receives our best call," Ford Credit spokeswoman Margaret Mellott said.

That could mean giving credit applications a personal review that may include options such as a co-signer or a higher down payment, she said.

Coinciding with the Fiesta launch, Ford Credit also reminded dealers in recent communications of its Ford College tudent Purchase Program, a $500 bonus on top of other advertised incentives. Usa the bonus applies to all eligible Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles, not just the Fiesta. Full-time and part-time undergraduates, graduate students, trade school students and recent graduates qualify.

French carmakers have finally given up their delusions of grandeur -- the belief that they can compete with their German rivals in Europe's large car segment. The decision is right, although it comes much later than U.S. companies Ford and General Motors reached the same conclusion.

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen will not replace its brand flagships -- the Peugeot 607 and the Citroen C6. Both are fine-looking cars packed with great technology and comfort features but the business executives who mainly drive cars in this segment still prefer a status-enhancing Mercedes E class, BMW 5 series or Audi A6.

Renault will no longer invest huge sums in creating a new flagship and will unveil its latest large car, the Latitude large sedan, at the Moscow auto show in August. The car is a rebadged SM5 from the company's Korean subsidiary, Renault Samsung, and will replace the much-derided Vel Satis.

In the near future, Peugeot's largest model will be the 508, a 4800mm-long car that will replace two cars, the 607 and 407, after its debut at the Paris auto show in October. Sister brand Citroen will let a larger C5, due in late 2012, cover the market now targeted by the C6.

GM's Opel/Vauxhall unit gave up the executive sedan market in 2003 when its Omega flagship was left without a successor. Ford bowed out earlier, in 1998, when the company did not replace the Scorpio.

The two French car companies battled on with their grand dream of ending the dominance of the German premium carmakers. Unfortunately, vanity is not a valid business advisor.

Last year, combined European sales of the three French flagships – the C6, 607 and Vel Satis – totaled an embarrassing 4,565 units, according to Jato Dynamics. In the same period the A6, 5 series and E class had sales of 238,563 in Europe alone.

Buyers have clearly said they are not interested in large cars built by mainstream European automakers. Even Fiat decided that a large, rear-driven sedan initially planned to replace the Alfa Romeo 166 flagship should be built by its upscale Maserati brand.

Finally, the French are joining the club that puts business realism ahead of national pride. Welcome.

BERLIN (Bloomberg) -- Volkswagen AG plans to install a Porsche manager as CEO of its ultraluxury Bentley brand, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter.

LONDON (AdAge.com) -- The British have never had the weather, the space or the car culture necessary for drive-in movies. But they've all seen "Grease," and the romance of the drive-in is firmly implanted in the popular psyche.

Enter Damian Barr, journalist and cultural entrepreneur, who, with the help of Volvo, has invented the Starlite Urban Drive-In, in which would-be Sandy Olssons and Danny Zukos can watch films while settled comfortably in one of a range of shiny new Volvos in USA.

The cars are pre-parked, so you don't even need a drivers' license, and the $40 ticket buys you a drink and some popcorn as well as a seat. The film's soundtrack is broadcast through the car's radio while waitresses on roller skates take food and drink orders.

Just like real American drive-ins, there is plenty of food available to make a mess of those gleaming new Volvos. The nearby Brickhouse restaurant has produced a special Starlite menu of burgers, meatloaf and sweet potato pie, followed by ice cream sundaes or chocolate brownies and cream. And there are no rules against heavy petting.

Two initial screenings (of "Grease" and "Dirty Dancing") sold out online in 30 seconds. The location is an outdoor patch of land owned by The Truman Brewery -- a cool venue which can accommodate only 25 cars at a time -- and due to Starlite's success, more dates are lined up for the fall with a European tour planned for next summer.

"The 'Volvo for life' tagline is about enriching people's lives and building cars for a better life, so the opportunity seemed to be one that fit well with our brand," said a Volvo spokeswoman in an e-mail. "It also gave us a fun and unique opportunity to reach a younger audience that may not have been exposed to the Volvo brand before. We've been delighted with the success of the Starlite Urban drive-in."

Mr. Barr, a Scot, developed his taste for drive-ins while studying in Texas, and is a big fan of the 1950s aesthetic. He spoke to a number of car companies, but found that only Volvo was the right fit. "We wanted a partner, not a sponsor who just wanted to slap a big logo on everything. Volvo were very hands-off and genuinely wanted us to be creative," he said.

And creative they were. A party was held the night before the screenings started, at which 400 people witnessed hula-hoop artists descending from a roof to the tune of the "Grease" song, "Beauty School Drop-Out."

"The party was amazing. Everyone was honking horns and dancing on the car roofs," Mr. Barr said. "They were really having fun with the cars and it's created massive interest." Meanwhile, the big screen showed a film about the history of the drive-in movie, specially created by Volvo.

Already major studios have approached Mr. Barr, asking him to show film premieres, while additional sponsors, including alcohol, beauty and food brands, want to get involved with the next phase of the project.

But Mr. Barr intends to remain loyal to Volvo. "They have a European presence and we have a good relationship which we're keen to leverage across different territories," he said. Good thing, too, as drinking and driving don't mix.

Volvo, owned until now by Ford Motor Co., is in the process of being sold to Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. for $1.8 billion. The Volvo sale is expected to close in the next couple of months (Ford bought Volvo in 1999 for $6.45 billion).

Ford is also getting in on the film tie-up by sponsoring a series of outdoor film screenings at 11 different U.K. stately homes this summer, as part of its launch campaign for the new Galaxy model. In a deal brokered by media agency Mindshare, local radio stations are promoting the screenings, while Ford branding and cars will feature prominently at each event.

The UK is finding inspiration for pop-up entertainment ideas this summer from Paris as well as from the U.S. Super-chic Parisian boutique Colette, which often works closely with marketers to either sell their products first in France or create versions exclusive to Colette, is doing a temporary "swap shop" with communications agency KesselsKramer. Colette has taken space at the agency's London gallery to sell a range of products not normally available in the U.K., while KesselsKramer is showing some of its latest artworks and objects in the Parisian store.

TOKYO (Bloomberg) -- Nissan Motor Co. said it will halt production at two U.S. plants for three days because of a delay in getting parts from Hitachi Ltd.

DETROIT (Reuters) -- Toyota Motor Corp. said today it will extend warranties on about 235,500 RAV4 vehicles and address steering complaints on as many as 500,000 late model Matrix and Corollas in the United States.

Caravan get to test drive the latest Volkwagen's contenders for the Towcar of the Year Awards

Caravan gets to test drive Volkswagen's latest contenders for the Towcar of the Year Awards VW Passat Estate Bluemotion

Is my Volkswagen Passat estate worth keeping?

Компания Volkswagen официально представила седан Jetta следующего поколения. Внешность автомобиля создана в стилистике концепт-кара NCC, впервые показанного в начале текущего года на моторшоу в Детройте, и современных моделей немецкого концерна — Golf и Touareg. Машина построена на платформе нынешнего "Гольфа", однако, как уверяют представители VW, новая Jetta в отличие от предшественника больше не будет иметь общих кузовных панелей с хэтчбеком — все элементы являются оригинальными.

Пхеньян: КНДР наращивает ядерный потенциал, чувствуя угрозу из США

В Нью-Йорке Таймс-сквер эвакуировали из-за подозрительного авто

BMW Super Sport - новое слово в производстве моделей

Решил делать небольшой обзор тюнингованых авто! Конечно все з розрешения автора:)

Спортивный седан Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution следующего поколения может получить гибридную силовую установку, схожую по конструкции с той, которая будет представлена на концептуальном кроссовере Mitsubishi PX-MiEV, чей дебют состоится на Токийском моторшоу. Об этом сообщает британское издание Autocar со ссылкой на собственные источники внутри японского автопроизводителя.

Минувшей ночью баварский концерн BMW впервые показал свой новый концептуальный автомобиль Vision EfficientDynamics, чья мировая премьера состоится на предстоящем автосалоне во Франкфурте.

Auto Tuning _ Мир Тюнинга и Креатива

Alfa Romeo выпустил ограниченную серию хэтчбека Mito RIAR

Lexus приготовил новый спортседан IS F - почти весь из карбона