If it’s European expansion is anything to go by, the Dacia brand is enjoying a successful period. As further evidence, the Dacia Sandero range gets a new entry for the French market with the E85, which runs off a combined fuel and bio-ethanol system. The Dacia Sandero E85 is being introduced a few months after the first Dacia ethanol option became available in France, the Logan E85.

The Dacia Sandero E85 is equipped with a 1.6-litre MPI engine with 90 hp which has been modified to accommodate the ethanol fuel. Modifications include changes to the cooling system, cam heads and valves, and obviously the petrol pump and tank. The Dacia Sandero E85 price starts at 10,200 euros in France, and further European exportation depends on the use of ethanol fuels in other markets.

Soure | LeBlogAuto

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The Peugeot RCZ is the first model in a new sub-branding project for Peugeot, which sees the creation of a new premium brand much like Citroen’s DS label. Another two models are set to become part of the hors-série brand: the Peugeot 508 sedan and a third, unknown model to appear in 2012.

In honour of the announcement, we bring you this Peugeot RCZ gallery showing the official pics of the 2+2 coupé which will compete directly with the Audi TT. As we’ve already said, the RCZ didn’t always make a lot of sense to us, but the French coupé could be hit on its home market and in others where customers are looking for a less expensive but equally performance-oriented coupé.

The RCZ is 429 cm long, 185 cm wide and 136 cm tall with a wheel base of 261 cm. You will find that you actually get some significant boot space, with the standard capacity being 384 litres and 760 litres if you drop the back seats down. The RCZ will be available with a 1.6-litre THP engine with 156 hp and 240 Nm of torque, and a 2.0-litre HDi with 163 hp and 340 Nm. They will both be on offer with a six-speed manual transmission.

Other engine options will follow those available at launch, including another 1.6 THP but with 200 hp and 275 Nm, and the 1.6 THP option with 156 hp will also be available in the future with a six-speed automatic gearbox. Other features include front MacPherson suspension, 18 or 19-inch alloy wheels and a customisation program with carbonfibre roof and coloured wheel arches.

Continue reading: Peugeot RCZ new pics: new hors-série sub-brand

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Saab saviour and Spyker boss, Victor Muller, has announced that we could soon see a Saab supercar emerge, inspired by the Saab Aero-X concept presented at the Geneva motor show back in 2006.

The pleasing rescue of Saab by the supercar company has also now evolved into interesting and ambitious plans for the Swedish automaker. The Saab range could get an overhaul, expanding from its current sedan focus, and according to Muller the idea of a Saab Aero-X is not so crazy. He has revealed that it could easily be done, creating the model off the base of the Spyker C8 Aileron.

Not only is that intriguing news in itself, in an announcement that could make Britain proud, Muller has earmarked production to take place at the Coventry plant in the UK, where Spyker moved its assembly operations until the end of 2009. This is turning into an auto romance and all we can do is hope that the rosy future for Saab comes to fruition under the guidance of Spyker.

Continue reading: Saab supercar based on Aero-X concept and Spyker C8 Aileron

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As we check out these live pics of the Lamborghini LP570-4 Superleggera from the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, we discover that Lamborghini had a tough sales year for 2009. Going green like the Ferrari 599 Hy-Kers concept, the Lamborghini SuperLeggera is the heir to the current Gallardo Superleggera, and the little sister to the Murcielago SV. Basically it’s all about carbonfibre, making the body light and therefore also increasing the performance.

The Lamborghini LP570-4 Superleggera is 70 kg lighter than the Gallardo, for a total of 1,340 kg. The V10 engine gets a power boost of 10 hp, up to 570 hp and the weight-power ratio is now a record 2.35 kg/hp. There is also a 20 percent reduction in fuel consumption and emissions compared to the first Superleggera. Top speed is 325 km/hr and acceleration to 100 km/hr occurs in 3.4 seconds.

There are plenty of other features of this model which hopefully bode well for Lamborghini in the future as sales reveal that the company sold just 1,515 vehicles last year. That’s a fall of 37.7 percent on 2008 figures. After the previous year saw record sales for Lamborghini, it’s now been dealt a hard blow, with earnings sliding from 479 to 281 million euros. It’s all down to the world economic crisis and the hard hit US and Eastern European markets. Grabbing the bull by the horns, so to speak, for 2010, Lamborghini is reducing production to keep the demand exclusive and hopes to ride out the crisis. We’ll have to wait and see.

Continue reading: Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera live at Geneva in face of Lamborghini sales crash

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The Alfa Giulietta price is more competitive than first thought, which is a big step in the right direction for the future success of the Giulietta. We don’t yet know what the details are of the “Progression” and “Distinctive” packages are, but the Giulietta nudges the premium market with some very good prices.

The Alfa Giulietta 1.4 TB with 120 hp (Progression) is the entry level model with 20,300 euros, while the “Distinctive” kit costs an extra 1,700 euros. The new Multiair engine option is really a steal on the Giulietta with the 1.4 TB Multiair with 170 hp costing 22,000 euros in Progression or 23,700 euros in Distinctive.

The top-of-the-range fuel model Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde with 235 hp costs just under 30,000 euros. The diesel range is also looking competitive with the 1.6 JTDm-2 with 105 hp costing 22,300 euros, and the JTDm-2 with 170 hp costing 25,700 euros. If you’re interested in the Sport Pack, 17-inch and 18-inch alloy wheels are available at 1,700 and 2,000 euros extra, respectively. All the Alfa Giulietta pricing details are after the jump.

Continue reading: Alfa Romeo Giulietta official pricing announced

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Volkswagen has already released the German pricing of the new Touareg, which can be ordered now for its local market, although the official debut is not until the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in March. The SUV is available in three versions and pricing starts at 50,700 euros for the 3.0-litre TDI V6 with 240 hp. The top-of-the-range model is the Touareg Hybrid, costing 73,500 euros. The 4.2-litre TDI V8 with 340 hp completes pricing at 70,800 euros.

All new Touareg versions come equipped with the eight-speed Tiptronic with ESP, ABS, Traction Control System, cruise control, automatic air conditioning, Hill Holder, alloy wheels and on-board computer. Other features include radio, multifunction steering wheel, fog lights, parking sensors and Start&Stop system. A Volkswagen Luxury Touareg will also be available in the future.

Source | Es.autoblog

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According to rumours, the new design manager of Alfa Romeo could be Juan Manuel Diaz, who is the hand behind the new MiTo design and who is currently working in the Advanced Design Fiat department. The reports say that Diaz would have been in the position since Monday, substituting Christopher Reitz.

Diaz completed a design course at Italy’s IED institute and first worked for Renault. From there he completed a few months at Pininfarina, before moving to Alfa Romeo. The appointment could be the next step in the brand realignment taking place in Fiat, with Harald Wester now the head of a new kind of sports family, which includes Abarth, Maserati and Alfa Romeo.

Source | Argentina Autoblog via Autoblog.it

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Is Lotus systematically poaching from Ferrari or is it just coincidence that another executive has moved from the Prancing Horse to the British company? As Andreas Prillmann takes up the position of Chief Commercial Officer for Lotus, the team of former Ferrari managers now at Lotus comprises five.

Prillmann was Director of Business Development at Ferrari, and now joins other former Ferrari guys Dany Bahar (Lotus CEO), Claudio Berro (Lotus Motorsport), Gino Rosato (Lotus Corporate Affairs) and Donato Coco (Lotus Design Director). Prillmann has plenty of industry experience, having previously worked also for Aston Martin, Porsche and General Motors in various sales, dealership management and PR roles. He says of his appointment:

“It took me just ten minutes to accept the offer from Dany Bahar for the role of Chief Commercial Officer at Lotus. It was an easy decision to make as I see Lotus as a brand with so much potential and I am delighted to join this iconic company at such an exciting time and look forward to instigating the new strategic plans and initiatives that will take the Lotus brand to the next level.”

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There’s plenty on offer from Mini in 2010, with a new petrol engine range for all Mini First, One, Cooper and Cooper S models in the hatch, covertible and clubman ranges. The Mini First and Mini One will now have a 1.6-litre engine which replaces the 1.4-litre, and will have more power and torque with better fuel consumption.

A new Mini Rainbow colour option is available, and the Mini Graphite Special Edition model range will now include Clubman models. The Mini Rainbow series will offer three different paint options of Sunlight Metallic, Asteroid Metallic and Nightlife Metallic, and will be available in March/April 2010.

A Mini One Covertible car will also now be able, providing an entry level model in the open air range that previously included just the Cooper, Cooper S or John Cooper Works models. The Mini One Convertible will have a 1.6-litre engine with 98 hp and 153 Nm of torque, and should cost less than 15,000 pounds. Check out the new Mini Rainbow paint job in the gallery!

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Following the Audi Q5 hybrid will be the new Audi A8 hybrid, to be presented at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in March. The announcement of the new A8 hybrid was made at the Detroit auto show by Audi America president Johan de Nysschen, and is part of Audi’s ambitious target of selling one million models in the year 2010.

The same man famous for describing the Chevrolet Volt as a stupid car, has confirmed that Audi intends on saying no to those technologies which don’t represent real progress, and will therefore only focus on “full hybrid” cars, and not “mild hybrids” as in the case of the Mercedes S-Class or BMW 7-Series, for example. It seems the US is fast catching on to Europe’s focus on the environment, and it’s interesting to see the Q5 as the first Audi hybrid choice.

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