United States vs Europe: The battle of car sales

The U.S is a very big car market, as is Europe, particularly Russia, Germany and the UK. I have gathered some sales figures for this year, from Europe and the U.S. during the first five months of the year (January - May) and compiled a list with the top 10 best selling vehicles from each side of the Atlantic. The results will start from the most popular model.

U.S:

Ford F-Series - 235,924

Toyota Camry - 198,309

Chevrolet Silverado - 197,030

Honda Accord - 166,158

Honda Civic - 164,994

Toyota Corolla - 152,308

Nissan Altima - 133,465

Chevrolet Impala - 122,281

Dodge Ram - 112,795

Ford Focus - 105,499

EU:

VW Golf - 208,800

Peugeot 207 - 204,379

Ford Focus - 176,698

Vauxhall/Opel Corsa - 174,667

Renault Clio - 162,816

Vauxhall/Opel Astra - 161,166

Ford Fiesta - 151,050

Fiat Punto - 151,050

Volkswagen Polo - 125,427

BMW 3-Series - 114,203

Related link:

Top 10 selling cars in Europe

BMW working on a larger SUV than the X5?

BMW may build its extra-large X7 SUV. The newcomer is suppose to rival the Mercedes GL-Class, which itself has proved fairly popular. Judging by the name, the X7 could be based off the 7 Series sedan, like the X5 is based on the 5 Series.

Sources within BMW are saying that the project is currently snoozing because BMW wants to see what happens with the U.S SUV market. At the moment, things aren't looking good as most customers are converting to more fuel efficient cars like the Honda Civic. This could make the German car-maker cancel the project.

The SUV segment is under extreme fire from environmentalists and generally anti-SUV groups, hence why the BMW X3, X1 and Mini SUV are arriving. The X7 would only work if alternative fuels like hydrogen and hybrid technology become more mainstream.

Train plows into a parked BMW 5 Series (Estonia)

At the moment, its unknown how this train rammed into a BMW 5 Series in Tallinn, Estonia. Whether is a human error or mechanical fault is anyone's guess. The fact is that this train that arrived to the Tallinn station in Estonia from Moscow, Russia, didn’t stop where it was supposed to. As you can see in these pictures, the train came to a halt just inches away from the Tallinn station building. The owner of the BMW 5-Series that was parked in front of the station wasn’t so fortunate as the train rammed the driver’s side of the car.

Skoda's receive low-rider treatment (Czech Republic)

A transporter carrying nine brand new Skoda vehicles hit a bridge connecting to two buildings in the Czech Republic, when its driver underestimated the height of the transporter and its good. From what we can tell, at least six of the nine Octavias and Fabias on board were in one way or another damaged.

Via Skodaoctavia

Man rigs fuel pump so friends can have free gas

Thanks to surging fuel prices, an unidentified man managed to unlock a gas pump at a Citgo station in Southern Florida, allowing his friends to steal an estimated 100 gallons of petrol. The thefts happened on Friday night, just after midnight and according to the owner of the petrol station Frank Veloso, seven cars managed to get away with free petrol. The owner believes that the man used a master key to open up the gas pump.

"It's not our fault that the prices of petrol have gotten so expensive, but now because of the expenses that we have to incur to protect ourselves, it only makes sense that we're going to have to raise prices even more," said Frank Veloso Jr., the owner's son.

In related news, the police have revealed an huge rise in the number of fuel thefts from cars, as petrol prices continue to soar. Petrol thefts have increased by an enormous 75% this year, with criminals siphoning fuel from other motorist’s tanks.

4 days ago, a farmer’s wife from County Durham died of a heart attack after her husband confronted a man who was stealing diesel from the couples farm.

Petrol now costs an average of 118p per litre but with diesel hitting 131p, the fuel siphoning gangs are targeting the tanks of large agricultural vehicles, and static tanks that farmers have on site.

A recent AA survey revealed that two out of three drivers plan to vote against Labour if petrol rises above £1.25 per litre. President of the AA Edmund King commented; “All political parties should remember that there are thirty-two million driving licence holders out there and most of them have the vote.”

The deepening crisis comes after PM Gordon Brown attended a fuel summit in Saudi Arabia where he argued for an increase in oil production to stem the rising costs of refined fuel.

13 people squeeze into a Smart ForTwo Brabus

Who said the Smart ForTwo was only for 2 people? Well, if there’s no need to drive, the ForTwo can actually fit 13 people. This was proven during the annual Smart Destination Brooklands event held at Mercedes-Benz World at Weybridge in the UK.

With more than 1,200 Smarts attending the event, there was no shortage of participants but the winning team was the ‘smart car-tortionists’, a group of body-bending specialists chosen for their gymnastic feats. The flexible ‘smart car-tortionists’ managed to squeeze 13 people. Just for the record, there were more women than men in the team.

This follows when a popular kids show back in 2006 managed to squeeze 25 kids into the previous ForTwo.

Daihatsu fan purchases entire line-up within 3 years (UK)

A big fan of the Japanese carmaker, John MacKay from Axminster, UK has managed to buy all four models of Daihatsu’s current line-up in 2 and a half years. It all started when Mr. MacKay and his wife came to pick up their new Copen Vivid roadster from a Daihatsu dealer. During the visit, the couple not only left with the Copen but they also placed an order for the Sirion hatchback.

1 and half years later, the Daihatsu loving duo replaced their Copen with a new Terios SUV in April 2007, they brought yet another Sirion. Finally, in March 2008, following his retirement from the army, Mr. MacKay purchased the latest model, the Scion-esque Materia MPV.

Nissan Maxima pricing announced (U.S)

Nissan has announced the pricing on its all-new, Maxima sedan. The flagship sedan is only offered exclusively with a 290 bhp 3.5-litre V6 engine that is mated with a CVT transmission.

The entry level 'S' model will start at $29,290, rising to $31,990 for the range-topping 3.5 SV.

If you like to accessorise your car, the Maxima is also available with a series of new option packages, including the Sport Package which is only available with the 3.5 SV. The Sports Package comes with sport-tuned suspension, 19-inch alloy wheels, leather seats, paddle shifters and more while the Premium Package, again only available with the range-topping 3.5 SV comes with dual panel sunroof, 7-inch color monitor with RearView camera, Eucalyptus wood-tone trim and more.

Related link:

Nissan Maxima production starts

Nissan starts 24 hour production at Sunderland plant (UK)

Nissan UK has announced plans to begin 24-hour production at its Sunderland factory. The 24hr production allows 800 new jobs to be created during the night-shift in the area and will allow Nissan to meet demand for its popular Qashqai crossover.

Extra capacity is needed at Sunderland to accommodate the forthcoming seven-seat variant of the Qashqai, when it launches in this August.

When production reaches maximum speed, Nissan says it will build 6100 Qashqais per week at the plant.

Production of the Micra, which is also built at Sunderland, will shift to China in 2010, but replacing the Micra at the plant will be a smaller crossover the sits below the Qashqai instead.

Related link:

Nissan announces new crossover

Smart ForTwo joins the police force (UK)

The Metropolitan Police will be fighting crime a Smart Electric Drive (ED) city cars from next month, as part of a new trial. Four police versions of the zero-emissions two-seater will be deployed on routine police patrols in central London and Heathrow airport.

The aim of the trial is to gather data about the Smart ED's performance in everyday life. The car is powered by a 41bhp electric motor, does a top-speed of 60mph and has a range of 70 miles. Police will then have to recharge the Smart ED's batteries from a standard three-pin plug.

This isn't the first time the police have used a Smart car on patrol. The City of London used the first generation of the city car as an emergency response vehicle in 2002. Local councils also controversially use Smart cars fitted with CCTV cameras to monitor central London streets. Dermot Kelly, managing director, Mercedes-Benz Cars, said, "This Smart ED market trial is an important part of our commitment to sustainable mobility".

Road deaths at all-time low (UK)

The number of people killed on British roads last year fell to an all-time low. Child deaths, which were down 20 per cent in 2007, were also at a record low of 121, the Department for Transport statistics showed.

Total fatalities in 2007 were 2,943 - 7 per cent lower than in 2006 - with deaths and serious injuries down in all categories of road user except motorcyclists. There were also fewer road accidents involving personal injury last year in figures that will hearten road safety campaigners.

Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said: "These figures are extremely encouraging. They show that for the first time since records began in 1926 the number of people killed on our roads has fallen below 3,000.

"We've cut the number of people killed or seriously injured each year by more than a third since the mid-1990s. That means almost 17,000 fewer deaths or serious injuries on our roads last year.

"But these figures make us determined to do even more. Far too many people are still dying and we will continue to do everything we can to improve road safety and further reduce the numbers of people killed or injured."

Porsche customers say "NO" to stop-start system

While Porsche fans welcoming new technology like the direct-injection and the dual-clutch gearboxes that help improve fuel-economy, Porsche customers aren't liking the all-new “Start-and-Stop” system.

Talking with Porsche engineers at the press launch of the 2009 911, sources learned that while a Start-Stop system was considered for the facelifted model, the sports manufacturer clientele put a brake on the use of such a system.

The company’s engineers told reporters that if they had fitted the facelifted 911 with a BMW-style start-stop system, it would have reduced a further 10g/km of CO2 from the 911's 225g/km CO2 emissions.

Apparently, Porsche fans will take all the green technology the German firm can offer them as long it also improves performance and/or dynamics.

'09 RX350 becomes two-faced!

The second generation of the Lexus RX mid-sized SUV dates back to 2002, since then not much has changed...maybe the odd tweak here and there, but thats all going to change. The RX is now due for a complete redesign.

Previous mules sighted were modified RXs' of the outgoing model but these new spy photos show a genuine prototype which has finished lapping the Nurburgring race-track. While some of the newcomer stays the same, some styling will be hinting at the LF-Xh concept, first shown at the '07 Tokyo motorshow.

The 3.5 litre V6 petrol engine will remain the same and a 400bhp engine will be arriving down the line. The hugely popular RX hybrid should also reach showrooms before 2010. The RX will make a world debut at the Paris motorshow this October before production starts in December '08. The RX should reach Lexus dealers in 2009, 2010 model year for the U.S market.

If you look carefully, you will see the the prototype being loaded onto the truck has a revised rear fasica compared to the other prototype thats already in the truck.

Via TheCarConnection.com > 2010 Lexus RX spy photos

Related link:

Upcoming Lexus rumors

Hyundai exceeds 100,000 units in exports

Hyundai Motor India, the country's second largest passenger car manufacturer and the largest exporter, announced that its recently launched i10, which is produced in the automaker's Chennai plant, has already crossed the export milestone of 100,000 units.

The Hyundai i10 made its global debut in October 2007, reached an export volume of 106,749 units and has been shipped to 98 countries.

H. S. Lheem, managing director, Hyundai Motor India said, "Even in the domestic market the demand is very strong with sales of over 65,000 units and to meet the expectations of both the markets, we are trying very hard to produce as many i10s as possible."

In other news, the i10 in the UK will feature a new 1.2 litre petrol engine which will join the range in September. The new engine will produce 76bhp and 87lb ft of pulling power, which is an increase of 18% more power and 20% more pulling power than the existing 1.1-litre unit. Emissions will top 119g/km of CO2 and an average fuel economy of 56.5mpg are identical.

That means the manual will slot into VED Band B, costing £35 a year to tax. Hyundai has also announced that the Style grades of the i10 will also get leather interior from September and that stability control will be available for £350 on 1.2-litre models. The current 1.1 litre petrol engine will be dropped for the Style model since the manual pollutes 124g/km of CO2 despite featuring heated front seats and electric sunroof and returning 54.3 mpg combined.

The new engine is available on Comfort and Style models and costs from £7545.

Prices:

1.1 Classic £6745
1.1 Comfort £7345
1.2 Comfort £7545
1.2 Comfort auto £8345
1.2 Style £7995

Related links:

Hyundai April sales in India

New Car: 2008 Hyundai i10

Seat's new sedan to be called "Exeo"

Seat has officially announced the name of their new D-Segment car. The newcomer will be named "Exeo", pronounced (ex-ay-o) and not Bolero as previously thought. The Exeo is be based upon the 2005 Audi A4 and will use the latest Volkswagen engines. First to be launched will be the sedan next year, followed by the wagon. Rivals will include the Ford Mondeo, Renault Laguna, Peugeot 407, Honda Accord and Vauxhall/Opel Insignia etc.

Seat’s Director of Design, Luc Donckerwolke said “We believe the Seat brand will become established much faster in this highly competitive sector if the first model we offer has a proven record of quality and reliability. With the Audi A4-based model, there will be no room for doubt.”

A Geneva motorshow debut is likely since the project was announced just over 1 year ago. So far, only 1 prototype has been sighted undergoing altitude testing in the Swiss Alps during the night. Production will being this December with prices starting around £15,000.

Press Release:

SEAT’s new saloon will be called “EXEO”

In addition to the saloon, there will be a family versionTo be wholly manufactured at the Martorell plant

SEAT’s new saloon car will be called “EXEO”.

Its market launch that is scheduled for 2009 marks a new highlight in the history of the Spanish brand, which is expanding its model range towards new segments. The SEAT EXEO is an elegant, dynamic saloon with high quality and outstanding technology that faithfully reflects SEAT’s personality – design, sportiness and liveliness.

The name EXEO is advanced, forceful and technological, which signals excellence and is highly suggestive of driving pleasure.

Faithful to SEAT’s Mediterranean roots, the new name stems from the Latin word “Exire”, meaning ‘to go beyond’, ‘to go further’. The name differs from all the other range denominations, and indicates the beginning of a new period for the company, that takes the brand into an all new segment. The successful names of the models of the current range will be maintained.

The SEAT EXEO is a D-segment model which does not replace the SEAT Toledo.