2010 Volvo XC60 pricing announced (U.S)

Marketed as a 2010 model, Volvo's upcoming entry into the small premium utility segment, the XC60, will arrive in the U.S in March, where it will be offered as a single T6 AWD model featuring a 281bhp turbocharged V6 engine and standard all-wheel drive with Instant Traction. While final pricing is expected to be announced late January, Volvo said that the base MSRP of the XC60 will be under $40,000. In comparison, the UK model starts at £24,700 or $37,500 at the current exchange rate.

Among the crossover's standard features will be an HD Radio mated to a high performance sound system that includes AUX and USB inputs to allow connection and control of personal music devices such as iPods, memory sticks and other media players.

Car sales fall by 21% (UK)

Europe:

New car registrations fell again in the UK by 21% last month.

Analysts predicted car sales would fall down to 35% but sales were actually down 21.2% to 108,691 cars, taking the full year's total to 2,131,795, 11.3% down on 2007's figures - lowest since 1996. Diesel cars accounted for 43.6% of all new cars sold, an all-time high. Additionally, a 1/3 of all new cars sold were superminis; sales of city cars also grew.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said the cut in value added tax (VAT) from 17.5% to 15% on 1st December may have been a contributory factor in the smaller than expected dip in sales. Until December, the slide in car sales had accelerating, from a fall of 18.6% in August to a 36.8% drop in November.

2008's best-seller was the Ford Focus (101,593 sold). The Focus was followed in the top ten by the Vauxhall Corsa (99,574), Ford Fiesta (94,989), Vauxhall Astra (90,641), Volkswagen Golf (65,029), Peugeot 207 (53,462), BMW 3 Series (49,384), Ford Mondeo (44,150), Vauxhall Zafira (43,169) and Vauxhall Vectra (42,555). Last month's best seller was the new Ford Fiesta.

A spokesman for the SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) also said: 'The global economic downturn, precipitated by the crisis in the international banking and finance sector, created unprecedented challenges for the UK automotive industry in 2008.' He added: 'The measures taken by government to support the banking sector and kick-start demand have been necessary, but are not yet sufficient to restore confidence. Further action to ease access to finance and credit across the economy is essential if long-term damage to valuable industrial capability is to be avoided.' This years total car sales should top a mere 1.78 million cars.

Carmakers have been cutting output as stocks of unsold cars – cutting staff, reducing shifts, upping discounts to an all-time high, taking extended breaks over the holiday season and announcing prolonged shutdowns in the early months of 2009.

The better-than-expected UK figures contrasted with much bigger falls elsewhere in the final month of 2008. Earlier this week, all the leading U.S carmakers reported declines of more than 30% in December, while sales in Japan dropped 22% to the lowest December level on record.

In Europe, registrations fell by almost half in Spain, by 24% in France and 13.2% in Italy.

Last years winners, losers and the ones who are doing fine.

WINNERS:

Seven manufacturers managed to produce positive growth last year. Disregard the quirks of MG and Hummer sales, and you're left with a handful of brands who enjoyed genuine success in a hard market.

Total 2008 UK new-car sales, % change over 2007.

MG 133 +13,200%

Hummer 174 +185%

Smart 7,526 +43%

Dodge 3,911 +20%

Volvo 33,358 +11%

Jaguar 20,346 +9%

Kia 31,324 +7%

Doing fine:

A baker's dozen held static or posted single-digit decline in 2008. Interestingly, this category included the three German premium giants, but the decidedly mainstream Nissan should be congratulated for holding level in a tough market.

Total 2008 UK new-car sales, % change over 2007.

Audi 100,845 0%

Chevrolet 18,372 0%

Nissan 66,336 0%

Mazda 49,858 -2%

Daihatsu 4,841 -4%

Hyundai 28,036 -6%

BMW 113,132 -7%

Fiat 55,325 -7%

Skoda 37,100 -7%

Ford 322,514 -8%

Lotus 647 -9%

Mercedes-Benz 74,883 -9%

VW 179,189 -9%

Losers:

The majority of car companies suffered double-digit falls last year.

Total 2008 UK new-car sales, % change over 2007.

Vauxhall 298,912 -10%

Daimler 33 -11%

Toyota 105,717 -11%

Mini 40,736 -15%

Seat 29,397 -16%

Citroen 81,237 -17%

Mitsubishi 15,552 -18%

Alfa Romeo 5,950 -19%

Peugeot 118,701 -19%

Perodua 624 -19%

Honda 83,805 -21%

Suzuki 26,095 -21%

Subaru 4,668 -23%

Bentley 1,542 -27%

Aston Martin 1,565 -29%

Renault 89,570 -29%

Land Rover 32,567 -30%

Porsche 5,918 -31%

Saab 16,074 -32%

Lexus 10,122 -33%

Jeep 4,062 -34%

Proton 1,518 -39%

Cadillac 171 -50%

Ssangyong 629 -53%

Corvette 13 -75%

Tata 1 -80%

Rover 2 -97%

U.S:

Mercedes & Smart - December proved to be a poor month for Mercedes as it reported U.S sales of 18,507 vehicles, a 32.1% decrease over the same month last year. The German carmaker's total 2008 volume was 225,128 units, an 11.2% decline compared to 2007.

Sales of the C Class model rose 13.8% for the year, while sales of the M Class increased by 1.3%. The Smart ForTwo that made its debut in the U.S market in 2008, recorded 2,341 sales in December while the company's year-to-date sales came up to a total of 24,622 units.

GM - Once again, General Motors recorded a significant drop in U.S sales in December delivering 221,983 vehicles, down 31% compared with a year ago.

GM's December car sales of 87,506 units were off 25% while its truck sales of 134,477 units were down 35% compared to the same month last year. Despite the plunge, GM officials seemed happy to report that December deliveries were up 30% compared with October and up 43% compared with November.

"Given the ongoing challenges and the difficult market environment, we were very encouraged to see a volume rebound for GM in December compared with both October and November," said Mark LaNeve, vice president, GM North America Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing.

"We are building more vehicles than ever that provide great value and Americans enjoy owning. That is why, for the year, we are seeing our market share holding steady at just above 22 percent. That's 5 % points more and 760,000 vehicles more than our nearest competitor," added LaNeve.

For the year, GM sold 2,980,688 vehicles in the U.S -down 23% compared with 2007, which allowed the company to maintain a market share just above 22%.

Ford - Ford Motor Company's U.S sales that include the Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo brands, totaled 139,067 units, down 32.4% compared with a year ago. Despite the decline, Ford estimates that the market share of the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands were 14.6% in December, up 0.7 of a point versus a year ago. For the full year, FoMoCo's sales were down 20.7% to 1,988,376 units, from 2,507, 366 units a year ago.

Chrysler - Chrysler LLC's December sales in the U.S were much worse than GM's 31% and Ford's 32.4% decline as the company reported sales of 89,813 units - down a staggering 53% from the same month in 2007. From January to December 2008, Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge U.S sales decreased 30% to 1,453,122 units compared with total 2007 sales of 2,076,650 units.

Toyota and Honda recorded declines (36.7% and 34.7%). Audi and Subaru held off the slump better than most, with declines of just 9.3% and 7.7% respectively. Mini sold four more cars in 2008 than 2007 (3,566 units).

The best-selling vehicle in the U.S in 2008 was the Ford F Series pick-up truck. The F-Series sold over 515,500 units, with the Chevrolet Silverado - close behind at just over 465,000.

Large saloons accounted for the next two places in the 2008 top ten, Toyota Camry (436,600 units) and Honda Accord (372,800 units), with the more compact Toyota Corolla/Matrix (351,000 units) and Honda Civic (339,300 units) just behind. Also selling well were the Nissan Altima (269,700 units), Chevrolet Impala (265,800 units), Dodge Ram (245,800 units) and Honda CR-V (197,300 units).

Japan:

Japanese vehicle sales had their worst December on record, with demand plunging 22% compared with the same month of 2007.

December sales of cars, trucks and buses fell to 183,549, according to the Japan Automobile Dealers Association (JADA).

Japan's recession has been blamed for the fall, together with the trend of people moving to urban areas and relying on public transport.

Vehicle sales for the whole of 2008 fell 5.1% to 5.08 million. It was the fifth consecutive year of falls, taking sales down to a 34-year low. Toyota sales fell 17.8%.

JADA predicted last month that sales in 2009 would fall to 4.86 million, but there is concern that the figure could be even worse than that.

"We never imagined sales would fall this badly," said Takeshi Fushimi, director of JADA. Lack of financing has been less of a problem than it has elsewhere.

Related links:

November car sales fall 36.8% (UK)

Car sales in October fall 23% (UK)

September sales figures down by 21% (UK)

Top 10 best and worst selling cars of 2008 (UK)

Car sales lowest since 1966 (UK)

French car sales plummet

Car sales fall again

C.Ronaldo back in his Bentley Continental GT Speed (UK)

Cristiano Ronaldo is back to driving a Bentley Continental GT Speed, 3 days after he wrecked his Ferrari 599 GTB. Ronaldo's troubles may go further, as he is reportedly uninsurable.

The crash happened Thursday morning as the 23 year old Portuguese footballer was headed to footy practice with his team, Manchester United, when he lost control of the £193,000 Ferrari in a tunnel under the Manchester Airport at 10:20am on the A538 Wilmslow Road in Manchester. His team-mate, Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, was trailing behind in his own Bentley. Upon seeing the accident, van der Sar pulled over to aid his teammate.

Although shaken up, Ronaldo was uninjured in the crash. The pair drove to the Man United practice in van der Sar's luxury coupe.

That may have been enough for Ronaldo to forget about the £200,000 he had just wrecked. He showed up to training today in his own Bentley Continental GT Speed. Last September, Ronaldo ditched a Bentley Continental GTC in favor of the GT Speed. He has an impressive collection of vehicles, including a Bugatti Veyron, Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe, 2 Porsche Cayennes, and a BMW M6. The Ferrari was his latest acquisition. He had just purchased the red 599 GTB, with a top speed of 205 mph, earlier in the week.

Despite his collection, Ronaldo's UK driving days may soon be over. One of the largest insurance brokers in the UK, AA, claims they have not been able to get a single offer from any of their providers. "We cannot find anybody who would touch him with a bargepole," a spokesman for AA said.

The spokesman continued to discuss the high risk of insuring a footballer, and not simply because of off-field behaviour. "It's not just the cost of the car itself. Imagine if there were three premiership footballers in one car and they received injuries that meant they couldn't play again," he said."

We would be paying out for loss of earnings, paying sponsors for failure to fulfil contracts – the costs just go on and on."

But the underwriting manager at insurance firm Adrian Flux says anything is possible. "It can be done," Gerry Buck said. "It just depends how much money he is prepared to pay.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and action!

The BMW 5 Series Touring has been spied undergoing cold-weather testing in Munich, ahead of its launch in late 2010/early 2011. The new pictures give us our best look yet at the upcoming wagon and it appears clear that the new model will have a more conventional exterior compared to the current 5 Series.

Sitting on a shortened 7 Series platform, the new wagon features an increased wheelbase that resulting in improved interior room and greater luggage capacity. To fight the inevitable weight gain that the enlargement brings, the company will outfit the new wagon with a multitude of aluminum body panels.

Big changes are also in store for the 5 Series mechanicals, as the new model will feature control-arms up front instead of the McPherson strut suspension that is currently used. Today's 6 speed automatic transmission will be replaced by the new 8 speed unit which debuted on the 7 Series, while the M5 Touring will feature a new double clutch M-DCT sequential transmission.

Engine choices will include the award-winning 3.0 litre twin-turbo V6, the new twin-turbo 4.8 litre V8 and several diesels including a brand new version which will feature twin-turbo technology.

The M5 Touring should return to the line-up a year after the new wagon launches, but power will come from an unspecified V8 instead of the current V10 to better fuel economy and emissions. With the 5 Series sedan receiving a hybrid set-up, we'll have to wait and see whether the wagon will also get the same set-up.

Leaked: 2009 Honda Insight (EU)

Following the JDM Honda Insight brochure leak, we can now see the European model in all its glory.

The UK version of Honda’s new ‘affordable hybrid’ differs only slightly from the production-ready U.S model unveiled at the end of last year, with clear indicator lenses and conventional round fog lights.

The Insight is part of a family of green Hondas that include the FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel car, Jazz hybrid and the forthcoming production version of the CR-Z concept.

Honda has yet to confirm the details of the new Insight hybrid, but power is likely to come from the 1.4 litre i-VTEC engine (used in the new Jazz) coupled with the latest version of Honda’s hybrid system, but judging by the numberplates, the engine used in the photos is a 1,300cc or 1.4 litre i-VTEC. In order to help drivers maximise fuel economy and decrease C02 emissions, the Insight will be equipped with Honda's new interactive Ecological Drive Assist System. Reports suggest that the new Insight is capable of surpassing 70mpg combined.

With over 200,000 units expected to be produced, Honda says the U.S should eat up half the demand. The Honda Insight hybrid will go on sale in April 2009 and is expected to undercut the Toyota Prius, with prices starting at £15,000.

New Car: 2010 Buick LaCrosse

Buick has officially unveiled the 2010 LaCrosse ahead of the 2009 North American International Motorshow in Detroit. Unlike Buicks of the past, the redesigned model is aimed at entry level luxury buyers instead of the senior citizen crowd normally associated with the brand.

The quad headlights and questionable styling of the current is no more as the new model features a modern exterior with flowing lines and an elegant appearance. Staying true to the Invicta concept which debuted at the 2008 Beijing motorshow, the car is "instantly recognisable as a Buick, with its signature ‘sweep spear' body-side styling, portholes inside the character line on the hood, and waterfall grille" according to Ed Welburn, GM's vice president of global design.

The car is the result of a truly global effort as designers from the United States and China worked hand in hand to create the LaCrosse's dramatic exterior. The upscale design carries over to the interior where occupants are greeted by a flowing two-tone interior that has sweeping dark wood accents which run from door-to-door while other luxury touches include French stitching on the instrument panel, tastefully applied chrome accents, and cool blue ambient lighting.

In a clear showing that this Buick is aimed squarely at the younger generation, the LaCrosse features the latest in technology including Bluetooth connectivity, an auxiliary audio input with a USB port, and an available in-dash navigation system. Among the long list of options are a power rear-window sunshade, a rear DVD entertainment system which has displays mounted on the front seatbacks, an adaptive lighting package which aims the headlights up to 15 degrees based on steering inputs, a Side Blind Zone to alert the driver of cars hiding in blind spots, and a rear view camera.

Under the hood of the LaCrosse is GM's brand new 3.0 litre engine with direct injection that produces 255bhp and 211 lb-ft of torque (286 Nm). GM says the new engine helps to increase fuel economy and lowers cold-start emissions by up to 25%. Flagship CXS models will be powered by GM's 3.6 litre direct injection V6 that is tuned to produce an estimated 280bhp and 261 lb-ft of torque (354 Nm). Another first for a Buick sedan is the availability of an intelligent AWD system which will be offered on the mid-level CXL LaCrosse.

The redesigned 2010 LaCrosse will go into production this summer at GM's Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City with deliveries expected to begin shortly after that.

Press Release:

Sculpted styling defines Buick’s modern global design

Luxurious interior crafted of premium materials with cool blue ambient lighting

Intelligent personal technologies enhance the driving experience

Responsive performance via efficient. direct injection dual overhead cam engines paired with six-speed automatic transmissions

Redesigned from the ground up, the 2010 Buick LaCrosse luxury sedan makes its world debut at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Jan. 12. The LaCrosse offers all wheel drive, a suite of advanced intelligent personal technologies and safety features, and a choice of two fuel-saving V-6 engines.

“The new LaCrosse was created with great attention to detail, craftsmanship and advanced technology,” said Susan Docherty, Buick-Pontiac-GMC vice president. “It builds on the success of Enclave as the next step in Buick’s revitalization. And, as with Enclave, our goal is to attract a whole new buyer to our dealerships for LaCrosse.”

Sculpted design:

Buick’s long heritage of leading designs, such as the Y-Job Concept, the Roadmaster and the Riviera, helped define American automobile design through the years, according to Ed Welburn, vice president of GM Global Design. Today, Buick design is a product of a global team and resources. Creative collaboration between designers in the United States and China, in partnership with the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) as well as chassis and body engineers in Europe, resulted in the first General Motors vehicle to be created on three continents.

“The new LaCrosse is intended to represent modern elegance,” said Welburn. “Throughout the design, you experience a balance of contrasts. Both the interior and exterior have been designed with harmony in mind. The exterior balances taut, sculpted lines with sensuous accents and surfaces. Inside, smoked chrome accents, warm wood, first-class leather and materials combine with cool blue ambient lighting to create an inviting environment.”

The exterior design is faithful to the Buick Invicta show car introduced at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show.

“It is instantly recognizable as a Buick, with its signature ‘sweep spear’ body-side styling, portholes inside the character line on the hood, and waterfall grille,” added Welburn.

Luxurious interior experience:

Inside, the two-tone interior is defined by a flowing, uninterrupted design theme that wraps around the instrument and door panels. Attention to detail is evident throughout the interior, including the analog instrument cluster, chrome offset by dark wood accents, and the contrasting thread and French stitching on the instrument panel.

Buick’s signature Quiet:

Tuning – an engineering process to reduce, block and absorb interior noise – provides a distraction-free passenger environment. An unexpected, inviting touch is the cool blue ambient lighting throughout the cabin from the center console, instrument panel and door panels.

Intelligent personal technologies:

The contemporary atmosphere of the cabin includes the digital connectivity and personal technology offered in the new LaCrosse. That includes features such as in-dash navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, an auxiliary audio input and a USB port. For rear-seat passengers, a power rear-window sunshade and a DVD entertainment system, with two display screens integrated into the seatbacks, is available.

LaCrosse’s intelligent technologies also work to deliver a 360-degree field of vision behind the steering wheel, for a greater feeling of comfort, security and safety. It starts with the available head-up display in the windshield, allowing the driver to monitor speed while keeping his or her eyes on the road. At night, the available adaptive lighting package can direct the high-intensity discharge headlight beams up to 15 degrees for enhanced illumination of the road and its curves.

LaCrosse offers Side Blind Zone alert that notifies the driver if a vehicle in adjacent lanes is traveling in the driver’s blind spot. The LaCrosse is also available with a rear view camera, with the display integrated into the navigation system screen.

The technology available on LaCrosse enhances a suite of standard safety features that is designed to meet the criteria for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 20 Star Safety Rating. Highlights include front-, side- and roof-mounted head-curtain air bags, StabiliTrak stability- and traction-control system. The safety and security of OnStar is also included for the first year of ownership.

Responsive performance:

LaCrosse’s stiff body structure serves as the foundation for precise suspension tuning, safety and a quiet ride. Buyers can choose from a family of efficient, direct-injection six-cylinder engines and a fuel-conserving six-speed automatic transmission with tap-up/tap-down control.

The direct injection engines in the LaCrosse create more power with less fuel and reduce vehicle emissions through greater combustion control – particularly cold-start emissions that are reduced by up to 25 percent.

The 2010 LaCrosse will be offered in three models - CX, CXL and CXS:

CX – equipped with a new 3.0L direct injection V-6, premium cloth seats and 17-inch wheels. The 3.0L engine generates an estimated 255 horsepower (190 kW) and 211 lb.-ft. of torque (286 Nm) and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

CXL – also equipped with the new 3.0L direct injection V-6, adds leather-appointed heated seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, fog lamps, outside rearview mirror with LED turn indicators and puddle lamps, and 18-inch wheels. Intelligent AWD is available.

CXS – equipped with a 3.6L direct injection V-6; real-time active-dampening suspension; perforated, leather-appointed, heated and cooled seats, and chrome-plated 18-inch wheels (19-inch optional). The 3.6L engine, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, generates an estimated 280 horsepower (209 kW) and 261 lb.-ft. of torque (354 Nm).

LaCrosse production will begin this summer at the Fairfax Assembly facility in Kansas City, Kan.

Related link:

Spy photos: 2010 Buick LaCrosse

Nissan 370Z pricing announced (U.S)

Nissan announced that the all-new 2009 370Z coupe goes on sale in the U.S with an MSRP starting at $29,930 for the entry-level model which features a 6-speed manual transmission, $31,230 for the new 7-speed automatic transmission. The new Z is also offered in a Touring model, which is priced at $34,460 with the 6-speed manual and $35,760 with the 7-speed automatic transmission.

In addition to the basic 370Z's list of standard equipment, the 370Z Touring adds heated leather seats with power function, HomeLink Universal Transceiver, Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, 8-speaker Bose audio system, XM Satellite Radio (without subscription) cargo cover and aluminum pedals.

Nissan also offers 370Z buyers the option of two new packages. The Sport Package which is priced at $3,000, includes an array of upgrades such as the 19-inch RAYS forged wheels and Bridgestone Potenza tyres, aerodynamic front and rear spoiler, larger Nissan Sport Brakes, SynchroRev Match (6-speed manual transmission only) and Viscous Limited Slip Differential.

The Navigation Package will set buyers back at $1,850 and adds a Hard Drive-based Nissan Navigation System, 9.3GB Music Box Hard Drive and Interface System for iPod.