Wednesday, December 31, 2008
GM ups incentives: zero percent financing for up to 60 months
General Motors is celebrating GMAC's decision to loosen credit restrictions by increasing incentives on many remaining 2008 models. Effective immediately, the General is offering 0% APR for 60 months on the 2008 Chevy TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, and the entire Saab lineup. All GMT900 full-size SUVs and every member of the 2008 Cadillac lineup also gets a big-time incentive boost, with 1.9% financing available for 60 months. The rock-bottom deals come in addition to cash incentives of up to $4,250. GM is also offering financing as low as 3.9% on select 2009 models, including the well-received Cadillac CTS. Hit the jump to see GM's official list of available financing specials.
[Source: GM]
PRESS RELEASE:
GM Announces Significant New Loan Financing As Low As 0% APR for Up To 60 Months
DETROIT – GM today announced new reduced rate financing as low as 0% APR for up to 60 months on select new cars and trucks. The reduced rate financing is available to qualified buyers today through January 5, 2009 on many 2008 and select 2009MY vehicles (see list below). Of note, many of the vehicles listed below have stackable bonus cash and/or dealer cash ranging from $500 to $4,250.
"We're very excited to offer this reduced rate financing through GMAC to encourage our customers to get back into the game," said Mark LaNeve, vice president, GM North America Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. "This enables even more qualified customers to finance through GMAC at their local GM dealership, and provides additional financing capacity with conventional and reduced rate APRs for our dealers to make sales. With GM's Financing That Fits, and the Red Tag Sale now underway that offers supplier pricing, customers have an opportunity to get a variety of extremely attractive offers through the end of the year."
2008MY vehicles and offers for qualified buyers:
* 0% APR for up to 60 months on '08 Chevrolet TrailBlazer; GMC Envoy; and Saab 9-3, 9-5, 9-7X
* 0.9% APR for up to 60 months on '08 Buick Lucerne
* 1.9% APR for up to 60 months on '08 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL; Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban and Avalanche; Cadillac CTS, SRX, Escalade, DTS, STS and XLR
* 2.9% APR for up to 60 months on '08 Buick Lacrosse; HUMMER H2 and H3
* 3.9% APR for up to 60 months on '08 Chevrolet Equinox, Colorado Ext and Crew cab and Light Duty Silverado; Pontiac Torrent; GMC Canyon Ext and Crew cab, and Light Duty Sierra
* 4.9% APR for up to 60 months on '08 Saturn Astra and Sky; Pontiac Solstice; Chevrolet Corvette and Heavy Duty Silverado; and Heavy Duty GMC Sierra
2009MY vehicles and offers for qualified buyers:
* 3.9% APR for up to 60 months on '09 Chevrolet Cobalt; Pontiac G5; and Cadillac CTS
* 4.9% APR for up to 60 months on '09 Pontiac G6; Chevrolet Malibu, Light Duty Silverado and HHR; Saturn Aura; and Light Duty GMC Sierra
* 5.9% APR for up to 60 months on '09 Chevrolet Avalanche and Heavy Duty Silverado; and Heavy Duty GMC Sierra
GM reports 10,000 Camaro pre-orders
Back in October, General Motors reported that it had already received some 6,000 advance orders for its new fifth-gen Camaro. Despite the fact that the first car has yet to be delivered to a paying customer (that's scheduled to take place in February, with the first one selling at the upcoming Barret-Jackson auction next month), pre-orders are not slowing down, with GM now reporting a total of 10,000.
According to the automaker, 84 percent of the first 6,000 requests were for V8 models, but GM is now suggesting that a larger percentage of its latest orders are for V6 models. Sounds like those jonesing for a new V8-powered muscle car were the first ones turning in their order forms. Now that those initial buyers have all reserved their Camaros, the model mix may be getting closer to what The General had expected in the first place.
Hopefully, GM and supplier Cadence, LLC get their disagreements worked out in time and these initial pre-orders can be filled in a timely manner. The last thing GM needs right now is a botched launch of its revived pony car, especially since GM has been promoting the new Camaro hardcore for the last few years.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
2010 Kia Soul starting at $13,995
A little birdie sent us a memo addressed to Kia dealers outlining the prices and specifications for the 2010 Kia Soul, due to hit dealers this April. The base model, equipped with the 122 hp, 1.6-liter inline-four and mated to a five-speed manual gearbox will be sold at an introductory price of $13,995 (including destination charge), and includes six airbags, ABS, ESC, air conditioning, power windows and door locks, an AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with three months of free Sirius satellite radio, along with USB and auxiliary inputs. For the money, the plain-old Soul is a stonkin' good deal and could cause first-gen Scion xB owners to avoid a repeat trip to the ToMoCo dealer.
The Soul + gets a bump in displacement and output, with a 142 hp 2.0-liter four, 16-inch wheels, rear disc brakes, tinted glass, body matched door handles, power mirrors, Bluetooth integration, keyless entry and cruise control. The Soul + will start at $14,950 with a five-speed manual and rise to $15,900 when equipped with the four-speed automatic.
Both the Soul! and Soul sport get the same 2.0-liter mill, but benefit from 18-inch rollers, fog lamps, an upgraded stereo, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and metal interior trim. The Soul! can be equipped with a sunroof and sand/black seats, while the sport model gets unique front and rear fascias, side sills, rear spoiler, a "sport-tuned" suspension, red/black interior scheme and metal pedals. Both models start at $16,950 with a manual or $17,900 with the four-speed auto 'box.
Kia claims that the Soul will have "the most comprehensive list of accessories ever developed for Kia vehicle" ranging from body kits, to wheels, to interior lighting packages and performance upgrades. We're looking forward to getting behind the wheel to see if the Soul can pick up where the second-gen. xB went astray.
GMAC opens up financing after $5 billion fed loan
GMAC is officially opening up lending to buyers with credit scores of 621 or higher after a $5 billion investment from the federal government. A credit score of 621 is considered by some lenders to be the Mendoza line that separates good borrowers from the subprime. The financing arm of General Motors, which is majority owned by Chrysler's sugar daddy, Cerberus Capital Management, had been crippling the automaker's ability to sell cars and trucks after declaring in October only customers with credit scores of 700 or better would be lent to. The money that's greasing the gears here comes from the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program and is separate from the $13.4 billion that GM received from the government to avoid bankruptcy. The investment by the fed should allow GM to sell more vehicles than it has during a dismal fourth quarter that's seen sales drop by 40% or more.
The government also gave GM an additional $1 billion to participate in a rights offering at GMAC connected to its reorganization as a bank holding company. And GMAC also announced that it raised enough capital in a debt swap to satisfy federal requirements. Executive compensation was also cut, as a pool of bonus funds was reduced 40% versus 2007 levels. Thanks for the tip, Jack!
[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd, Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty]
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
"Happy New Year" in Different Languages
"Happy New Year" in Different Languages
Afgani: Saale Nao Mubbarak
Afrikaans: Gelukkige nuwe jaar
Albanian: Gezuar Vitin e Ri
Armenian: Snorhavor Nor Tari
Arabic: Antum salimoun
Assyrian: Sheta Brikhta
Azeri: Yeni Iliniz Mubarek!
Bengali: Shuvo Nabo Barsho
Bulgarian: Chestita Nova Godina
Cambodian: Soursdey Chhnam Tmei
Catalan: FELIÇ ANY NOU
Chinese: Xin Nian Kuai Le
Corsican Language: Pace e Salute
Croatian: Sretna Nova godina!
Cymraeg (Welsh): Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
Czechoslovakia: Scastny Novy Rok
Denish: Godt Nytår
Dhivehi: Ufaaveri Aa Aharakah Edhen
Dutch: GELUKKIG NIEUWJAAR!
Eskimo: Kiortame pivdluaritlo
Esperanto: Felican Novan Jaron
Estonians: Head uut aastat!
Finnish: Onnellista Uutta Vuotta
French: Bonne Annee
Gaelic: Bliadhna mhath ur
Galician [NorthWestern Spain]: Bo Nadal e Feliz Aninovo
German: Prosit Neujahr
Greek: Kenourios Chronos
Gujarati: Nutan Varshbhinandan
Hawaiian: Hauoli Makahiki Hou
Hebrew: L'Shannah Tovah
Hindi: Naye Varsha Ki Shubhkamanyen
Hong kong: (Cantonese) Sun Leen Fai Lok
Hungarian: Boldog Ooy Ayvet
Indonesian: Selamat Tahun Baru
Iranian: Saleh now mobarak
Iraqi: Sanah Jadidah
Irish: Bliain nua fe mhaise dhuit
Italian: Felice anno nuovo
Japan: Akimashite Omedetto Gozaimasu
Kabyle: Asegwas Amegaz
Kannada: Hosa Varushadha Shubhashayagalu
Kisii: SOMWAKA OMOYIA OMUYA
Khmer: Sua Sdei tfnam tmei
Korea: Saehae Bock Mani ba deu sei yo!
Kurdish: NEWROZ PIROZBE
Lithuanian: Laimingu Naujuju Metu
Laotian: Sabai dee pee mai
Macedonian: Srekjna Nova Godina
Malay: Selamat Tahun Baru
Marathi : Nveen Varshachy Shubhechcha
Malayalam : Puthuvatsara Aashamsakal
Maltese: Is-Sena t- Tajba
Nepal: Nawa Barsha ko Shuvakamana
Norwegian: Godt Nyttår
Papua New Guinea: Nupela yia i go long yu
Pampango (Philippines): Masaganang Bayung Banua
Persian: Saleh now ra tabrik migouyam
Philippines: Manigong Bagong Taon
Polish: Szczesliwego Nowego Roku
Portuguese: Feliz Ano Novo
Punjabi: Nave sal di mubarak
Romanian AN NOU FERICIT
Russian: S Novim Godom
Samoa: Manuia le Tausaga Fou
Serbo-Croatian: Sretna nova godina
Sindhi: Nayou Saal Mubbarak Hoje
Singhalese: Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa
Siraiki: Nawan Saal Shala Mubarak Theevay
Slovak: A stastlivy Novy Rok
Slovenian: sreèno novo leto
Somali: Iyo Sanad Cusub Oo Fiican!
Spanish: Feliz Ano ~Nuevo
Swahili: Heri Za Mwaka Mpyaº
Swedish: GOTT NYTT ÅR! /Gott nytt år!
Sudanese: Warsa Enggal
Tamil: Eniya Puthandu Nalvazhthukkal
Telugu: Noothana samvatsara shubhakankshalu
Thai: Sawadee Pee Mai
Turkish: Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian: Shchastlyvoho Novoho Roku
Urdu: Naya Saal Mubbarak Ho
Uzbek: Yangi Yil Bilan
Vietnamese: Chuc Mung Tan Nien
Welsh : Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Lotec updating Sirius supercar?
The Lotec Sirius has been around since the early 2000s after former Group C2 champion Kurt Lotterschmid vowed to create a supercar capable of taking on the best from Italy and beyond. The original car was motivated by a twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V12 supplied by Mercedes-Benz and put out between 850 and 1,200 hp depending on the spec. After a few hard years and several production delays, Lotec plans to release an updated Sirius in 2009 and has previewed the new supercar in a series of renderings.
Power output is likely to be down from the previous model due to the V12's lack of availability, but the tubular steel frame and carbon fiber body will remain, allowing the Sirius 2.0 to tip the scales at just over 3,000 pounds, despite being equipped with power steering and air conditioning. Performance should be on par with the outgoing model, with a claimed 0-62 mph sprint of 3.8 seconds, the run to 120 done in under eight seconds and a supposed top speed of 242 mph. Considering the difficulties Lotec has faced in the past, we doubt we'll see the new Sirius on a stand at any international show, but we can hope for an appearance in Geneva.
[Source: Autoweek.nl via MotorAuthority]
Honda Zest gets extra Spark
Honda apparently decided that its home-market Zest Sports wasn't zesty enough. Away it went to the plastic surgeon for a freshened look with more flavor. The result is the Zest Spark. Instead of basically carrying over the base Zest's vanilla look up front, the Spark gets a new fascia with a V-shaped grille/lights combo hovering above the car's big, flat bumper. 660cc NA and turbo kei-spec engines reside underhood. Inside, it's basic kei car stuff, with seating for five four that can be arranged in an optimal date night configuration. Yeah it's small, but it's practical, see?
[Source: Honda via NihonCar]
Hyundai i20 Launched in India at Rs. 4.8 Lakhs | Photos, Pictures, Images
Hyundai i20 Launched in India at Rs. 4.8 Lakhs | Photos, Pictures, Images
Huyndai is going to give new year gift to Indian customer in the form of its next "i" series model "i20" which Hyundai showcased at the 2008 Paris Motor Show in October. i20 is Hyundai's most decent looking car in hatchback segment. i20 has designed at Hyundai's European Design Centre in Russelsheim, Germany and will replace "Getz" model worldwide.
Hyundai launched its most awaited model at the introductory price of Rs. 4.80 Lakhs to Rs. 5.82 Lakhs for its premium hatchback model. Hyundai i20 is available in thre variants Magna, Asta and Asta (O).
All the i20 models come with AC/heating, tilt & telescopic steering, dual tone beige interiors, 2 DIN CD + MP3 Music System, front & rear power windows, refrigerated glove box, a multi information display, and tachometer.
Hyundai i20 Models Price:
Hyundai i20 Magna - Rs. 5,05,000
Hyundai i20 Asta - Rs. 5,88,000
Hyundai i20 Asta (O) - Rs. 6,10,000
Hyundai i20 Exteriors:
Hyundai i20 Interiors:
Poll results are in!
New Car: 2009 Jaguar XF S (MY'10)
The new diesel Jaguar XF S gets 20-inch wheels and a boot lid lip spoiler to help distinguish it from the regular XF.
SEAT Exeo pricing announced (UK)
Photo Gallery: 2010 BMW Z4
JDM Honda Insight brochures leaked
Security alarm w/Immobiliser
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Honda F1 SOLD! to a man named Slim
When Honda announced its immediate departure from F1 on December 4, it gave the outfit 27 days to find a bona fide buyer who would make a credible 3-year commitment to run the team. If the team did find such a purchaser, Honda said it would assist with finances and technical support. Carlos Slim has the finances and the experience: he is reportedly the second richest man in the world, and his companies are already involved in motorsport.
If the transaction proves to be true, and assuming the team gets funded properly, it will mean a few good things for the 2009 F1 season: it will add another privateer team to the grid, it will let Ross Brawn continue creating the team he's been dying to lead since he was at Ferrari, and it will return the name "Senna" to the grid. Bruno, Ayrton Senna's nephew, is sponsored by Embratel, a subsidiary of Slim's Telmex company, and will certainly replace Rubens Barrichello as the one flying the Brazilian flag.
[Source: La Stampa via My Automovil]
2010 Toyota Prius teaser... now with Blue Man Group
Mercedes E-Class reaches 1.5 million milestone
Hyundai Elantra Touring pricing announced (U.S)
Subaru Impreza diesel delayed (UK)
BMW 7 Series pricing announced (U.S)
Friday, December 26, 2008
Rolls-Royce does another special edition Phantom, this time in Sapphire
The bespoke department at Rolls-Royce has come up with another special edition Phantom to go along with the already released Phantom Pearl, Phantom Silver, and Phantom Tungsten. This one is the Phantom Sapphire, and unlike its rarefied stablemates, it gets built on the long wheelbase spaceframe.
The Milori Sapphire exterior wraps itself around two options of interior treatment: navy blue leather with seashell highlights, or seashell leather with navy blue highlights, and each is finished off with walnut burr veneer inlaid with a diamond-pattern. For those in the back enjoying themselves, a cool box below the rear seats will chill two bottles of bubbly in an aluminum billet receptacle. When it is time to imbibe, the parcel shelf hides hand-engraved crystal tumblers, and time is kept with a Rolls-Royce clock set with a diamond-shaped sapphire. And for the driver – who should never be left out of events like this – a Conway Stewart fountain pen set and solid silver key fobs that come in a lacquered, walnut veneer box. The price: No object. Thanks for the tip, James!
[Source: Sybarites]
Reiter Engineering builds Gallardo GT3 for the street
Turning road cars into race cars and then back into road cars seems to be Reiter Engineering's new specialty. The factory-supported Lamborghini race team, which also recently built a street-legal variant of their Murcielago R-GT that competes in the FIA GT1 and European Le Mans Series, is now offering a road version of their Gallardo GT3 racecar. Based off the standard Gallardo with the 5.0L V10, the "Strada" features carbon fiber bodywork including fenders that have been widened 60mm, a new front fascia with "shark" style air ducts, side skirts and a large carbon fiber wing at the rear. A single large center-mounted exhaust system reduces weight by nine kg and added an extra ten horsepower, while new three-piece alloy wheels are wrapped with ultra sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 2 rubber. The interior stays relatively stock, although the stock seats have been replaced with leather-covered racing units. While we wouldn't say the result is subtle, it's definitely one of the cleaner designs we've seen.
[Source: Reiter Engineering]
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Spy Shots: Peugeot 3008
The 2010 Peugeot 3008 has been spotted in France wearing a scant amount of camouflage, and unless Peugeot is deceiving us, it looks just like the Prologue HyMotion4 Concept from the Paris Motor Show. Updating the sheetmetal of the 4007, this crossover Pug gets a much smoother grille treatment and a combination of lines and curves out back suitable for a display at MOMA. The interior isn't revolutionary, but it's expected to offer seating for five or seven and looks like it will hold up to consumers cross-shopping the Nissan Qashqai and VW Tiguan. Four-cylinder turbocharged engines are predicted to be sized at 1.6-liters, burning either gas or oil and driving two wheels at launch, with a four-wheel-drive variant offered down the line. Thanks for the tip, Jackob!
[Source: Autokrata]
New VW Golf commercial goes Matrix
[Source: Guardian]
Despite downturn, Toyota re-commits to F1
Toyota has reiterated its commitment to F1, in spite of its first annual operating loss since 1938. Said Toyota CEO Katsuake Watanabe of Toyota's F1 budget, still the largest in F1 at $445 million, "To keep it up at the current level is extremely difficult." Yet even with the loss, the global economic mess, the belt-tightening on the corporate side, and the fact that Toyota hasn't won a race in seven years, a Toyota spokesperson said, "We don't have anything to add to the statement we made on 5 December [committing to F1 after Honda's pullout -- Ed.] because the financial results don't change anything for us in the formula one team. Our situation has not changed." The FIA has suggested that next year's cost cutting measures will save teams 33% over their 2008 budgets. On top of that, Toyota is conducting its own cost cutting study to see what it can do over and above that. We have a feeling 2009 won't see Toyota on top of the big spenders list again.
[Source: The Guardian | Image: Clive Mason/Getty]
Sneak Peak at 2010 Cadillac SRX
Lamborghini running strong with record sales and profit in 2008
The current economic conditions may be wreaking havoc on the Detroit Three, along iwth Toyota and Honda, but Lamborghini is apparently impervious to the global financial crisis. The House of the Raging Bull posted record sales and profit records for the fourth straight year and has followed through on its promise to introduce a new model every year during that time period. The company has no intentions of reducing funding for R&D, and plans to expand its global presence and dealer network throughout the next year. Here at Autoblog, we're all for Lamborghini's continued success, especially if they continue to let us drive their new models.
[Source: Lamborghini]
PRESS RELEASE:
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. will deliver another record year's results in 2008. Official sales figures will be communicated on the occasion of Lamborghini´s appearance at the Detroit Motor Show in January 2009.
Even as a low volume luxury car manufacturer, Automobili Lamborghini is not unaffected by the present downturn in economic activities in the wake of the global financial crisis. However, the company is in a favourable strategic position due to its identity as a luxury brand of longstanding tradition. One of its core brand values is exclusivity, which is maintained through tight management of volumes and a strict policy of maintaining a strong forward order bank. This exclusivity is of essential relevance to both dealers and customers and is pivotal for the appeal of the brand.
Lamborghini has the most attractive product line-up in the company´s 45 year history. With at least one new product launched every year, and the continued development of the dealer network to maximise market penetration, Automobili Lamborghini has produced a year on year record performance in terms of turnover, profit and volumes for the last four years, together with a rare double digit profit margin. The company´s development marks one of the most respected company turn-around programmes in the automotive and luxury industries.
Long before 2009, the company took decisive steps to address potential market volatility. Production flexibility is made possible by cooperative concepts developed with the union representatives. Besides flexible working hours, it provides the opportunity to create training and qualification programmes during work hours. There will be no layoffs, but an extension of the Christmas holiday for eight days has been confirmed.
Lamborghini will not divert from its long-term strategy. Investment into R&D will not be reduced, and there will be ongoing expansion of its brand presence on a world-wide scale, with more new products and further expansion of its dealer network. The company will continue its strategy of announcing at least one new product each year. The latest examples of this are the new Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 Coupe for which deliveries commenced summer 2008, and the Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder unveiled in November 2008 with market launch in spring 2009. Lamborghini continues its stated objectives of becoming the most profitable supersportscar manufacturer, the most attractive employer and the most attractive brand in its market.
BMW announces pricing for 2009 7 Series, raises prices on everything else
The latest iteration of BMW's all-singing, all-dancing plutocrat limo will roll out the door starting at $81,125. That sum will get buyers the 2009 750i (including $825 for destination charges), but those who are looking for a bit more legroom in back will have to pay $85,025 for the 750Li. Production for these models began last month, but don't expect to see them on the forecourts of your local BMW Center until later this spring.
The rest of the BMW lineup is also getting a nudge on pricing, with the average MSRP climbing by 0.7 percent. All pricing increases are effective January 1, 2009; so if you're planning on gifting yourself a M5 or X6 for the holidays, make sure you do so before New Year's.
[Source: BMW]
PRESS RELEASE
BMW ANNOUNCES JANUARY 2009 PRICE ADJUSTMENT
12/22/2008
Woodcliff Lake, NJ – December 22, 2008...BMW of North America, LLC announced today an average price increase of 0.7 percent for BMW vehicles sold in the U.S. effective January 1, 2009. This action is driven by the ongoing structural and economical changes in the market place. It will ensure revenue generation for the company's U.S. operations and help to protect the quality of business.
Pricing for the new Advanced Diesel vehicles remain unchanged. The all new 335d and X5 xDrive35d were launched recently and have begun arriving at BMW Centers this month.
In addition, BMW announced pricing for the new 2009 7 Series that debuted recently at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. The base price for the 750i is $81,125 and the 750Li is 85,025 (including $825 for destination and handling). Both models began production in November and will arrive at BMW Centers in the spring.
See attached for new BMW pricing for model year 2009 vehicles.
BMW Group in America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 models, X5 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 335 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 142 BMW motorcycle retailers, 82 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.