The Dacia Logan will have a new low-cost sedan competitor in its market soon, in the form of the new Skoda Felicia. It will replace the current Skoda Octavia Tour and will be based on the Roomster platform.

The Skoda Felicia will be 450 cm long with a wheelbase of 262 cm. The engine range will have the 1.4 with 80hp and 1.6 with 102 hp petrol engines. The diesel options will be the 1.6 TDI in both 90 and 105 hp.

Other news from Skoda includes the introduction of Start&Stop technology across the range and a new citycar based on the Volkswagen Up! model that is expected to debut in 2012. The next generation Skoda Octavia will appear in 2013, while there will also be a seven-seater version of the Yeti.

Other models that were originally touted for production, like the Skoda Fabia cabriolet and a new Touran-based MPV probably won’t be produced to avoid overlapping parent company’s Volkswagen range.

Source | Auto, Motor und Sport

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You may well wonder, as we are, exactly what happened to the supposed financial crisis on the basis of what seem to be quite a healthy European car market. We reported that 2010 first quarter car sales in Europe were down, with a particular mini-crash in the German market of 31.7 percent. How to explain, then, the supposed successes that car manufacturers are reporting so far this year? Particularly the German brands…?

According to reports, the new Opel Astra sales are looking very healthy, with 150,000 orders already placed for the vehicle. That goes a long way to fulfilling Opel’s planned 180,000 sales for 2010 and believe me, if you thought Opel would never be sexy, think again - the new Astra looks much better in the flesh than it does on paper. The Opel Astra now occupies a whopping 38 percent of German market share and an increase in sales of 81 percent since the same period last year has been seen, although this is not so suprising for a new model.

Moving on to another German brand, the new BMW 5 Series has exceeded expectations despite only being released in March this year. No exact figures are out, but the model looks like it could be just what BMW needed to keep its top spot as premium auto manufacturer, although if it looks over its shoulder, it will find Audi hot on its heels.

Continue reading: Astra, A1 and 5 Series success: Dacia Duster is our financial crisis winner

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This video shows the French Formula One driver at the wheel of the new Dacia Duster crossover, rally driving the new car for its market debut. The Dacia Duster in the video has been designed for driving on ice and there’s plenty of sliding and drifting for the rev heads among you. The Dacia Duster is a low cost model based on the Nissan Qashqai and you can get a closer look of its style in this video.

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These two vehicles, the antithesis of each other, appeared alongside one another at the Fioravanti stand at Geneva. The only thing they have in common, is the colour. The LF1 displayed patriotic Italian colours, while the Tris city car is a slightly banal concept of a possible future low cost option for emerging markets. Like we said, complete opposites.

Fioravanti LF1 and Tris at Geneva

Continue reading: Fioravanti LF1 and Tris

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Fiat had already decided to launch its low cost brand in emerging markets such as the South American market, but given the current economic crisis, the brand could be considered for the Eastern European market as well.

Sergio Marchionne has announced that three new models will be launched in 2010, which could offset sales problems in the current market. The Fiat low cost brand will be competition for products such as Dacia, which Renault successfully launched in Europe. Currently the new Fiat brand is without a name, with suggestions ranging between Innocenti and Autobianchi (neither in my opinion, would be a safe choice!), although something entirely new could come of the venture, including collaboration from tata.

Source | Automotive News

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The list continues its enrichment: we’re now on the seventh line, testimony to the low cost club of automobiles. After the Tata Nano and surrounding controversy, Renault-Nissan, General Motors and Bajaj (just to name a few), will be joined by Hyundai in the competition for Indian-Chinese markets. The company is proposing for 2011-2012 a micro-car at around 3,500 dollars.

The development of this car will have its origins in Hyderabad and Chennai, precincts of high density living. According to H.S Lheem, Hyundai manager for the Indian market, any additional cost compared to the Nano should be offset by additional features that the previous car doesn’t have.

Via | Motorauthority

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2,500 dollars, or 1,620 euro, will be the cost of the first real challenge from Renault and Nissan, who have demonstrated their willingness to create a low cost car for developing countries, and backed up by the experience of Dacia Logan.

The model, expected in 2011 with a production of about 400,000 units, will be offered under a new brand emerging from the Renault-Nissan 50-50 joint venture, and the collaboration of Bajaj. To reduce costs the project, dubbed ULC, will be manufactured in the Indian base at Chakan.

Via | World Car Fans

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