Mazda6 pricing announced (UK)

Although the Mazda6 only went on sale this year, the revised Mazda6 will start from £14,891 when it goes on sale in the UK January 2009.

The range features an all-new 2.2 TDCi diesel engine (used in the Ford Mondeo) with power outputs of 125bhp, 163bhp and 185bhp and some specification upgrades. New equipment on offer includes a rear-view monitoring system to warn the driver of cars approaching their blind spot which is standard in cars in TS2 trim level upwards, from £17,563.

Jaguar "X351" spied in Northern England

The last time the 2011 Jaguar XJ was spied, it was a test mule with extended fenders and a slightly revised face. Now, it's a proper prototype with very heavy cladding and fake body panels all over.

The current model wasn't as successful as Jaguar had hoped for thanks to it's old-fashioned styling so the newcomer will take a step into the wild side. The flagship sedan, code-named "X351" will take some styling hints off the popular XF sedan including LED rear lights. We can see impressions of an elongated hood and potentially elegant rear styling on a four-door coupe. Interior wise, the XJ is likely to use the automatic transmission gear-knob selector to replace the conventional gearshift. This will also be taken of the XF alongside other interior components.

The underpinnings won't be completely new, however, because Jaguar has decided to just modify the existing all-aluminium platform, another way to cut back on costs. There will be changes to the suspension to enhance the driving dynamics.

Engine information isn't yet available but we can expect the XJ to use a newly-developed 5.0 litre V8 petrol engine and a new 3.0 litre diesel unit which will replace the existing 2.7 litre diesel. Other engines will also be available.

Rivalling the Audi A8, Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7 Series , the new XJ will go on sale in 2011. To match upto its rivals, the new car will measure at least 5,000mm in length ensuring plenty of leg/knee/foot-room. Considering the sloping roofline, headroom could be cut hugely, especially for rear passengers.

Related link:

Upcoming Jaguar and Land Rover rumors

GM opens another plant in China (CN)

GM, the cash-strapped U.S car manufacture has just opened another assembly plant in China with local partner Shanghai Auto.

The $390 million factory, GM's second in the northern city of Shenyang, has already begun pilot production of the new Chevrolet Cruze. GM does not plan to begin building and selling the Cruze in the U.S until MY2011, but the new model will begin reaching Chinese showrooms in Spring 2009. The Cruze is currently on sale in South Korea, where it is known as the Daewoo Lacetti.

GM and its local partners now have the capacity to produce more than 1 million vehicles a year in China. The new Shenyang plant can build up to 150,000 cars a year. GM and Shanghai Auto also operate assembly plants in Shanghai, Liuzhou and Yantai, building a wide range of products from Wuling MPV's to Buick sedans.

GM executives have said the company expects to sell up to 1.2 million vehicles, including imports, in China in 2009, despite an industry-wide downturn this year.

Suzuki Splash gets entry-level 1.0 litre petrol engine (UK)

The Suzuki Splash will receive the 1.0 litre petrol engine, found in the upcoming Alto and current Agila.

Equipped with a 68bhp, 1.0 litre 3 cylinder petrol engine, the Splash GLS has combined fuel economy of 56.5mpg. Since the new engine emits 120g/km of CO2, it currently benefits from £35 yearly taxation, which will fall down to £20 sometime in the near future.

Priced at £8,350 on the road, the GLS comes with air conditioning, electric front windows and heated adjustable door mirror, three-spoke leather covered steering wheel with audio controls, radio CD player with MP3 compatibility, six airbags, ABS with EBD, and ESP come as standard.

The new entry-level Splash GLS will go on sale in the UK January 2009.

2010 Mercedes S-Class spied

Despite slow car sales, Mercedes is still pushing ahead will it's revised S-Class flagship sedan. The latest spy photos, taken in Germany show the newcomer undergoing final shakedown testing. While the all-new model isn't due until 2011, styling tweaks include new front fog lights and bumper skirt, reshaped bumpers, side mirrors with side repeater indicators, modified headlights with indicators integrated into the bottom of the units and LED daytime running lights. At the rear, a revised bumper and LED tail-lights will feature with the AMG models getting new exhaust tailpipes.

The range will include the S400 Bluehybrid - not a full hybrid capable of running on electric power only, but a petrol-engined model with stop-start and other modifications to deliver a fuel saving of over 20% compared to the previous S350 V6. Upgrades to the other petrol and diesel engines will be made to improve fuel economy and emissions.

New equipment in the S-Class will include Mercedes' new Driver Attention Assistance system, which monitors driving patterns and warns tired drivers who seem ready to nod off at the wheel, and the new SplitView double-layered display screens which allows the driver to use the sat-nav while the front passenger can watch television.

Mercedes being Mercedes, expect prices to boost a-little over the current £52,000 price tag. Saying that, there should be more standard equipment.

Related links:

Facelift for Mercedes flagship sedan

Mercedes restyles S-Class sedan

SsangYong can't pay its staff (SK)

Korean carmaker, SsangYong cannot afford to pay its December salaries and has confirmed it’s more than £50m in debt.

“Due to lack of operating funds for December, it is impossible for the company to pay salaries any longer,” SsangYong told workers in a letter last Friday.

Korea’s smallest manufacturer turned to its parent company Shanghai Automotive Industry in China for emergency funds, but the request was refused. The firm employs about 8,000 staff in Korean. Shanghai Automotive bought the majority stake three years ago.

The SsangYong executive committee now plans a protest rally against its Chinese management.

SsangYong sales in Korea have dropped by more than a third in the last year. It’s already shut 60 dealers in the country. In the UK, SsangYong has sold 595 cars to date this year, compared with 1,299 during the same period last year.

2010 Hyundai i40/Sonata caught testing in South Korea and France

Updated: 25/05/09

Hyundai is still working hard at testing their forthcoming large family car - the i40. New spy photos, taken in a South Korean car park and in Northern France, the new i40 will use a variety of engines including the new R diesel engine. The i30's 1.6 litre CRDi, 2.0 litre and 2.2 litre diesel engines and petrol engines, 2.4 litre and 3.3 litre V6 will be available, alongside a hybrid model later on. The biggest seller in the U.S is likely to the the 2.4 litre, while in Europe, the 2.0 diesel should be popular. The newcomer will use a newly ZF developed 6 speed automatic transmission which will be mated to the 4-cylinder diesel engines.

Up front, the i40 features attractively shaped head-lights and a three bar grille. Similar to the Genesis Coupe, the upcoming i40 will also have a strong character line on the front and rear doors and an elegantly designed rear fascia with a pair of tailpipes integrated in the rear bumper - similar to the Lexus LS. According to a Hyundai insider, the i40 will major on style, “and won’t be a car that people buy purely for value”.

Out goes the boxy American styling in favour for something sleek, slinky and European. The i40 should be unveiled September '09 before sales start in Winter 2009 in South Korea. The wagon variant will be launched first in the UK to draw customers in, while the sedan will join later on in 2011.