MG Back in Production

NANJING, China — Nanjing Automobile has begun pilot production of the MG TF roadster, two years after the last cars rolled off the line at the former MG Rover plant in Longbridge, England. Engines and transmissions are being shipped from Nanjing to the U.K. plant for final assembly of right-hand-drive models.

The Chinese automaker, which also has a partnership with Fiat, said it expects to resume full assembly of the TF this spring at Longbridge and will launch additional MG models later this year.

Left-hand-drive versions of the TF are being assembled at the company's plant in Pukou, just outside Nanjing. The cars are being sold initially in China and England, with plans to begin U.S. sales in 2008.

© Source: article on insideline

D-Rod: Promoting Detroit Muscle

HOLLY, Michigan — The upcoming Autorama show, the annual edition of Detroit's long-running hot-rod extravaganza, will showcase yet another '32 Ford re-creation, this one dubbed D-Rod and intended to promote the city's image and "rebrand Detroit."

The D-Rod is the brainchild of the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, which commissioned a local builder, Detroit Muscle, to construct the vehicle. The bureau wants to promote Detroit as "a leisure and meeting destination."

Curiously, the D-Rod is a mix of Detroit-based hardware. Under the Deuce-like skin, the car boasts a Chrysler 392 Hemi crate engine mated to a Chrysler 518 four-speed automatic transmission. The bureau said it chose the classic '32 Ford partly to commemorate the car's 75th anniversary.

The street rod's interior is a weird blend of snakeskin and Pendleton — the latter done in a Del Rio pattern blanket that is meant to reflect the city's Native American heritage, according to the builder.

Detroit Muscle will showcase the D-Rod at its exhibit at the 55th Detroit Autorama, which will be held March 9-11 at Cobo Hall.

© Source: article on insideline

New Fiat Bravo

Fiat has finally shown the new Bravo hatchback to the world.

Initially, the Bravo engine range will include the 1.4-liters Fire 16V with 90 ps and two 1.9 Multijet turbodiesel engines with 120 and 150 cavalli. Later on, the two innovative T-JET engines will make their debut on the Bravo (both are 1.4-liters, four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engines, respectively with 120 and 150 ps).

The prices in Italy: the 1.4 16V 90 cv will cost from 14.900 € (base) to 17.400 € (Dynamci), the MJET 120 cv will cost from 19.000 € (Active) to 21.400 € (Emotion), while the 1.9 MJET 150 cv will cost from 21.900 € (Dynamic) to 22.800 € (Emotion and Sport)

Innovation, reliability and quality

Substance also means performance, safety and technology.
The launch of the new Fiat Bravo is also an opportunity to present the new family of turbocharged T-JET petrol engines (120 and 150 bhp 1.4 Turbo), which combine fuel economy, low emissions and exceptional performance, and now join the popular range of Multijet common rail turbodiesels (1.9 litres delivering 120 and 150 bhp) and the 90 bhp 1.4 16v petrol engine.

Comfort is enhanced by the pinpoint steering and excellent roadholding, and the choice of two tried and tested suspension systems which have been suitably modified and updated: an independent MacPherson system at the front, and a semi-independent torsion axle with interconnected wheels at the rear.

Made in Italy, Sold around the world

The new Fiat Bravo aims to become the benchmark for what is the most important segment of the European market, which accounted for over 3,400,000 cars sold in 2006, or little more than one fifth of the total market (a value that has been practically constant since 2000).

It is clearly a very interesting segment but one that is also highly competitive, with about 30 different models, from full-liners and premium European, Asian and American manufacturers. We should also underline that the largest grouping in the medium sized saloon category is made up of 2-box saloons or hatchbacks, which account for over 71% of sales. About 25% of total sales for this category are destined to the corporate market, where qualities such as residual value, operating costs, reliability and price are important considerations. But these are areas in which the Fiat Bravo will be one of the most competitive models on the market. With these expectations, the long-established plant in Piedimonte S. Germano (Frosinone) and its 3500 employees are preparing themselves enthusiastically to turn out an average of 120,000 cars a year, which will be marketed in 55 countries around the world, starting in 2007.

© Source: article on eurocarblog.com