Here we have an interesting case of a brand doing well in spite of the troubled world auto makers are living in. Czech car maker and VW Group company Skoda, has posted a massive profit (OK, considering the economic downturn witnessed across the planet) of 28.2 million euro in the first quarter of 2009.
Industry experts cite the scrappage scheme adopted by European countries as the prime reason behind the feat. The scrappage scheme has encouraged customers to upgrade to new and economical car with benefits in the form of price cuts offered by governments.
It’s difficult to digest someone’s success which you haven’t tasted. We ask those idioticbribed industry experts why the other brands have not been so successful? Why haven’t they matched this performance by benefiting from the scrappage incentives?
Car makers have something to cheer about and the people too, as they could buy a car at a price which they have and will not see. We told you about the 500% increase in Renault Logan sales in Germany sometime ago. That was because of the same reason.
Reinhard Jung Skoda Auto chairman-
The first quarter of 2009 was very hard – the impacts of the worldwide economic crisis are also leaving their mark on Škoda. But with our modern and environmentally-friendly products, we have succeeded in expanding our market share in important markets such as Germany and China
Holger Kintscher, Skoda board member-
We know that 2009 will be particularly hard for us as well as for the entire automotive industry. The prospects are still unclear however, and filled with substantial risks. Yet I am convinced that through our Scout profit improvement programme, we will succeed in sustaining our financial strength and stability and even in this period of crisis, achieve a reasonable profit
Codenamed the F10, the new BMW 5 series will have softer lines in comparison to the current E60 with more conventional-looking headlights and a cleaner front-end design. This rendering has taken design cues from newer BMW releases like BMW 5-series GT and the new BMW 7-Series.
Due to new EU safety standards, the length of the front overhang will be reduced, but the entire car is expected to grow in size and 17-inch rims will come standard.
click through for 2011 BMW 5 Series Sedan rendering image gallery
Ferrari, what would you do now? You couldn’t tolerate a 4-door Porsche. You wished (sarcastically) Lamborghini “all the best” with their 4-door Estoque. Now with Bugatti‘s 4 door Royale, are you going to be gutted, so much that you might drop your clothes in protest in front of the whole crowd at Frankfurt?
Ferrari- Mummy, it’s all going wrong.
Mummy- Why darling? (in a comforting tone) What’s wrong? The world seems just fine.
Ferrari- Noo..(with tears down its cheeks) everyone’s making a 4-door supercar (uhh..uhh.) (takes a deep breath) Giving a supercar with 4 doors is like dressing up a championship Olympic swimmer with a tube top.
Mummy- Oh dear! Where are you learning all that? You must keep your distance from Mclaren. Look what Lewis and his friends have taught you. I’m talking to Mr.Mosley right away about this.
Mr. Mosley?? About tube tops and women?? Yeah right..
Although this article has got nothing to do with women and their inner garments, it’s just a way of putting forward how earnestly the battle field is heating up. The four-door supercar pavilion is ballooning rapidly, and surely with an announcement from Bugatti that their 4 door Royale is heading to join the champagne at the company’s 100th anniversary celebrations, it’s actually true- A supercar can have four doors.
click through to view the Bugatti 4 door Royale rendering
Entry posted on April 29, 2009 by
Dave;
Read More on Volkswagen
Volkswagen India has started the pre-series production of its new small car – Polo at its new plant in Pune. The German Federal Minister for Economics, Labour and Transportation Dr. Philipp Rösler, visited the plant at Chakan in Maharashtra to start off the event.
The first body of the Polo took shape at the pre-series production, viz a pre-run/a trial to the official production of the Polo that will begin at the same plant this year end.
Entry posted on April 29, 2009 by
Dave;
Read More on Ferrari
Welcome to the world’s fastest “technological laboratory” on four wheels! It’s daintily called 599XX , which we thought is a leaner, meaner and a hardcore flame spitting version of the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. But unfortunately, it turns out that the 599XX shares only its looks with the 599 GTB and nothing else.
Why is the 599XX called a ‘technological laboratory’?
No, the driver does not have to wear a white lab coat.
This car incorporates the very best of Ferrari technology (Formula 1 and Road car expertise put together). Be it aerodynamics, electronic control, handling innovations, any technology that Ferrari is working on, its all in this car somewhere. Ultimately, its a reality check on Ferrari by Ferrari, to understand its own potential and see how far it can take its road cars.
How different is 599XX from the Ferrari GTB Fiorano?
The 599XX uses a modified 6.0L V12 GTB engine – capable of 700hp and can rev upto 9,000 Rpm. Ferrari’s engineers have carried out extensive work on the engine’s combustion chambers and inlet and exhaust tracts. Its unique black wheels covered with racing slicks transfers the power onto the tarmac. Carbon ceramic disc brakes bring the car back to rest. A new gearbox shift strategy also cuts overall gearchange times to just 60ms.
The car boasts 280kg of downforce at 200km/h and a whooping 630kg at 300km/h – thanks to the aerodynamic tweaks. The front underside of the body is completely faired-in and the vents that channel hot air from the engine bay have been moved to the bonnet.
click through for more information and Image slideshow
The word Quattro should set your heart racing as inevitably the Audi Q7 or the A6 pops up in front of your eyes. Yes, the word Brembo is Italian, it can be related to any Ferrari and Timepiece is an English word.
What you see here is no normal gadget that you can purchase at your local supermarket. Let me explain
Meccaniche Veloci Quattro Valvole CCM Timepiece design
The four dial design is intentional. Each corresponds to the hollow portion of a 4 valve cylinder head and hence the name Quattro Valvole. The strap of your Meccaniche Veloci Quattro Valvole CCM Timepiece can either be made of alligator skin or rubber. The watch comes in four colors- black, red, silver, or yellow.
Meccaniche Veloci Quattro Valvole CCM Timepiece price tag justification
This timeless masterpiece from Brembo will set you back by $15,500, which is a small price to pay considering all of Brembo’s brake manufacturing processes come together to make this watch. Water jet cutting and forging, the methods used for manufacturing a F1 car’s disc brake was employed in creating this wrist watch.
Entry posted on April 29, 2009 by
Shrawan Raja;
Read More on Audi
A few hours ago, an announcement has arrived from Audi confirming its presence at the upcoming Barcelona Motor Show with a new Audi Q3 concept car. This new concept will be the foundation for the production car that’s scheduled for a Spanish production line in 2011.
Apart from this flagship display the Audi R8 V10, A4 Allroad and the facelifted Q7 will occupy the stall. The Barcelona Motor Show goes on from May 9 -17.
, which we thought is a leaner, meaner and a hardcore flame spitting version of the 
