The seven finalists of the Car of the Year 2014

Details
The seven finalists of the Car of the Year 2014
 
- In February 2014 will be held the fiftieth edition of the election of the Car of the Year, on the same basis as previous editions, namely a first selection made from all cars released during the previous twelve months, then the selection of seven to ten finalists vehicles through a first vote.

- Like each and every year the finalists for the Car of the Year competition were selected by all 58 EU members of the jury accredited for this award. The final election will be held in February 2014.

- In alphabetical order, the seven finalists cars acclaimed by the jury are:

- BMW i3, Citroën C4 Picasso II, Mazda 3, Mercedes S Class, Peugeot 308 II, Skoda Octavia III, Tesla Model S.

- By country, there are two French models, two German, one Japanese, one American and one Czech model.

- There are among the seven finalists two electric cars (BMW i3 segment B and Tesla Model S from segment F) and five combustion engine cars: three C segment hatchbacks (Mazda 3, Peugeot 308, Skoda Octavia) one minivan from segment C (Citroën C4 Picasso) and a limousine from segment F (Mercedes S Class). 

14-02-1  
Contact us: info@inovev.com 

 

Suzuki unveils its lightweight modular platform

Details
Suzuki unveils its lightweight modular platform
 
- Suzuki has developed a new lightweight modular platform for its compact cars, in the same way as Volkswagen, Renault -Nissan and PSA groups have made before.

- For several years, car manufacturers have attempted to reduce the weight of their models, in particular by downsizing the engines and developing lighter platforms that can be used on different segments ( A-B or C-D or D-E).

- For Suzuki, the problem was easier to solve since this manufacturer produces and sells almost exclusively small cars (segments A, B and Midget): more than two and a half million per year.

- The new platform for segments A and B will be unified and used on Suzuki models manufactured in the whole world. The concerned models are Alto , Splash, Swift, Wagon R and their Indian derivatives. Midget continue however to keep their specific platform since these models are smaller than other models of the brand.

- Given the failure of the C -segment model Suzuki Kizashi, the Japanese manufacturer will no longer produce this vehicle, based on a specific platform. Suzuki will therefore reduce the number of its global platforms from four to two, by using only one platform for A- and B-segment cars.

13-50-9  
Contact us: info@inovev.com 

 

The Ford plant in Valencia should double in volume in four years

Details
The Ford plant in Valencia should double in volume in four years
 

- In 2013, the Ford plant in Valencia, Spain, will have produced less than 200 000 vehicles, one of the lowest production on this site over twenty years.


- However , the situation should change next year. New models will be transferred from outside Spain to the Valencia plant.


- In 2013, the Transit Connect has been transferred from Turkey (Turkish Kocaeli plant is now focused on the Transit Custom).
And Ford has scheduled the arrival in 2014 of new generations of the Mondeo and Galaxy / S-Max transferred from Belgium (Belgian Genk plant closed in 2014).


- Conversely, the Valencia plant will no longer produce the C- Max minivan,  relocated in Germany, Saarlouis, where the Focus is produced on the same platform. In recent years, the site of Valencia lost successively the Ka (2008), the Focus (2010) and the Fiesta (2012).


- At total, the manufacturer plans to produce in the Valencia plant 380,000 units in 2017 (Inovev expects however only 330 000 vehicles), a doubling of production in four years. The Valencia site's capacity is now 400,000 vehicles per year. The plant would be used for 95% of capacity , a utilization rate similar to BMW or Volkswagen plants.


13-50-8  
Contact us: info@inovev.com 

 

The Nissan Leaf will be sold in China under the name Venucia E30

Details
The Nissan Leaf will be sold in China under the name Venucia E30
 
- Nissan in partnership with Dongfeng  will soon be manufacturing vehicles in China, and will launch in 2014 on the Chinese market the  Leaf a 100% electric under the Venucia brand (brand dedicated to electric vehicles for this market).

- The name Venucia E30 (segment C) indicates that this brand will launch over the next few years other smaller models (E10 in segment A and the E20 in segment B ) that could use the electrical technology of the Mitsubishi i-Miev (for the E10) and also use the electrical technology from the Renault Zoe (for the E20).

- At the other end of the range, the E40 could be launched (segment D), this model may use the electric technology from the Nissan Leaf in larger body sizes (similar to the Chevrolet Volt).

- The Venucia E30 will be launched in 2014 in a weak Chinese electric vehicle market , since it provides a sales volume of 50 000 to 100 000 units (all brands combined). This same year, the global market should represent 20 million vehicles, representing a market share of approximately 0.25% to 0.50%.

- On the other hand, it is certain that manufacturers will offer more and more electric vehicles to Chinese customers, and Nissan will be positioned (via the Venucia brand) among the pioneers of this field. The Chinese government still expects a rapid growth of sales of electric vehicles in China, the government does indeed intend to promote such vehicles.

13-50-7  
Contact us: info@inovev.com 

 

VW is considering producing future Crafter in Poland

Details
VW is considering producing future Crafter in Poland
 

- Currently, Volkswagen has three ranges of light commercial vehicles: the Caddy (compact segment), the Transporter (middle segment) and Crafter (top segment).


- The Crafter which is the largest and heaviest light commercial vehicle of the brand (over 2.5 tonnes) is made in partnership with the Daimler group in Düsseldorf and based on the Mercedes Sprinter.

 

- Both carmakers have decided to retake their independence in this segment by 2016. Consequently, the future Crafter could be based on a MAN chassis Volkswagen has collaborated with this brand for a long time.


- In Brazil, for example MAN light trucks have been renamed under the Volkswagen brand, since this name has been known in this country since the early 50s. Volkswagen also has a shareholding in MAN.


- According to reports, Volkswagen is considering building a new LCV plant in Poland and this plant would manufacture the future Crafter. The plant would have a production capacity of 100 000 vehicles per year (the current Crafter has never exceeded 50 000 units per year).


- Volkswagen already has a commercial vehicle plant in Poland (Poznan) where the Caddy is made. This plant has a production capacity of 150 000 vehicles per year and it is close to saturation.


13-50-6  
Contact us: info@inovev.com 

 

  1. British car production is close behind the French production in 2013
  2. BMW builds its first assembly plant in South America
  3. The Opel plant in Zaragoza should double in size in four years
  4. Great Wall is going to start exporting vehicles from Bulgaria
Inovev platforms  >
Not yet registered ?
By keeping on browsing, on this site, you accept the use of cookies and TCU (Terms and Conditions of Use) of Inovev site (www.inovev.com)
Ok