At the Beijing show Opel has shown as a preview to the Chinese public of the three volume version of the Astra, the brand’s sixth model available in the Chinese range, and the hybrid Flextreme concept.

With the new four door Astra, the German company will be better placed to respond to Chinese market demand, where the three volume sedan has already been chosen by 85% of drivers. The three and five door variations have already experienced notable interest and are the most-sold Opel models in this country, where the Astra, TwinTop, Vectra and Zafira are also available. Thanks to a pearl like the panoramic windshield (which no longer impresses us “spoiled” European drivers), the Astra GTC was recently voted “most fashionable car” by the Chinese Commercial Centre for Import Cars and sina.com, a major web portal.

In China, where 2007 alone nearly 8,500 000 vehicles were sold, Opel with its 3700 cars, represents a tiny niche. But thanks to the new model the company can count on broadening its sales through its greater presence in the market, guaranteed by new dealerships, taking the number to 45.

Continue reading: Beijing 2008: Opel broadens its China presence

We’re curious to know how the news was received around the Ingolstadt traps. Auto, motor und sport has announced today that if the news is true (and it comes from a reputable source) Audi’s rivals will be in a league of their own. And this after Audi has only just revealed the new 6.0 V12 TDI, soon to be under the hood of the SUV Q7.

Audi risks portraying an image inconsistent with the “ecology” with which car companies have become obssessed over recent years. Neither the 4.4 V8 BMW nor the 4.0 V8 Mercedes will have heirs, being considered too big and polluting, according to the German companies. The units will be substituted with new six cylinder concepts, characterised by lower capabilities (around three litres) and drastically reduced consumption and CO2 emissions.

“The 4.4 V8 will be substituted by a straight-six cylinder twin-turbo”, Norbert Reithofer, General Manager BMW has revealed, underlining that they haven’t changed their tune for the current range. A similar discussion regards Mercedes, who in addition to exchanging the V8 will also gradually substitute the 3.0 V6 CDI with a 2.1 four cylinder twin-turbo. This engine is expected to debut next year on the C250 CDI in a version that will have both 204 hp and 480 Nm. Following will be versions taking a step further for higher power.

Continue reading: BMW and Mercedes farewell the super-diesel V8?

Known by know to all long-term Autoblog readers, Chris Harris does a road test of the new Lotus Elise SC, the 220hp supercharged version of the English sportscar which finally adopted the compressed engines from its coupè cousin Exige. On the Elise volumetrics are different, developed exclusively by Lotus and in particular the Exige’s intercooler, which completely closes the driver’s rear vision, is not included.

Positive notes include the performance, combined with reasonable consumption, but of particular attention is the handling, supported by a feather-light weight (although a long way from the Elise S1), and the Yokohama tyres specific to this version.

Chris, in love with the SC, doesn’t take long to praise Lotus’ choice of persuing the aim of lighter and less powerful cars, in such a way as to maintain the sporty characteristics, adapting to the ever more stringent laws on consumption and emission, compared to the German counterparts.

Continue reading: Video: Autocar enthusiastic about the Lotus Elise SC

The name Project i is a bit disturbing although we’re not talking about a bad Hollywood film or a secret spy project. Perhaps not even BMW is clear on what’s behind this code, even if the aim is to produce a product to put to the city test (and pollution). This is a hot topic these days, given we’ve already discussed a possible BMW city car and a utility vehicle for emerging markets.

Norbert Reithofer, general manager, has discussed the desire to develop a highly innovative product, independent of the BMW brand, and ready to debut by the middle of the next decade: it is still undecided however, whether to create a fourth brand just for this model.

Uncertainty also surrounds the engine technology to be employed: the possibility of using an electric engine - Reithofer has concluded - is being assessed, as it would allow for driving pleasure together with low emissions.

Via | Motorauthority.com

Continue reading: Bmw working on Project i: a reality by 2015

Rumors from Germany that have BMW wanting to segment the arm of its smaller cars are ever more frequent. Yesterday we spoke of the electric city car and the chat between Reithofer and Auto, Motor und Sport. The same magazine today, returns to the topic of the flirt between BMW and the smaller segments of the market.

This “smaller” proposal from Munich will most probably include more individual designs exuding BMW personality, and not the classic utilitarianism of smaller cars. As said, the much-talked about model will be paying some attention to the environmental theme: the car will be smaller than the series 1 and the Mini, and will offer in 2012 (a year after its debut) a no-emission version. No fear though from the German manufacturer about driving pleasure, according to Auto, Motor und Sport, because the power produced by the electric motor will be enough for a city car, with added autonomy supplied by a lithium ion battery.

There’s more: the version equipped with a combustion engine could be an option for emerging markets. Management is ready to bet that in four years time, in countries like China, a new rich generation will be born and will be very interested in new forms of transport. In short, there would be many a premise for a “cultmobile” along the lines of the Mini in Europe. On the topic of Mini, there remains only the puzzle of the brand: in Munich they have yet to decide under which brand to commercialize the new citycar.

Continue reading: BMW's citycar: rumors still flying

European carmakers could be about to face billions of euros in penalties this year for failing to meet EU pollution limits. German newspapers reported the news. We argue this is not casual since german carmakers resulted among the most polluting european companies in terms of CO2 emissions. From the same study, Italian and French brands ditinguished themselves as the best ones for low emission vehicles.

Brussels may charge 95 euros per gram and per car for excess carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Check back for updates.

Via | Automotive News

Continue reading: Carmakers may face billions of euros in fines for excessive CO2 emissions