For the first time Volkswagen Sharan minivan of the new generation, disguised as a cargo Caddy, lighted up on the different automotive sites three years ago. Then it all calmed with the occasional pop-up rumors about the ongoing developments of the machine. But just a few days before in one of the southern states of the U.S. almost ready Volkswagen Sharan was captured by several photographers.

Remember, that minivan of the current generation is already 14 years old. The latter made a major restyling in 2000. Brand new model will be on sale no earlier than the middle of the next year. Despite the early debut of next-generation Sharan little is known. According to preliminary data, in a minivan would have gasoline and diesel engines with power from 160 hp. It is also expected a «robot» DSG gearbox and all wheel drive version.

In the U.S., the second generation Sharan is likely to replace the model Routan – a twin brother of a minivan, made by Chrysler.

It will also have rear sliding doors - for better penetration of the salon. But will Sharan have more? Not sure. Insiders say that of their dimensions, the new Sharan is comparable with the old one. More details will come as we approach the official premiere scheduled for the spring motor show in Geneva.

As of 2007, the annual production for the Sharan is in the 50,000 unit range; it is sold in Europe, South Africa and some Asia-Pacific and Latin American countries. In Mexico it is available with the 1.8L Turbo 4 cil 150hp with 5 speed Tiptronic gearbox in Comfortline trim only, while in Argentina it is available with the 1.8L Turbo 4 cil, and the 1.9L TDI 4 cil 115hp in both 5 speed manual and 5 speed Tiptronic transmissions in Trendline trim only.

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Japanese brand Infiniti introduced a concept car Infiniti Essence in Geneva, which, in addition to a breakthrough into a new market segment has become a present to the 20th anniversary of the brand.

Western car market was forming for decades, its customer is demanding and rigorous, so it is necessary to move the goods to Europe, but focusing on local leaders. It is well understood in faraway Japan.

Therefore it is no surprise that the premiere of a new conceptual Infiniti Essence resurrects memory images of the best cars of James Bond. Despite the European motives, in the car style Infiniti image was saved: in particular, the form of curved front headlamps echoes with the patterns of a of FX series models, and body lines are more in line with Japanese traditions.

Concept is equipped with two engines belonging to the hybrid system. The first – six-cylinder petrol engine with a capacity of 3.7 liters and 440hp, the second - the electric with the 160hp. Thus, co-operation of engines is giving 600hp to the sports coupe, when the current fuel consumption should be only 8 liters per 100 kilometers. Automatic transmission with two clutch transmits torque to the rear axle.

Certain words of delight could be addressed to the car cabin, which is much more suitable do be described as a «cockpit» or even «cocoon». There are special cells for drivers and passengers that provide maximum convenience to achieve a single goal - enjoying the speed.

The salon is trimmed with high-quality leather, and panel made in the style of retro-futurism: with big clock faces and lots of pictograms.

Curiously, that on the officially published picture of a cockpit on the navigation system the city of Detroit is displayed. Apparently, the presentation of the concept is being planned at the January Auto Show in the U.S., but Nissan group refused to participate in it for the reasons of economy.

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Billions of dollars of state aid, several restructuring plans, castling in the board of directors … Despite the occasionally emerging hope skeptical analysts could be understood. But nothing helped to the GM concern – on June 1 American autogiant declared bankruptcy.

The most important thing is that now the North American group, which was the largest car producer in the world for almost 80 years is nationalized - 60% of the shares are owned by the Governments of the United States and Canada. Barack Obama has already stated that the Government has no plans to control the GM for eternity and will get rid of GM shares as soon as they will be able to stand on their feet.

The personal expectations in the existence of the restructured group plays a Cadillac company. «Daughters» Hummer, Saab and Saturn will either disappear, or will be purchased – they are no longer needed to GM guys.

In the administration of Obama they are thinking about the establishment of a «New GM Group». More than $ 30 billion will be allocated for this, a total restructuring of the bankrupt company should be done no later than in 90 days. As a result, we should receive GM Concern, but smaller, without loss of the «daughters» and with the previous supplier.

GM was the global sales leader for 77 consecutive calendar years from 1931 to 2007. It manufactures cars and trucks in 34 countries. GM employs 244,500 people around the world, and sells and services vehicles in some 140 countries. In 2008, 8.35 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the brands Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Opel, Vauxhall, Holden, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Wuling.

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And what is the most important in the car? The pleasure of driving that driver receives? Comfort, lulling passengers? And maybe, a variety of multimedia entertainment systems not to be bored on the road? It turns out that not. The most important is human life and its preservation.

We have become accustomed that the best specialists in this area are Volvo and Renault, because their cars are a true symbol of safety. Now we have a new brand ranks of fanatics Mercedes, which has shared information about the concept of Mercedes ESF S 400 Hybrid. The Germans made from a luxury sedan a Plassenburg fortress on the wheels!

Inside the cabin of the concept all the passengers and the driver will be able to feel entirely safe. In addition to the standard set of airbags and inflatable curtains engineers installed an additional pillow, pulling down between the heads of front passengers. Passengers on the rear sofa are provided with extra head bends in the center of the machine. By the way, all the seats are unusual. In cause of the side collision they are moving to the center of the cabin for five centimeters in the twinkling of an eye.

Even a couple more of unusual developments from Stuttgart: special capsules hidden inside the doors are filling with the air in case of the side collision, as well as an inflatable pillow, under the front axle which assists when braking.

The latest decision is a bag from a solid material, which inflates in heavy braking. Thus increasing saving friction in this case. If the electronics will understand that a collision is unavoidable, a bag filled with air will raise a car to 3 inches and will not “dive” thus under another car.

According to Ulrich Mellinhoff, head of the safety of Mercedes company, his specialists did not want just to chase for test scores stupidly, filling the interior with airbags to infinity. By the way, many of the developments of a prototype soon will appear on the serial models.

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First-generation Corvette is very popular among the various offices, manufacturing replica cars (copies of old cars with modern engines). The professionals from the American atelier Superior Glass Works decided to make their version of the classic model. The company is building unique bodies made of composite materials for almost three decades.

To stand out from the crowd, the Americans have not decided to interpret well-known standard roadster and chose a little-known Corvette-wagon. Yes, in 1954, it was such a car called Chevrolet Nomad, only in one(!) copy, lost long ago.
 
Modern copy of the three-door Chevrolet Nomad from 50-s is based on the platform of Corvette C5. But under fiberglass retrobody a completely new tubular steel frame was developed. 8-cylinder LS1 with working volume of 5.7 liters developing 350 horsepower and 475 N • m, remained unchanged. This vehicle can be operated with six-speed mechanic, as well as with archaic 4-speed automatic gearbox

Engineers from the well-known Bureau of Art Morrison helped to body makers to finalize the chassis, almost completely copied from the Corvette. Project 54 Superior Sport Wagon can be distinguished by new, more stringent springs and stabilizers of lateral stability. His back track was a little bit expanded.

In total it is planned to make 25 copies of Superior 54 Sport Wagon. Price - $ 125 thousand. Orders with a mandatory prepayment of $ 50 thousand could be taken even right now. The public presentation will take place at the hot rod festival  “Back to the 50’s”, which starts in the late June in Minnesota.

Experimental Chevrolet Nomad was first shown in New York in 1954. On the concept row 6-cylinder 3.8L engine was standing, which had 150 horsepower, and worked in a pair with a two-speed automatic gearbox Powerglide. But unfortunately this car hasn’t become serial and the preference was given for the more familiar Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad.

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In the Austrian mountains stays untouched renewed hatchback Skoda Fabia. The last generation of car recently turned two years and the duration of its facelifting became inexorably approaching. But before the start of 2010, we can hardly see an updated version. However, there will be not so much changes.

Total model stylistics remains the same. From the new details we can only note bumpers with a more sporting design. In addition, according to insiders, modern hatchback will add more possibilities for individualization of the cabin and exterior. No other details yet.

From the engines we can expect the new gasoline 4-cylinder with 1.2 liters and 105 hp output. Acceleration up to 100 km/h with such an engine will take less than 10 seconds and average fuel consumption does not exceed six liters.

Fabia design is not too emotional. And slightly modified taillights are unlikely to remedy this shortcoming.

According to preliminary data, updated Fabia debut in September at the motor show in Frankfurt. Then we will see the sports hatchback version - RS. We can recall that after the going away of a diesel version of the previous generation full replacement of it in a new generation has not been done. But know that sport version receive traditional petrol engines - 1.4 TSI with 180hp output. The ability of this engine you can behold on the example of the Seat Ibiza hatchback.

Naturally, emergency accelerations are not the strongest side of the Fabia, but 5-speed gearbox switches easily and accurately. Precise steering maneuvers contributes to drivability which is indispensable in the intense urban stream. And you will not intimidate Fabia with steep turns - the car responds quickly and clearly. Electronic stabilization system ESP, included in the basic package works immediately, although somewhat raw.

Good controllability is compensated by the imperfect smoothness of movement. Fabia is equipped with good brakes and six airbags, which is also important for the car, seeking to win the title of «the ideal» for the urban jungle.

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Unusual initiative is starting to be implemented in the New Zealand division of Mitsubishi Motors. Marketing researches have shown that the main buyers of Mitsubishi Triton are the farmers, and therefore they can not live without the goats.

What tricks automakers don’t do in terms of global sales decrease only to make their products more attractive, but the actions of New Zealand units of Mitsubishi Motors are probably the most original.

As you know, New Zealand is a country of cattle breeders, and therefore they’ve selected the appropriate way to attract buyers. Mitsubishi Triton sellers proposed a sort of «auxiliary equipment» as a goat.
 
Why do the holder of Triton needs a goat? According to the MMC, the animal will be at an good help for all the farm as a wrestler from weeds and fit for other household needs. As you know, over the past three years there was quite a severe drought in New Zealand, and livestock of a «national wealth» - sheep - noticeably decreased. The same applies to the cattle, and the reason is not only the drought but also the unfavorable economic situation.

However, the Triton buyers have the opportunity to abandon this living gift, replacing it with a «road» package. It includes a set of accessories worth up to $ 500, and the payment of road tax for a 5 000 km of mileage (in New Zealand, it is paid according to this indicator). In addition, when buying a pickup extended manufacturer’s warranty for a period of 5 years (including a free diagnosis when doing car service issues) is offered. In addition, the buyer gets a free pass to call evacuator or engineer to the site of breakage, which works over the whole period of the factory warranty. In spite of these bonuses the MMS is almost certain that New Zealanders still prefer to have a goat.

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Opel company is still in the unenviable position. Judge for yourself. In the GM Europe unit it was explicitly stated: for Opel to make a profit, you’ll need $ 1.2 billion, and to stop the mass dismissals, you should have about $ 4.5 billion. But where to take the money is unknown. This is why Opel is anxious about finding out.

For example, recently Markionne Sergio, the head of the Italian concern, Opel managers and trade union representatives of German company assembled at a meeting on cooperation. And immediately after the meeting came a disturbing rumor that the Fiat «daughter» Lancia is under threat of closure.

This turn of events is likely to occur Opel will be bought by Fiat. Deadly logic, because every year around the world more than 100 thousand Lancia cars are being sold, mostly on domestic market.

In search of a new field of application of his knowledge and maximalism Vincenzo Lancia - auto amateur and FIAT factory tester - decided in 1906 to open his own business in developing and producing cars. Vehicles that were sold under the brand name, were different from the FIAT models in large size, powerful engine and the rich interior decoration. From 1969 Lancia is an integral part of FIAT. Today Lancia cars do have the same original appearance and are the same luxurious inside and the same familiar to massive Italian buyer (not without the participation of the Italian authorities to stimulate demand for automobiles of FIAT Auto SpA concern by imposition of high taxes on import). Outwardly, Lancia cars totally ignore the issues of global unification, popular styles of car design and other attributes of modernity and still maintain a national identity.

But the biggest success “Lancia” reached in rally. The team has won the last World Cup for automakers in 1972 on Lancia Fulvia car. In the team classification for the World Championship Rally Lancia won 10 times. Three times (1974, 1975 and 1976) the team won on a specially set up for the rally Lancia Stratos, once in 1983 on a car Lancia 037 and six times (1987 and 1992) on the legendary Lancia Delta.

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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has published statistics on the recalling of defective cars. It was found that through the last year General Motors worked on their car bugs more than anyone else. Giant from Detroit recalled 1.8 million cars to fix the problem. Second place belongs to Ford (1,6 million recalls), while the third - to Toyota (833 thousands).

Car companies in the US, recall their products not just because of perfectionism, but because of fear of punishment. United States has a law about the mandatory removal of factory defects discovered after the sale of the car since 1964.

What is needed to eliminate the defect is decided individually in each case: by a producer himself, or by NHTSA. For the company which ignored a defect a serious penalty could be applied. For example, in 1970, Ford was punished by $ 137 million for ignoring the updating of a fuel tank of Pinto model.

Now producers do reinsure. For example, in August General Motors concern recalled 944 thousands of cars because of the problems with the heated washer fluid. Defects were detected in poorly insulated wiring. After three fires in the same models nearly a million cars were forcibly sent to be repaired.

General Motors was the largest American car company for 77 years until 2007, the largest producer of automobiles in the world (from 2007 the largest producer of automobiles is Toyota). Manufacturing established in 35 countries, sales in 192 countries. The headquarters are located in Detroit. Because of the crisis of 2008 GM officially declared bankrupt in June 1, 2009.

In 2007, the Corporation has sold 9.37 million cars and trucks.Factories do employ almost 252 thousand people (2008). Revenues for 2008 amounted to $ 148.98 billion (in 2007 - $ 181 billion), net loss - $ 30.86 billion (in 2007 - net loss $ 38.7 billion).

From June 1, company has started the bancrupcy procedure. US Government will give 30 billion dollars to GM and get 60% of stock, and Canadian - 9,5 billion and 12% accordingly.

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Recently, a director of Serco, Sir Tom Rial on one of the highways in the UK being late on a business meeting, passed a speed camera at the speed of 163 km / h with the maximum permitted 112 km / h. It would seem what is so unusual about that? Indeed, the speeding is not so awful, every day people, inhabiting The Misty Albion make hundreds and thousands of such violations.

And we also would not pay any attention to this violation, if not for one spicy detail. The point is that Mr Riall – is manager of the company, which manufactures speed cameras. As it is said, he stepped on his own rakes.

At the court, 49-year-old Riall did not deny his guilt, but also justified the fact that he was being late and have not paid attention on the vehicle’s speed. Now he faces a fine of 2500 pounds, and loses his driver license for two years. And still he quarrel with the various organizations fighting for the safety of road traffic. They considered this as an outrage.

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