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Maserati to launch Sedan  cheaper than Quattroporte in 2014,plus 2010-2014 Maserati and Ferrari roadmap.

Fiat Group CEO Sergio Marchionne revealed the company’s 5 year business plan he confirmed that Maserati is working on a  smaller Quattroporte sedan that will compete with the likes of the Mercedes Benz E Class,the BMW 5 Series ,Jaguar XF/XFR, and Cadillac CTS/CTS-V.

According to Marchionne, the pricing of the new Maserati will be very competitive.The new sedan will be smaller than the current Quattroporte and should debut sometime in 2014 as a 2015 model.

Marchionne added that the introduction of the Maserati will also help pump up the sales figures of the brand and the effect should also benefit the Ferrari brand. The forecast of sales will involve a jump from 2 billion Euros last year to about 3.5 billion Euros by 2014.

Anyway, source from motertrend say that A new Quattroporte is planned for 2013.

2010-2014 Maserati and Ferrari roadmap.

2011 612 replacement (H1) + 458 Spider (H2)
2012 599 replacement + supercar (Enzo replacement)
2013 California M (facelift) + 458 CS/Scuderia
2014 New Maserati Sedan  position below Quattroporte

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Hyundai sold 21,399 Sonatas in August but not as optimistic about car sales in 2010

This should worry just about every car company in the U.S. Hyundai sold 21,399 Sonatas in August, up 81% from a year ago, outselling both the Chevrolet Malibu and the Ford Fusion in the mid-sized segment, one of the industry’s fastest-growing. It’s closing in on the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, so that Hyundai is moving production of its Santa Fe sport-utility vehicle from its plant in Alabama to a new plant owned by affiliate Kia Motors Corp. in Georgia. News reports says the move could free up Hyundai’s factory to build 100,000 more Sonatas a year.

Hyundai Motor America chief John Krafcik is “not as optimistic” as others about car sales in 2010. He was interviewed by Jerry Hirsch of the Los Angeles Times for a story on the drop in new car sales in August.Hyundai Motor America chief John Krafcik is “not as optimistic” as others about car sales in 2010. He was interviewed by Jerry Hirsch of the Los Angeles Times for a story on the drop in new car sales in August.

Krafcik raised the following points:

• He doesn’t see how sales will improve in the second half of the year.
• “The midterm elections will suck up advertising space and time and put people in a bad mood,” Krafcik said.
• “Housing sales will continue to be weak. There’s almost a perfect link to housing and car sales.”
• Krafcik said the auto industry might reach sales of 11.2 million this year, well below the 11.5 million to 12 million predicted at the start of the year.
• “I would be happy if we get to 12.2 million next year,” Krafcik said. Hirsch reports that would place the 2009-2011 sales years as one of the worst periods for auto sales in the last three decades.

Source:Los Angeles Times via examiner

Hyundai ix20 and i10 Bound for Paris, But Not U.S.

The Hyundai ix20, a new B-segment MPV, will make its world premiere at the 2010 Paris Auto Show, alongside the Hyundai i10 city car. But Hyundai Motor America tells Inside Line that U.S. consumers are not likely to see the cars here.

“There are no plans to bring either vehicle to the U.S. market at this time,” said Hyundai Motor America spokesman Dan Bedore in response to an e-mailed query from Inside Line on Thursday.

Source: Inside Line

Hyundai To Sell Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars In 2012

Hyundai has announced that they will sell hydrogen fuel cell cars starting in 2012 – three years before Toyota, Honda and the rest of the competition

Hyundai plans to increase production of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles up to 10,000 units by 2015, the year when most other automakers will be just getting started on their FCVs. The first 500 vehicles produced are likely to be leased out to fleets and other similar buyers until production increases to at least 1,000 units by 2013.

With hydrogen refueling stations becoming more commonplace and the cost of hydrogen fuel cells dropping, customer demand is very likely to increase, especially seeing as Hyundai plans to beat Toyota’s price tag of $50,000. How they are attempting to beat Toyota’s price tag is unknown, as is the type of technology Hyundai is expected to use in their units. However earlier in the year in Geneva, Hyundai said that it had made several important innovations over its previous fuel cell concepts, the Tucson fuel cell EV.

Source: inhabitat

Fico Score Range

A FICO score is a reliable way for credit evaluation that has been widely accepted by most lenders. It was developed in the late 1950s by Fair Isaac & Co. and the Federal Trade Commission find this credit score to be acceptable. Through this method, the credit history of the borrower is condensed into a single number. FICO score range is between 300 and 850.

Good and Acceptable FICO Score Range

A FICO score that?s above 750 is excellent while the scores ranging from 720 to 750 are rated to be very good. If you have an excellent rating some lenders give better rates or discounts.

FICO scores that range from 680 to 699 are good. This means you can qualify for a normal loan. The rating is still okay or acceptable if your FICO scores range from 620 to 679. Some lenders won’t deny your credit or loan application but surely, the terms and offers will not be as generous if your score was higher. However, you are still considered a low risk loan candidate.

Low FICO Score Range

A FICO score ranging from 580 to 619 will make brokers and banks love you. Wondering why? Simply because that is an uncertain score where bad credit usually starts. Lenders are still willing to grant your loan, but on their own terms and conditions. And it means that they earn big commissions from giving you much more costly loan.

Bad or Risky FICO Score Range

The real problem starts with a FICO score ranging from 500 to 580. With this score, your credit rating is bad. You can get your loan but you surely won’t like it. Consider taking that loan anyway, since that can be the beginning or the foundation of your fresh start.

If you attain a FICO score of 499 and below, you are unfortunately in serious need of assistance. If there are lenders who are willing to get you a loan, the terms will simply be too brutal. So the best thing you can do about it is to try to repair your bad credit.

Audi Q1 rendering and information

Audi A1’s success will undoubtedly persuit Audi to expand the range in the coming years, the upcoming version of the vehicle  will be  five doors hatchback .Audi will fight against the Mini Cabriolet  Like the  as media discover that Ingolstadt’s stable will  have an A1 soft top with in 2012. In 2013 the A1 family welcome a new member, a 4×4. A small off-road that will go on country roads without fear thanks to its 4×4 transmission .this model should take the name Q1 which will be available not only with front wheel drive but also in “four”

 A small off-road will build in cooporation with Vw Polo Suv,Seat tribu and  2013 Suzuki Sx4.the source from Audi said that the car will based on next generation Suzuki  SX4 platform and will got 4×4 transmision from Suzuki as Volkswagen  have 19% stake in Suzuki.

On the engine front, petrol engines will range from 86 to 160 horsepower and 105-140-horsepower diesel engines, top selling engine will be 140 bhp 1.4 TSI and 2.0 TDI 140 bhp, while prices will be higher than 22,000 euros for the two-wheel drive and 27,000 euros for versions four

Official debut will occur in 2013.

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Nissan at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show,offically take orders for Leaf

“Innovation For All” comes to life November 17th when Nissan rolls out four major product introductions – including three world debuts – at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Leading the way will be the dramatic Nissan Ellure concept, which adds a new dimension to traditional sedan design – a dimension named innovation. The show also marks the return of the Nissan Quest minivan, with its innovative styling and functionality. Breaking new ground in family adventure vehicles is the dramatic Murano CrossCabriolet, a design that shows Nissan’s leadership in design, technology and innovation and truly blows the roof off traditional crossovers. The new Quest and Murano CrossCabriolet are set to go on sale in early 2011. Topping it all off is the first appearance of the production version of the Nissan LEAF? electric vehicle, which goes on sale in December in select markets. Following are brief overviews of each vehicle.
The next-generation Nissan Quest presents a new paradigm in family mobility. Along with top levels of quality and reliability, the all-new design is a fusion of sophistication, security and thoughtful utility for both families and empty nesters alike. The new Quest, which will be available in early 2011, is the perfect vehicle for buyers needing the size, safety, functionality and comfort that a minivan has to offer, without sacrificing style or driving pleasure.

 Murano CrossCabriolet, the world’s first all-wheel drive crossover convertible, delivers the open-air exhilaration of a convertible while extending the versatility of the Murano in exciting new ways. With room for four adults, space for golf bags or luggage (even with the top down), and a premium level interior, the Murano CrossCabriolet represents a breakthrough in concept and design.

Nissan’s dramatic new-value sedan exploration, the Nissan Ellure, is designed to bring a higher level of progressive and distinctive expression to the segment – adding passion and emotion to traditional sedan efficiency.
source: Nissan

Nissan will offically take orders for its Leaf electric car starting in US. tomorrow

Word on the street is that Nissan will start taking orders tomorrow for the hotly anticipated Leaf, the world’s first mass-produced electric vehicle priced low enough for the general consumer.

The automaker has been accepting reservations for a refundable fee of $99, and already has 18,000 pre-orders, according to John Schilling, Nissan spokesman – with a goal of reaching 20,000 by December. More than half of the reservations are from people in the five states where the Leaf will have its initial rollout.

The rollout will be staggered. The first vehicles will go to drivers in Arizona, Tennessee, California, Washington and Oregon, then in January to Texas and Hawaii. The car maker expects the Leaf to be available everywhere in the U.S. by the end of 2011.

Officially, Nissan declined to comment on the date orders will start, saying only that it “will happen soon,” but it’s being reported that a Washington dealership has posted on Mynissanleaf.com that tomorrow’s the big day.
source: VentureBeat

UK’s Sunderland plant expects to produce up to 100,000 Jukes each year.

The  Nissan’s Sunderland plant expects to produce up to 100,000 Jukes each year, making it the plant’s highest volume model behind the Qashqai. Earlier this year the Department for Business confirmed a ?20m grant supporting further investment by Nissan to produce electric car batteries and build the Leaf electric car at Sunderland.

Nissan also safeguarding 1,100 graduate engineering and related jobs in Sunderland by investing ?57m in producing its new model, the Juke, there.

At the production launch of the Juke last week, the car manufacturer also announced that it is planning to extend its educational outreach programme until 2014, benefiting 750 university engineering students.

source: targetjobs.co.uk

U.S. car Sales Drop in August because No More Cash For Clunkers.

The nation’s top automakers reported disappointing sales Wednesday, resulting in the worst August for industrywide auto sales in 27 years.

According to sales tracker Autodata, U.S. new vehicle sales fell just short of 1 million vehicles, a drop of 21% from a year ago, which included Cash for Clunkers. That federal program created a sugar rush of sales by dangling an incentive of up to $4,500 in cash for buyers who traded in older gas guzzlers for more efficient models.
Industrywide sales totaled 997,468, down from 1.26 million a year ago, according to Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey-based Autodata Corp. Asia-based brands captured 46.9 percent of sales last month, down from 52.3 percent a year ago, while GM, Ford and Chrysler raised their market share 3.6 percentage points to 44.3 percent.

Analysts had been expecting an industrywide drop in sales from the previous August, but not such a big one. Also worrisome was a 5 percent month-to-month decrease in sales from July, and a general feeling that the market would remain stagnant in coming months.

The auto industry had been gradually rebuilding sales volumes this year after a dismal performance in 2009, when overall sales fell to their lowest point in nearly 30 years. Even with the bad August results, carmakers are on pace to sell about 11.5 million vehicles for the year, a healthy increase over the 10.4 million sold in 2009. But that is short of the annual average of 16 million a few years ago.

Sales at General Motors, the country’s largest carmaker, fell 24.5 percent from a year earlier. Toyota sales dropped 34 percent, Honda was off 32.7 percent, and Nissan fell 27 percent.

Over all, nearly as many light trucks were sold as passenger cars during August, which had not been the prevailing trend. For the month, 50.3 percent of all vehicles sold were cars, compared with 49.7 percent for trucks, S.U.V.’s and vans.

Toyota sold 148,388 Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles last month, down from 225,088 a year earlier. Corolla small cars, Camry sedans and Prius hybrids, models that surged from last year’s federal rebates, led declines for the Toyota City, Japan- based company last month, falling 53 percent, 43 percent and 38 percent, respectively.
Honda said it sold 108,729 Honda and Acura models, down from 161,439 a year ago. Declines for the Tokyo-based company were led by its Accord, Civic and Fit cars, down 43 percent, 47 percent and 53 percent, respectively.

Nissan, Japan’s third-largest automaker, sold 76,827 Nissan and Infiniti models, a drop from 105,312 a year ago. The Yokohama, Japan-based company’s Versa and Sentra small cars, its main beneficiaries of cash-for-clunkers discounts in 2009, had respective declines of 60 percent and 50 percent last month, Nissan said.

Hyundai, South Korea’s largest automaker, said its deliveries fell to 53,603 last month from 60,467 a year earlier.

As Hyundai’s sales decline trailed that of the industry, the Seoul-based company’s market share rose to 5.4 percent from 4.8 percent a year ago, according to Autodata.

Source: Autodata

FICO Score Car Loan

Inexperienced car buyers often go to car shopping without being fully prepared. Every buyer should have some idea of about how much car they can afford and what their FICO score is. Attempting to purchase a car without being armed with this knowledge is a huge mistake.

Your FICO score will essentially determine what interest rates you are offered as well as the terms of your vehicle purchase. If your FICO credit score is high, you will be able to benefit from the best rebates and lower interest rates, perhaps even at 0%. If your FICO score is low, you can expect to pay very high interest rates and to get less advantageous terms. If you don’t know what your score is, you might accept a higher interest rate then you have to.

Your FICO score is your credit score. It reported from three main agencies, they are Trans Union, Equifax, and Experien. It only costs you around a $10 (from each agency) to get your credit report. However, every person is allowed to get one free credit report each year. Your credit report will include every loan that you have taken out. It will also include your payment history. If you’ve paid bills late or haven’t paid them at all, your credit report will have this information listed. Your FICO score will give creditors an idea how they likely they will be to get their money back if they lend you money. If your credit score is low, you’ll be deemed a high credit risk. You either won’t be able to get a loan or you will only qualify for loans with very high interest rates. They may also require that you make a down payment. This is because theyl want to recoup as much money as they can from you because they are not fully confident that you will repay the loan in full.

If you have a FICO score, you have a couple of different options. You can wait to purchase a car until you improve it. This will require you paying your lenders on time, every time. You will also need to lower the amount of money that you owe to lenders and creditors. Also, be sure to do business with companies that report to the credit agencies, so that you can build up the amount of positive information that is reported to the credit reporting agencies. Overtime, this will increase your score.

You may also want to go ahead, bite the bullet and purchase a car even with a higher interest rate while continuing to work to improve your credit. You may be able to refinance at another time, at a lower rate.

There are lenders who specialize in working with individuals that have bad credit. Again, you can expect to pay a much higher interest rate then you would if your FICO score was high. If it is at all possible, it is best to wait until you improve your credit score before purchasing a car. Often, individuals with bad credit end up with their car being upside down. This simply means that they owe more than the car is actually worth. As a result, it is very hard to sell the car if they have to. Therefore, if you can , keep your current car, until you can put yourself in a position to demand lower interest rates and better terms.

2011-2012 Renault Megane III rendering and information

Autoplus magazine publish scoop and rendering of the next generation Renault Megane.Apparently the expect the styling to be heavily influenced by the DeZir Concept, and that’s actually true because Renault has said that it will be!

The new car  seem to use the design cues that already used in Laguna and Twingo but will recive more sporty design and more muscular. black front grille which is lifted directly from the DeZir are the thing we see from the rendering.

Source from Infomotori reports that there’re still doubt about the size of the new Megane , but it will come in three and five door versions, as well as a sedan and a station wagon.

Engines will probably remain the same, or else, 1.4-litre, 1.6-litre and 2-litre petrol engines and 1.5-litre and 2-litre diesel engines, all four cylindres. The flagship, according to Infomotori.com, will probably feature a 2-litre turbo able to deliver 225 bhp. Prices will range from less than € 15,000 up to about € 30,000.

Renault Megane III  will arrive in late 2011.

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image from autoplus

 
BMW’s Future Models Roadmap by autonews.com

BMW will concentrate on small crossovers next year with a redesigned X3 and the all-new X1. Both are based on the redesigned 3-series sedan, which will arrive in 2012.

In 2013, a new subbrand of electric and hybrid vehicles being developed by BMW’s Project i group will debut.

Here is a rundown of BMW’s product plans for 2010-13.

1 series: The coupe and convertible will be freshened in 2011, and a high-performance M coupe will be added. The coupe and convertible are expected to be redesigned in 2013 or 2014.

3 series: A redesign is planned for 2012 with a longer wheelbase. Power will come from a twin-turbocharged, direct-injection, four-cylinder gasoline engine. BMW probably will start with the sedan version and roll out derivatives every six months. Station wagon, coupe and convertible versions will come later.

A 3-series-based crossover similar to the 5-series Gran Turismo is expected, but it would be aimed mainly at European customers.

5 series: The redesigned sedan debuted this spring. A new M5 version will go on sale next year, likely with the 570-hp, 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 found in the X5 M and X6 M.

5-series Gran Turismo: The station-wagonlike crossover hasn’t sold well since its debut last October. Executives say that’s because two variants were unavailable at launch last year. The six-cylinder 535i GT arrived in June, and the all-wheel drive comes this fall.

The GT gets a freshening in 2013.

6 series: A reskinned second-generation coupe and convertible are expected in 2011. BMW probably will carry over its 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V-8. The new versions will take styling cues from the Gran Coupe concept shown at the 2010 Beijing auto show. Reportedly, a four-door sedan version of the 6 series with coupelike styling has been approved. It would compete with the Mercedes-Benz CLS, Porsche Panamera and Audi A7.

7 series: A mild freshening of the flagship is expected in 2012 or 2013. The $100,000-plus ActiveHybrid 7 version went on sale in June. The Active-Hybrid uses a twin-turbo-charged, direct-injection V-8 and an electric motor. It gets 15 percent better fuel economy than 7-series gasoline models.

This year BMW is reintroducing a six-cylinder engine in the 7 series for the U.S. market — a 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder for the 740i. Optional awd was added to the 750i and Li this year.

BMW also added an Alpina B7 performance model this year, using the German tuner Alpina to give the 7 series a sportier body with spoilers, wheels and interior trim. A limited number will be sold through BMW dealerships.

Z4: The hard-top roadster gets a freshening in 2013.

X1: The new small crossover based on the 3 series goes on sale in the first quarter of 2011. Because of its small size, BMW isn’t counting on high sales.

X3: A redesigned version of the crossover, built in Spartanburg, S.C., debuts early next year. It will be about 3 inches longer than the current X3, or nearly as large as the original X5.

The lineup will consist of the xDrive28i with a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine and the xDrive35i with a new turbocharged 3.0-liter single-turbo engine.

X5: BMW’s largest crossover got a mild freshening this year. It will be redesigned in 2013.

X6: A freshening is due in 2012.

Megacity vehicle: An electric car designed for urban use comes in 2013. BMW will make extensive use of carbon fiber for the body and an interior safety shell and use aluminum components to offset the weight of the 96-cell lithium ion power pack.

Entry-level BMW: BMW is working on a new front-wheel and four-wheel-drive architecture for an entry-level car positioned below the 1 series. The architecture also will be used for the next generation of Minis. The architecture could underpin up to 20 BMW and Mini variants.

Source: autonews.com