Four VAG models spied in Austria

The Volkswagen Group are usually among the first car manufactures to send their forthcoming cars to the Austrian Alps. These prototypes/mules undergo thorougher towing, braking, chassis and suspension testing.

The first model from Volkswagen that was snapped by photographers is the remodelled Transporter/Caravelle/T5 Multivan. First launched back in 2003 in Europe, the Transporter/Caravelle (T5 in Mainland Europe), will take it's styling cues off the ever-popular Golf VI hatchback.

The Transporter is sold as a passenger vehicle and a commercial vehicle. The engine range consists of a 1.9 litre TDI making 84bhp and 200Nm of torque, a 2.5-litre TDI producing 400Nm with 174bhp and a 3.2 litre petrol with 235hp. The UK market only gets the 2.5 litre TDi.

Next is the revised Touran. This will be the second facelift for the compact MPV after it was facelifted and launched back in 2006. Engines expected include the firms all-new 1.2, 1.4 and the 1.6 litre TSI petrol engines. The current 1.9 TDi will be replaced by the all-new 2.0 TDi CR, first seen in the Golf VI, then Scirocco, Golf Plus and Seat Altea. Mated to these engines are two gearboxes; a 6-speed manual and the new 7-speed DSG. Park assist is likely to be standard on UK models. Touch screen satellite navigation, bi-xenon headlamps and upgraded sound system will be optional.

It would not be a surprise to see the 2010 Touran at the Frankfurt motorshow this September. The all-new model is due Spring 2013. This will underpin the Golf VI since production costs will be substantially cheaper than the Golf V.

Next up is the facelifted Touareg SUV. Changes will include a revamped front and rear end, both ends taking styling hints of the Golf VI, Scirocco, Golf Plus and Polo, reshaped door mirrors and interior updates. Oddly enough, it seems the facelift could bring a curvier c-pillar to give the Touareg a hatchback look, in addition to a slightly longer rear overhang. Under the bonnet should be the firms new 3.0 litre TSI turbocharged V6 along with tweaked diesel engines, ranging from 2.5 TDi to 5.0 TDi V10 to give lower CO2 emissions. Volkswagen is currently testing the Touareg Hybrid which uses a 333bhp, 3.0 litre V6 TSI petrol engine and a battery pack. Hybrid mules have a reformed front bumper and a revised speedometer cluster.

The next model has caused controversy among journalists/bloggers. This Skoda Fabia prototype has been spied with a sportier front bumper combining a honeycomb lower grille with built-in positioning for fog lights. This could indicate a vRS model, however, the Fabia has been on the European market since April 2007 so a facelift is due. The 1.9 TDi PD diesel engine will be replaced by the groups new 1.6 TDi CR engine. As far as the spied car goes, headlamps have not been changed alongside the rear end. The revised Fabia could make its way to Frankfurt this September.

Tesla delivers 500th Roadster (U.S)

Tesla has confirmed delivery of its 500th all-electric Roadster . The car was delivered to Martin Tuchman - a philanthropist from New Jersey. Tuchman, a former automotive engineer, has already dabbled in electric propulsion have converted a boat to electric power to allow him take it on Lake Carnegie, which does not allow gas-powered boats. He says he plans to use his new Tesla to commute to work.

To help keep sales up, Tesla is planning an all-new Model S sedan and with Daimler now holding a stake in the American car company improved development on its electric cars should gather pace.

Car sales rise in Germany but fall in the UK

Germany:

New car registrations in Germany rose 40% year-on-year in May, with the country's scrappage scheme credited for the bulk of the rise. Sales increased to about 390,000 units compared with the same month last year.

In February, the German government launched a subsidy that pays motorists €2,500 (£2,160) to scrap cars at least nine years old if they buy a new model from any car maker in exchange. The German government has invest €5bn (£4.3 billion) in the scheme, which runs out at the end of this year.

In France, which also has a scrappage scheme, new car sales rose by 11.9% in May, to 206,387 units. France offers new car buyers a €1,000 (£864) subsidy for scrapping a 10-year-old car, as well as an additional €700 (£605) environmental bonus for buyers of cars with CO2 emissions below 120g/km.

However, the effect of scrapping incentives appears to be waning in Italy, where new car sales dropped 8.6% in May, to 188,670 units.

The May decline marked the second consecutive month in which sales have fallen despite scrapping incentives of up to €5,000 (£4,316), which were introduced last February.

UK:

UK car sales dropped by 24.8% in May compared to the same period last year, new industry figures show. This figure are very similar to the April figure of 24%.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers (SMMT), who issued the stats, said the market is looking more buoyant than it has done earlier in 2009 but warned it is too early to judge the effect of scrappage, which was introduced on 18th May. Many of these orders have not yet translated into registrations due to buyers waiting for their cars to be delivered.

The number of new cars sold in the UK during the month was 134,858, compared with 179,272 in May last year. Overall registrations in 2009 have been 748,691, a 27.9% drop on the first five months of 2008. Car sales have now fallen year-on-year for 13 consecutive months.

Paul Everitt, chief executive of the SMMT, said: “While consumer confidence is improving, the UK motor industry is still facing a difficult economic climate. We have seen an encouraging start to the scrappage incentive scheme with 35,000 orders being placed since it was announced, although it will take time to feed into registration figures.”

A survey by the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF), the trade association for 8,000 motor retailers, found that 92.8% of dealers reported an increase in enquires on new cars following the announcement of the scheme. It also revealed that 67.3% of buyers taking advantage of the scheme are aged 45 to 60 and that 66.9% of the vehicles being bought under the scheme have 1.0 to 1.3 litre engines. The survey showed 48.5%of the vehicles being bought under the scheme are priced between £6,000 and £8,000 and 22.1% are priced between £8,000 and £10,000.

RMIF Director Sue Robinson said: 'Car sales should see a significant increase in the coming months as a result of the vehicle scrappage scheme. This will go a long way towards helping to revive consumer confidence, and the UK car market, making it a double win for buyers and business alike.'

Hyundai says the scrappage scheme has been a resounding success with orders up 750% for the month. Tony Whitehorn, Hyundai UK's managing director, said: "It has certainly been an amazing month for us, but we could have sold even more cars if we could have got them. 'Our dealers have taken more than 9,000 orders in the past four weeks - that's almost a third of the total number of cars we sold in all of 2008, and a massive 750% increase in the number we'd normally expect to sell in a month. The most popular models are the i10, i20 and i30. Cars being scrapped in exchange for an i10 include a Range Rover, Mercedes S500 and several Jaguars.

Meanwhile, Honda has completed the build of the first Civic to be made at its Swindon factory since it reopened earlier this week. The Swindon plant will take on production of the Jazz, which has previously only been made in Japan and China.

Top ten sellers in May:

Ford Fiesta – 7,040.

Ford Focus – 6,693.

Vauxhall Corsa – 5,525.

Volkswagen Golf – 3,961.

Vauxhall Astra – 3,549.

Peugeot 207 – 3,103.

Mini Cooper – 2,650.

Ford Mondeo – 2,647.

Nissan Qashqai – 2,629.

Vauxhall Insignia – 2,602

Related links:

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Renault Scénic pricing announced (UK)

Following the launch of the Grand Scénic, Renault has announced pricing for its 5 seat Scénic, claiming it undercuts all of its rivals.

The new Scénic will start at £13,595 for the entry-level 1.6 VVT Extreme - £2,000 cheaper than the model it replaces and rises to £22,295 on the 2.0 dCi diesel automatic in Privilege trim. In between the Extreme and Privilege there are a three trims levels; Expression, Dynamique and Tom Tom Edition. All Scenics get air conditioning, ESP, and keyless go. Options will include a £650 reversing camera.

As with the new Grand Scénic, three new engines and transmissions appear in the Scénic range for the first time, including the 1.4 TCe 130 with 128bhp. This turbocharged petrol engine can average upto 39.8mpg combined with CO2 emissions of 168g/km. A 2.0 VVT 140 CVT and 2.0 dCi 160 FAP are also available. Overall there are eight engines at launch, ranging from 85bhp to 158bhp.

The Renault Scénic is due for release in July.

New Car: 2010 Peugeot 5008

Peugeot has unveiled its new 5008 people carrier, which it says draws influence from the classic 7 seat 505 estate.

The 4.53m model has seating for seven with a configuration of 2+3+2. The seats in the second row can be reclined individually, and the back row folds flat to give 2506 litres of luggage capacity. In 5 seater mode, 823 litres of luggage space is available. The front passenger seat also folds into a ‘shelf configuration’ to allow long objects to be loaded as far as the dashboard.

Underpinning the Peugeot 308 & 3008, Citroen C4 & Grand C4 Picasso, the 5008 will be available with 6 different engines with various power outputs. The line-up includes two different 1.6 litre VTi petrol engines producing 120bhp and 156bhp. This emits 169g/km of CO2 and has combined fuel economy of 38.6mpg and 167g/km delivering 39.7mpg combined. Diesel engines range from two 110bhp 1.6 HDi FAP. One emits 143g/km and returns 52.3mpg and the other emits 135g/km and returns 54.3mpg. Two 2.0 HDi FAP are available. One in 150bhp returning 48.7mpg and emitting 151g/km and the other is a 163bhp engine that returns 41.5mpg and emits 178g/km. The 150bhp 2.0 HDi has a 6 speed automatic gearbox standard with the latter receiving a 6 speed manual. Think of it as a LWB 3008.

Features include a head-up display that shows speed and distance alerts, ‘Snow Motion’, a traction control system designed to make it easier to drive on snow and ice and rear DVD entertainment system. 6 airbags, ESP with ASR, tyre pressure monitoring system, automatic electric parking brake with hill assist, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and panoramic glass sunroof will be standard. Options include satellite navigation system with heads up display. metallic paint, leather interior trim. alloy wheels and more.

The 5008 will be launched at September’s Frankfurt motorshow and will go on sale in the UK in Spring 2010. Prices are likely to start at around £15,000.

Audi A3 receives new diesel engine

Audi has announced a pair of new common-rail diesel engines that will join the A3 line-up.

The most powerful variant of the 1.6 litre TDi produces 105bhp and 230 Nm (170 lb-ft) of torque. This CR diesel engine is combined with Audi's new start and stop and energy recovery systems. With this engine, the A3 sprints from 0 to 62mph in 11.4 seconds with a top speed of 121mph with combined fuel economy of 68.9mpg. This equates to 109g/km. A 90bhp 1.6 litre TDi propels the A3 to 62 mph in 12.9 seconds and has a top speed of 112 mph. This model, which does not feature the start/stop system or energy recovery, has combined fuel economy of 62.7mpg with CO2 emissions of 118g/km.

The A3 1.6 TDI is available to order with the basic price for the 90bhp version set at €22,550 and for the 105bhp model at €23,550. Those who opt for the 5 door Sportback model will be charged an extra €900. UK sales start late Summer.

Nissan begins production of Teana sedan and X-Trail SUV (RU)

Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin and Nissan president, Carlos Ghosn took part in the opening ceremony of the Japanese firms first plant in Russia today.

Located in St. Petersburg, Nissan's new $200 million assembly plant has a production capacity of 50,000 vehicles a year. The facility, which is scheduled to employ 750 workers at start of production with one shift, will build the Teana sedan and the X-Trail SUV.

"This is Nissan's breakthrough in Russia," said Ghosn. "The opening of our plant in Saint Petersburg in the current conditions underlines our confidence in the high potential of the Russian economy. With the start of production at our new plant Nissan become an integral part of the local community."

Even though the global downturn has taken its toll on the Russian auto market as sales plunged more than 40% in the first four months of the year, compared to 2008 when Russia briefly overtook Germany as Europe's largest car market, many analyst believe that Russia will be a key growth market for car makers when the recovery starts.