Automotive News - September 22, 2008 - (Page 26)

26 • SEPTEMBER 22, 2008 PA R I S A U T O S H O W P R E V I E W PARIS Companies prepare high-tech showcase continued from Page 24 which debuts with seven speeds and a direct-injection gasoline engine. FORD Ford will unveil three models: a replacement for the Ka minicar, the performance Focus RS and a fuel-efficient Fiesta. Ford has considered bringing the Ka to the United States, but most recently has said it does not plan to do so. Mercedes’ Fascination concept previews front-end styling for the next E class. The new Ka will be unveiled 12 years after the original model was first shown at the same venue. It has a fresh design and will be offered with a diesel engine for the first time. The minicar will be produced in Fiat’s plant in Tychy, Poland. Ford also will unveil the Focus RS, which has a top speed of 161 mph. It uses a reengineered version of the turbocharged 2.5-liter gasoline engine from the Focus ST with 300 hp instead of 225 hp. The Fiesta ECOnetic is Ford’s most fuel-efficient Fiesta. It is powered by a 90-hp, 1.6-liter diesel engine whose CO2 emissions have been cut through improved aerodynamics, longer gear ratios and low-resistance tires. HONDA Honda has revived the Insight name for a dedicated gasoline-electric hybrid that will take on the Toyota Prius. Like the Prius, the new Insight will be a five-door, five-passenger hatch- back. A concept will debut in Paris. A production version will go on sale in spring. With its new Insight, Honda aims to attract buyers who have never considered a hybrid. Honda says the Insight will be priced significantly lower than any other hybrid but has not released the price. The Insight will have a new platform in which the battery and control unit are beneath the cargo space. Honda expects to sell about 200,000 Insights globally, about half in North America. HYUNDAI Hyundai will unveil its i20 small car and several fuel efficient technologies. The five-door i20 hatchback will be built in India. Hyundai also will display a gasoline-electric hybrid car based on its Santa Fe SUV. The hybrid is powered by a 2.4-liter gasoline engine and a 30-kilowatt electric motor. The seven-seat iX55 SUV also will make its debut. The iX55 is based on the Veracruz, which is on sale in the United States. It has been retuned and restyled extensively for European tastes. Hyundai also will show a Genesis Coupe design study that cuts weight with a carbon fiber hood and roof. KIA Kia is targeting the Soul at young urban buyers. The carmaker describes the five-door Soul as an “urban crossover.” The Soul will go on sale in Europe in February with a choice of 126-hp diesel or gasoline engines. The Soul was first shown as a concept at the Detroit auto show in 2006. Three more concepts first appeared at the Geneva auto show in March. LEXUS Lexus will unveil a convertible version of its IS lower-premium sedan. The IS 250 C will be the first four-seat convertible from Lexus. Currently Lexus only sells a 2+2 seat convertible called the SC430. Lexus also will unveil a facelift for its IS sedan: new interior and exterior styling, plus modifications to the suspension, steering and paddle-shift technology. Lexus will also show the LF-Xh hybrid concept and the four-wheeldrive version of its flagship LS46. MAZDA The Kiyora concept provides clues aboutMazda’s new city car. The concept has bold styling and is powered by a four-cylinder direct-injection engine. It has a stop-start system, which improves fuel economy and reduces CO2 emissions. Mazda will also show a facelifted MX-5 roadster. MERCEDES-BENZ Mercedes-Benz will unveil a design study called Fascination that previews the front-end styling for the next E-class due in 2010. The concept also previews an E-class coupe that will replace the CLK. The coupe will expand the E-class range to three by adding another variant to the current sedan and station wagon. The two-door, four-seat Fascination combines the sleek looks of a coupe with the extended rear of a station wagon. The concept is powered by a For more information,visit Southern Motor Company online at www.somocodealers.com http://www.somocodealers.com http://www.somocodealers.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - September 22, 2008

Credit-crunched BMW to cut volume and jobs in U.S. Did dealer pitch have a catch? Henderson will keynote World Congress Suppliers: Chrysler jury a worry Learn how going green can be good for business Hyundai hesitates on i10 Ram launches with incentive Dodge RamBox cost: $1,895 Toyota seeks bids to build A-BAT Volt: A pricey short hauler? A horse of a different, uh, color Delphi work moves to N.Y. from plant in Mexico GM store count down 226 so far this year Bill Heard shuts Arizona dealership Would Mazda2 hurt Mazda3? Chrysler dealers may see Volt fighter GM gets more bucks for its 4-bangers GM's '09 list prices rise 2.7% Suppliers seek piece of loan package Don't attach too many strings to federal loans Cars run on money and credit, not gas The workplace is a democracy? Free Choice Act must be defeated Extreme makeover Logo no go A 4-cylinder Cadillac? Get real A double standard on idle workers? Free Choice Act means no choice Saccucci: Let's hear it for free enterprise Dealers signal support for 35% estate tax rate Dealers Designing for MPG Slippery styling What happened to Volt's racy design? Aerodynamics Belletech will supply Honda in Indiana Practicality will top panache at Paris show Chrysler seeks to build loyalty with service Band buddies Personnel Auction group's new boss sees dip in volumes Wholesale prices of big used trucks rise 8.6% in August Big-truck sales off 22.6% in Aug. August sales in Europe worse than in U.S. Honda will let supplier assemble on-site at Ohio plant Farley: Retool image for era of the small car O'Donnell: No stranger to U.S. Honda to debut camera, airbag American Axle lands contract Ex-Ford dealer prevails in court Dodge plans Web blitz for Ram Federal-Mogul will idle 4,000 Sparks will fly over GM, Toyota plug-ins Negotiations fail; chaos (allegedly) ensues Bo plays defense, helps GM avoid weather woes Critics say the new Volt was jolt Lithium, schmithium-- Will the ladies like it? Small and beautiful-- mutually exclusive? Where Andrea Pininfarina saw design headed Designers think small to make it big Designers can't ignore history Pretty and petite Toyota goes its own way with green designs The elements of style It's difficult to design fuel efficiency into big pickups Specialty-car maker has bright design ideas Form follows fashion Vehicle designers aim to please Chinese Suppliers to the 2009 Dodge Ram Eaton will equip '09 VW Golf IAV to move into new tech center BorgWarner makes Tesla deal Mann plans 4th China plant NovaCast buys into Korean firm Valeo shifts rear-light work Supplier personnel

Automotive News - September 22, 2008

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