GM Officially Confirms China's Sichuan Tengzhong as HUMMER's Buyer

And the impending buyer of General Motor's Hummer division is... China's Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. LTD. Sorry, never heard of them and chances are that 99.99% of those reading this post haven't either. But if you must know, GM said that Tengzhong, which is based in the Chinese province of Sichuan, is a "privately-owned company and a leading domestic manufacturer of road, construction and energy industry equipment." In an earlier statement today, GM said that the sale is expected to close by the end of third quarter of 2009 and that it will secure more than 3,000 US jobs.

"The HUMMER brand is synonymous with adventure, freedom and exhilaration, and we plan to continue that heritage by investing in the business, allowing HUMMER to innovate and grow in exciting new ways under the leadership and continuity of its current management team," said Yang Yi, CEO of Tengzhong. "We will be investing in the HUMMER brand and its research and development capabilities, which will allow HUMMER to better meet demand for new products such as more fuel-efficient vehicles in the U.S."

HUMMER's chief James Taylor said, "With Tengzhong's investment and strong support, we will be able to make our visions a reality. This transaction, if successful, will secure more than 3,000 U.S. jobs, and allow us to embark on a more aggressive global expansion, ensuring a successful future with our new partners."

So that you know let us ask you: If the deal is sealed, what do you think that the future holds for a Chinese-owned HUMMER and its U.S. based employees?

Sichuan Tengzhong's Products

Coda Unveils All-Electric Sedan: Made in China, Priced from Around $35k in the U.S. - with VIDEO

Electric car announcements seem to be coming in from all sorts of directions these days. The latest news in the EV world is the unveiling of a new all-electric mainstream sedan by Coda Automotive, a U.S. company formed by Miles Rubin known for the distribution of low-speed, electric fleet vehicles under the Miles Electric Vehicles brand. Though it may appears at first some to be some kind of Ford mishmash, the Coda EV is in fact based on the Chinese Hafei Saibao sedan. The all-electric sedan is initially scheduled to go on sale in California in the fall of 2010 with prices set at $45,000 or around mid-$30,000s after a $7,500 Federal tax credit and additional state incentives.

That's about $15k less than Tesla's estimated price for the larger, faster, better looking and let's not forget, U.S. built, Model S sedan (see pictures and details here).

"The Coda sedan is an all-electric vehicle for everyone," said Kevin Czinger, President and CEO, Coda Automotive. "It's a practical revolution for real drivers who need reliable transportation."

Measuring in at 175-inches or 4,445mm in length, 69-inches or 1,752mm in width and 57.6-inches or 1,463mm in height, the Coda EV is about the same size as the U.S. market Ford Focus Sedan. The California-based importer claims that the EV sedan has been "engineered to be FMVSS complaint", and based on existing crash test results, the company expects a four or five-Star NCAP crash rating.

The Coda EV is equipped with an electric motor that develops an output of 100kW which is the equivalent of 134 horsepower and 300Nm or 221-lbs/ft of torque. The motor is powered by a set of Lithium-ion batteries that are built by China's Tianjin Lishen Battery Joint-Stock Co., Ltd. The EV can accelerate from zero to 60mph (96km/h) in less than 11 seconds while its top speed is electronically limited to 80mph or 130km/h.

According to Coda, the EV sedan has a real-world range of 90 to 120 miles (145-193km) depending on individual driving habits. The car comes with an onboard charger that can be plugged into any 110 or 220V standard outlet and completes a full charge in less than six hours at a 220V service. Coda said that charging the battery for a 40-mile commute can be completed in two hours. The company estimates that it will cost drivers less than $3 on average, to drive the car for 100 miles.

When it goes on sale in California next year, the Coda EV Sedan will come equipped with several standard features including a telematics package, navigation with turn-by-turn directions, a "green screen" that monitors driving efficiency, roadside assistance with an emergency button, a Bluetooth system with an embedded microphone, Sirius radio, iPod dock, MP3/USB connectivity and alloy wheels.

Toyota Tries to Break Indian Market with New Low-Cost Etios Sedan

The world's largest automaker, Toyota Motor Corp., is eyeing emerging markets with a new low cost model that was unveiled this week in India. The production version of the 2010 New Delhi Show Etios Concept is available at launch as a four-door sedan model, but will be joined by a five door hatchback called the Etios Liva in April of 2011.

The company said the Etios has been developed specifically for Indian customers and will be built at a plant in Bidadi, near Bangalore. However, Toyota eventually plans to offer the small sedan in other emerging markets such as China, Brazil, Thailand and possibly certain regions of South America.

The 4.265mm (167.9-in.) long sedan boasts a rather large boot with a luggage space of 595-liters and is powered by a newly developed 1.5L, 16V DOHC engine coupled to a 5-Speed manual transmission. The Etios sedan will be available in four variants, J, G, V and VX, with prices ranging between 4.96 Lakhs and 6.86 Lakhs making it the company's most affordable offering in India.

Commenting on the launch of the Etios, Mr. Akio Toyoda, President TMC said: “India is a key market for our overall strategic growth plans, and the launch of the Etios is definitely a milestone not only for Toyota in India but for Toyota globally."

"We at Toyota believe, ‘the road makes the car’ and the Etios is a product of real-world testing on roads across India. Our testing has covered a hundred thousand kilometers on every kind of road that Indian drivers encounter, from Kolkata to Mumbai, from the Himalayan foothills to the tip of the Indian peninsula

According to JD Power, Toyota sold a little over 60,000 cars in India through October, compared to 870,000+ sales from Marutti Suzuki, which is the market leader in the country.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

GM to Build New Small Car at Idle U.S. Plant and Not China

Faced with heavy criticism after it was revealed that it was planning to increase vehicle imports from lower-wage economies such as Mexico and China, General Motors announced on Friday plans to build a future small car in the U.S. utilizing an idled UAW-GM facility. The automaker's vague press release does not give out any details on the car (though everything points towards the 2011 Chevy Spark) nor the location of the plant with GM saying that the selection of the site "will be determined in the future". However, the carmaker did note that the re-tooled factory will be capable of building around 160,000 cars annually, which can be a combination of both small and compact vehicles.

According to General Motors, the introduction of the small car will boost the company's percentage of U.S.-built cars and trucks sold in the States from about 67 percent today, to beyond 70 percent by 2013.

"Small cars represent one of the fastest growing segments in both the U.S. and around the world," said Fritz Henderson, General Motors President and CEO. "We believe this car will be a winner with our current and future customers in the U.S."

"I would like to personally thank the UAW for agreeing to work with us to ensure our overall manufacturing competitiveness in the United States. It takes a special effort by everyone to bring a domestically produced small car to market in a cost-competitive and profitable way - but that is what we are going to do together," Henderson added.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

Supercar Duel: Audi R8 Crashes Into Ferrari 599GTB

Not that it's entirely impossible, but two supercars getting into an accident on a public road is a rarity. This incident that involved an Audi R8 rear-ending a Ferrari 599GTB occurred on May 25th in Fu Zhou, China. According to reports, the driver of the Ferrari slammed onto his brakes after a taxi in front of him came to a sudden halt in order to pick up a passenger. As is common in these type of accidents, the Audi R8 suffered much more damage than the Ferrari 599 GTB.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

Red Flag? German Minister Says Chinese Bid for Opel came too Late

According to a statement made to the press today by Germany's Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck, China's Beijing Automotive Industry Corp (BAIC) had submitted an offer for GM's Opel division but the bid came too late for the government to assess it in depth. It is expected that the German government will make an announcement on their preferred bidder for Opel by the end of the week. Aside from Italian carmaker Fiat S.p.A and Canadian autoparts maker Magna International, Belgium-listed industrial holding company RHJ International has also made an official offer for GM's European unit.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

All-New Buick GL8 Minivan Fully Revealed, Only for China

After selling more than 330,000 units of the original Buick GL8 since 1999, General Motors unveiled an all-new version of its MPV model featuring several key improvements and innovations, destined exclusively for the China market. Built by the firm's Shanghai GM joint venture, the new GL8 is said to offer an "unmistakable Buick experience" - always according to the automaker.

“The new GL8 was developed by Shanghai GM in cooperation with the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) in Shanghai with the specific needs of our customers in mind”, said Terry Johnsson, Shanghai GM Vice President of Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. “It offers everything that consumers have come to expect from Buick, including a dynamic, smooth, quiet and comfortable ride. Like its predecessor, the new GL8 is the right product at the right time.”

Based on the 2009 Buick Business hybrid concept model and boasting the “classic waterfall grille”, the GL8 features several sharp edges running from front to rear, giving it a modern look. Large, tear-shaped headlamps cut into the fenders, while LEDs incorporated into the tail lamps and rear bumper.

With a wheelbase measuring 3,088 mm (122 inches), the MPV provides a spacious cabin for up to 7 passengers. Being a luxury oriented people carrier, the GL8 features all the usual amenities such as genuine leather seats, panorama sunroof, electric sliding door and lift door, high-quality Bose sound system, 7-inch touch screen up front and 10.2-inch HD display for the next two rows. OnStar is also on the menu.

The engine range kicks off with a 2.4-liter Ecotec four-pot and tops out with a 3.0-liter V6 SIDI direct injection powerplant. A six-speed automatic is standard on all variants.

For enhanced safety, ESP will do its best to prevent accidents and certain models can also be specified with 6 airbags.

The new GL8 will hit the Chinese market in January 2011, for a retail price of between RMB 288,000 and RMB 388,000 [US$43,300 - 58,300]. In parallel, Shanghai GM will offer an updated 2011 model of the current generation, featuring the 2.4-liter engine and six-speed automatic, targeting the upper-medium segment. General Motors claims that this dual-model strategy will result in better market coverage.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________