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* Ford of Europe's 2007 sales rise 5.4 per cent to a record 1,833,600 * Car sales up 4.1 per cent and commercial vehicles 10.9 per cent COLOGNE, January 10, 2008 – With demand increasing for its stylish new models, Ford of Europe's sales soared by an impressive 93,500 units in 2007 to a record 1,833,600, a rise of 5.4 per cent on the previous year. Market share improved to 8.9 per cent. Ford of Europe sold 1,463,630 cars in 2007, an increase of 4.1 per cent across its main 21 markets. Commercial vehicle sales leapt 10.9 per cent to a record 369,985, beating the previous record of 333,570 set in 2006. The Ford Focus and Ford Fiesta were the top-selling Ford models in Europe last year, retailing a total of 496,600 and 378,220 units respectively. The Transit continued to set a brisk pace in the medium commercial vehicle market and sold a record 224,915. Not to be outdone, its smaller sibling, the Transit Connect, also set a new record selling 109,900 vehicles. "I am delig...

A strong performance in November has put Ford of Europe on course for record 2007 sales. With demand for its stylish new models continuing to rise, the company sold 149,600 cars and commercial vehicles in November 2007, an increase of 3.2 per cent over the same month last year. Ford's November market share was 8.7 per cent. Highlights: * Ford of Europe sales increase by 4,700 in November to 149,600 * Year-to-date sales rise by 5.4 per cent to 1,680,900 The Ford Focus led the way with sales rising to more than 41,000 units, strongly supported by the Ford Fiesta, and the acclaimed all-new Ford Mondeo. Showing its enduring appeal, the Fiesta sold 27,500 units, with the Ford Fusion adding a further 9,850. Ford Mondeo sales increased almost 55 per cent, to 15,675 units, as the new model continues to win praise from both press and public. Ford's commercial vehicles also remain in demand. Sales of the Ford Transit increased by over 6.4 per cent to 20,150 vehicles, while the ...

Sales of 2,004,172 units from January to November beat last year's total with a month to spare. Highlights: - GM Europe YTD share up 0.3 point, at 9.5 percent - GM Europe YTD sales 157,282 vehicles ahead of last year - YTD: Opel/Vauxhall grows 4 percent, Chevrolet up 32 percent General Motors (GM) Europe set a new all-time record, with sales of 2,004,172 vehicles from January to November 2007, beating last year's total with a month to spare. The resulting market share of 9.5 percent is 0.3 point above the same period last year and the highest since 1999. Chevrolet was the main driver of the sales results, with 32.4 percent growth in the January-November period. The brand sold 411,582 units, with a record market share of 1.9 percent. Opel/Vauxhall also delivered good results, with 4.1 percent growth and sales of 1,506,657 units in the period. "The all-time sales record clearly reflects the success of GM Europe's multi-brand strategy. This is a result of building str...

HUMMER H3 Alpha and H3 first stock class vehicles to finish Baja. Racing legend Rod Hall earns 19th career win in 40th Anniversary race DETROIT – Team HUMMER once again demonstrated the inherent off-road capability of the HUMMER H3 as Rod, Josh and Chad Hall piloted their stock class H3 Alpha and H3 nearly 1,300 miles to become the first stock class vehicles to finish the 2007 SCORE International Baja 1000. The 2007 Baja 1000 marked the 40th anniversary of the grueling off-road race and covered 1,296.39 miles from Ensenada in Baja California to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Baja California Sur. It ran from November 13-15, 2007. Team HUMMER races in the SCORE International full and mini stock classes which feature production-based vehicles with stock frames, stock suspension designs and production-based engines. With 18 entries, the 2007 race boasted the most stock class vehicles in the history of the 1000 and included models from seven different automakers. As the only racer to have comp...

The 2007 Ford Mondeo is what remains of Ford's last attempt to build the "world car." Back in the days of former Ford CEO Jac Nasser, we were told that if Ford could just build one car for the whole of mankind instead of a bunch of different platforms for every little Ford region, we'd all end up with better cars. They would be cheaper, too. Ford Chairman Alan Mulally is once again talking about rationalizing the number of different platforms that Ford builds around the world. Now that America is suddenly interested again in efficient sedans, could the all-new 2007 Ford Mondeo be the right kind of car for America? Making Modern Power More than 70 percent of Mondeo models sold in Europe are powered by diesel. There are three turbocharged common-rail diesels to choose from, and their output ranges from 99 horsepower to 138 hp. Four gasoline engines are also part of the model mix, and their output ranges from 123 to 217 hp. The Mondeo Titanium X that we spent time in ...

FINDING NEMO… After presenting Nemo at the Road Transport Show in Amsterdam in October 2007, Citroen is displaying NEMO CONCETTO at the 2007 Bologna Motor Show. Nemo Concetto is a take on a concept car based on Nemo, a compact, practical and intelligent vehicle that lends itself particularly well to this type of exercise. Nemo Concetto is a nod to Disney's clown fish hero, with its orange and white colour scheme. It illustrates the world and values of Nemo, as well as highlighting the many possible ways of customising this vehicle. Nemo Concetto illustrates the astonishing closeness between the Citroen Nemo and its clown fish homonym. Like the fish, Nemo Concetto can be considered as "small" among its peers. However, its size is an asset, since it is able to nip in and out of traffic easily. In a world where it would be tempting to think that bigger is better, Nemo Concetto combines intelligent design with compact exterior dimensions and interior space. It shows that ...

Seller: parkplace Address: 13710 Northup Way City: Bellevue State: Washington Country: USA Price: $66,150.00 Date Added: December 4, 2007 Expiration: April 2, 2008 Link: http://www.parkplaceltd.com Views: 189 Description: This Exige S is available for immediate delivery. It takes the already hard-core theme turns it up even one more notch with the optional Track Package and optional Lotus Traction Control. It is further equipped with Starshield paint protection for the Ardent Red paint, and the Touring Pack that gives you premium audio with XM satellite radio capability, leather seats, and weight-saving power window lifts.

• American Suzuki closes in on second consecutive year of 100,000-plus vehicle sales • Popular Suzuki SX4 models lead upward year-end sales momentum BREA, Calif., Dec. 3, 2007 – American Suzuki Motor Corp. today announced automobile sales of 5,987 units in November, achieving the second-best November sales volume in company history. Year-to-date sales stand at 93,673 vehicles, maintaining the company’s pace for its fourth consecutive year-over-year sales increase and second successive year of 100,000-plus units sold in the U.S. Suzuki Auto’s upward sales momentum remains rooted in its right-sized product line. November sales were lifted by the Suzuki SX4 models, including the media acclaimed five-door SX4 Crossover and the all-new four-door SX4 Sport, which began arriving in dealer showrooms in September. November sales of the SX4 models totaled 1,664 units, while Suzuki’s XL7 midsize crossover SUV posted a notable 162 percent increase. “With the growing popularity of SX4 Crossover and...

First place in the passenger car category awarded to Horst Mosolf GmbH & Co KG Stuttgart - At the European Carrier Days 2007, Daimler AG once again honored its best providers of vehicle transport logistics in Europe. The awards were presented at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart–Untertürkheim. In addition to the European Carrier Awards Passenger Cars, which were presented for the eighth time, Daimler also presented the fourth European Carrier Awards Commercial Vehicles for the fourth time this year. As was the case last year, first place in the passenger car category went to the freight forwarding company Horst Mosolf GmbH & Co. KG Internationale Spedition from Kirchheim/Teck, Germany. Daimler was once again particularly impressed by the company’s outstanding logistics processes, which are supported by a consistent and continuous system of quality management and controlling. Second place went to Frankenbach Automobil Logistik GmbH from Ginsheim-Gustavsburg, Germany, while A...

Powerful, economical and clean diesel engines for the motherland of petrol hybrids Stuttgart/Tokyo -- Oct 24, 2007 -- At the 40th Tokyo Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz is underscoring its position as the leading premium brand with a veritable pageant of compelling new models and innovative drive solutions. Among its motor show highlights in the homeland of the petrol hybrid, the inventor of the motor car and the diesel passenger car will be showcasing highly efficient, clean BLUETEC HYBRID versions of the C-Class and S-Class. Hans Tempel, President and CEO of DaimlerChrysler Japan and Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show This unique modular drive concept, due to be launched shortly in various models and versions, will be premiered in the new E-Class in 2010. * E 320 CDI: first and only diesel passenger car approved for Japan * BLUETEC and BLUETEC HYBRID: cleanest, most economical diesel eng...

The German premium car maker BMW is proudly presenting the growing diversity and appeal of its exceptional model range at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show 2007 in the capital city of Japan. The most significant motor show in Asia is also the venue of a world debut, with the new BMW M3 Saloon being presented to the public for the first time. Following the Coupé, this is the second body version of the BMW M3 powered by a 309 kW/420 hp V8 for a truly fascinating high-performance sports car experience also in everyday traffic. 2008 BMW M3 Sedan In addition, BMW is presenting two Asian premieres at the Tokyo Motor Show 2007: First, the new BMW 6 Series Coupé and Convertible setting new standards in dynamic performance, motoring culture and exclusivity. Second, the new BMW 1 Series Coupé for ultimate driving pleasure in the compact model series. 2008 BMW 6 Series Convertible The Tokyo Motor Show is being held from 27 October–11 November in the capital city of Japan, the organisers and more tha...

Global car will continue push into new markets, including Malaysia and the Philippines TOKYO (October 22, 2007) – Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today confirmed that the Nissan Livina and Grand Livina both launched this weekend in Taiwan. The Grand Livina also will be introduced in South Africa next month, followed in January 2008 by the Livina. With the introduction of the Livina series in these markets, Nissan is growing its model lineup to include the MPV and compact hatchback segments. Both Taiwan’s Yulon Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (YNM) and Nissan Motor Company South Africa (Proprietary) Ltd. (NSA) held kick-off events recently in support of the introduction of the Livina series, which is part of Nissan’s global product strategy to deliver models with the flexibility to meet the needs of diverse customers. As part of the strategy, the Livina series will be manufactured at several plants in Nissan’s global production network. The three-row Nissan Grand Livina first went on sale last Novem...

TOKYO — Subaru's Exiga concept for the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show is a new seven-passenger "proposal" that appears to combine design elements from the company's midsize Legacy station wagon and Forester crossover vehicle — and it looks virtually showroom-ready. The Exiga shares a number of mechanical elements with its siblings, too, including a turbocharged 2.0-liter flat-4 engine, five-speed automatic transmission and Subaru's symmetrical all-wheel drive. The vehicle also boasts a supersize panoramic glass roof and theater-style seating, with rear passengers sitting a little higher than those in front. Seats are upholstered in leather and trimmed in pearl white and blue. The rear seatbacks incorporate fold-down tray tables, similar to those on airplanes. What this means to you: This people-friendly family hauler looks much more attractive than anything Subaru has on the road today.

TOKYO — Suzuki next week will pull the wraps off the Kizashi 2 , a follow-up to the similarly named Frankfurt concept. Described as a "crossover sports wagon," the midsize Kizashi 2 rides on 22-inch wheels and tires. It is powered by a DOHC 3.6-liter V6 mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox. The current production version of that engine, which is used in the XL7 utility vehicle, delivers 252 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. Suzuki says the Kizashi 2 is also designed to accommodate a hybrid powertrain. The automaker has released few other details on the vehicle, but the Kizashi concept is widely seen in Japan as the precursor of a new midsize vehicle family that eventually will replace the Daewoo-derived Verona. What this means to you: Look for the future production version of the Kizashi to make its way across the Pacific, possibly in 2009.

(from Nissan Press Release) Youth-Oriented Compact Convertible Provides Occupants Senses of Speed and exilleration The Nissan Round Box , with its compact convertible design, represents a new take on open-air motoring, providing exhilaration for all passengers - not just the driver - through its uniquely shared experience of fresh air stimulation, a sensation of speed and easy-to-use high-spec features. The Round Box features an environmentally friendly turbocharged direct injection gasoline engine mated to Nissan 's advanced Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). It is also equipped with a number of safety systems based on Nissan's Safety Shield* concept, including Around View Monitor and Distance Control Assist System (DCAS). The inspiration for Round Box's interior, which features the "right sized" space to facilitate communication between the four occupants, was not another vehicle, but a social environment. "The car was inspired by the lively...

Sportier appearance and better handling: KW coilover suspension V3 for Opel GT * Racing-technology for the road * Customised lowering of suspension up to 45 mm * Coilover suspensions produced in stainless steel "inox-line" technology "Only flying is more beautiful" was the old commercial slogan in the late 1960s, when the first Opel GT was presented to the public. In terms of driving dynamics there are worlds between the new generation of the Opel GT and its predecessor. And there are even more between them, if you use a KW coilover suspension V3. With it one can lower the car in a range from 20 to 40 mm at the front axle and from 20 to 45 mm at the rear. The KW coilover suspension V3 for the Opel GT is available with immediate effect. KW coilover suspensions - 3 damping variants for every type of driver Coilover suspension V1 with preset damper setting permits customised lowering of the suspension and creates an optimised balance of sportiness, comfort and safety. ...

An open roof sportscar in a tailor-made suit: The Abt TT Roadster Before the first preliminary designs were published, it was clear that the leading Audi tuner Abt Sportsline planned to cause a sensation with the new Audi TT , as the first TT is one of the favourite cars of the Kempten-based company with a long tradition. And this is due to the fact that the race version of the Sports Coupe 2002 won a lot of DTM (German Touring Car Series) races. Therefore it is only logical that, after the extravagant TT-Sport and TT-R , also the TT Roadster, which is already exquisitely beautiful as serial car, gets a special treatment in the Allgaeu: the designer from Abt Sportsline developed car body parts with which the open-roof TT becomes more danymical. Thus, the front skirt with its grid element emphasizes the area around the fog lights and the single-frame grill. The brawny laterally attached parts underline the design of the convertible and create a unit with the striking rear section of ...

Aston Martin Launches the V8 Vantage Roadster Los Angeles - Aston Martin will unveil one of the most eagerly anticipated convertibles of the year when the V8 Vantage Roadster is revealed at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show on Wednesday 29th November. Aston Martin Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez said: “The V8 Vantage Roadster is a pure sports car, a car that heightens the senses and provides a dynamically thrilling driving experience. “The Vantage Roadster adds to the unbeatable thrill of open air motoring and by combining engineering excellence, technological innovation and physical perfection, will ensure every journey is one to remember.” Perfectly proportioned, with a low purposeful stance, the Vantage Roadster is uncompromisingly modern yet also incorporates classic Aston Martin design cues. The elegant lines are fused with traditional craftsmanship and striking 21st century style, with an interior hand-trimmed and finished in the finest quality genuine materials...

Previews Chinese cars are now on sale in Europe, so we go for broke and try one at top speed on a German autobahn. Yes, Chinese cars are coming to the U.S. The catch is that no one, not even the Chinese car manufacturers themselves, can provide a clear answer as to when and how. But we wanted to see how a Chinese car fares on real roads—and we wanted to know right now. The opportunity came courtesy of Brilliance Auto, a car manufacturer based in the northeastern Chinese town of Shenyang. If the name Brilliance rings a bell, it’s probably because the company has been licensed by BMW to build and sell 3- and 5-series sedans for the Chinese market since late 2003. Our test drive would not be in some Brilliance-built Bimmer, but in the company’s very own BS6 sedan (known as the “Zhonghua” in China). To put the car through its paces, we hit a hectic mix of city streets, country roads, and arrow-straight autobahns in Berlin, Germany. Why Berlin? Because Brilliance is the first Chinese manufa...

The 2007 Boxster and Boxster S, aided by more power and torque via new engines fitted with Porsche's VarioCam Plus variable valve timing and lift system, cement the Boxster as the sportscar kingdom's most practical and entertaining value. The engine in the Boxster S has been enlarged from 3.2 to 3.4 liters, and now develops 295 horsepower at 6250 rpm - 15 horsepower more than its predecessor. Torque has also swelled 15 lb.-ft., to 251 lb.-ft. The Boxster S sprints from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.1 seconds (0-100 km/h, 5.4 sec.) - a tenth of a second quicker than the previous model. This open sports car's top test-track speed has risen 2 mph to 169 mph (272 km/h). This heady performance comes at little cost to efficiency, as the Boxster S manages a city/hwy fuel-economy rating of 20/28 MPG with the standard six-speed transmission. The 2.7-liter Boxster engine now develops an additional 5 horsepower, bringing peak output to 245 horsepower. Torque has also increased, from 199 to ...