The four-door Panamera combines a wide range of features seemingly contradictory at first sight, yet offering a unique synthesis quite unparalleled in the premium segment. The Panamera offers the sporting and dynamic characteristics expected from a Porsche combined with a very high standard of driving comfort. Despite its extra-low and sleek coupé silhouette, in turn, the Panamera offers more than ample space and roominess inside for four passengers and space for a substantial amount of luggage. And last but not least, the Panamera proudly boasts power units offering a high standard of fuel efficiency - despite the car’s outstanding performance.

All power units featured in the Panamera are V-configuration with either six or eight cylinders, each with Direct Fuel Injection, and covering a power range from 300 - 500 bhp. This makes each engine quite superior in its power and torque, combined with superior fuel economy and exhaust emissions reduced to a minimum. The Panamera will make its debut with a normally-aspirated V8 and a V8 boosted by twin-turbocharger technology.

Depending on the model, power is transmitted by a six-speed manual gearbox or the Porsche seven-speed Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) (Double-Clutch Gearbox). PDK is available as an option on all models within the range not fitted with PDK as standard. This gives the Panamera both particularly sporting driving characteristics and enhanced comfort on the road.

As a further option, the Panamera Gran Turismo will be available with the Sports Chrono Package giving the car even more sporting and dynamic engine and gearshift characteristics, and enhancing the dynamic performance of the Panamera to an even higher level.

The V6 and V8 normally-aspirated versions of the Panamera come as standard with rear-wheel drive. The top model in the range, with its turbocharged power unit, in turn, features PTM (Porsche Traction Management) with extra-lightweight, active all-wheel drive. PTM is also available on the other models as an option.

In addition to the regular steel suspension featuring variable dampers for a sporting but comfortable driving experience, the Panamera is also available with the option of a brand-new, adaptive air suspension offering additional air volume. This ensures a particularly wide range of suspension characteristics; an even higher standard of motoring comfort on the one hand and extremely sporting driving dynamics on the other.

For example, in the Sport Plus Mode, the air suspension lowers the entire car even further towards the road, giving the Panamera a higher standard of aerodynamic efficiency and improving its centre of gravity, enhancing driving safety and reducing fuel consumption. As a further option, the Panamera is available with PDCC Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control, an innovative feature which actively compensates body roll in bends and at the same time improves the car’s responsiveness and smoothness on bumpy roads when driving in a straight line.

Intelligent lightweight technology making appropriate use of high-strength steel, lightweight alloys such as aluminium and magnesium, as well as high-tech plastic materials serves to reduce the weight of the car to an appropriately low level in its class, benefiting not only fuel economy, but also driving dynamics.

Sales of its Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac and Saab brands were 458,642 units in 2008, a 8.33% decline year on year, the automaker announced on Sunday.

Sales of the Chevrolet brand cars, including Aveo, Sail and Lova, soared 13% to 150,000 units in the past year, while sales of its Buick series, another mainstream brand that targets the middle-to-high class market, dropped 10% in the same period. Sales of imported Sabb surged 35.3%.

Shanghai GM crowned the sales list of Chinese carmakers for three consecutive years from 2005 through 2007. The joint venture automaker sold 500,308 cars in 2007, up 22% from a year earlier. However, Shanghai GM's major rival FAW Volkswagon was growing much faster in 2008 with 470,000 vehicles already sold within the first eleven months.

Shanghai GM will introduce some new offerings for the Chinese market in 2009, including the new 2.0L turbocharged Buick Regal and Chevrolet Cruze sedan.

For more information please visit http://www.gasgoo.com
]]>

Shanghai, January 5, 2009: (Gasgoo.com) Shanghai General Motors Co Ltd, a 50:50 venture of General Motors and Shanghai Automotive Industrial Corp (SAIC), said its sales slid by more than 8 percent in 2008.

Sales of its Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac and Saab brands were 458,642 units in 2008, a 8.33% decline year on year, the automaker announced on Sunday.

Sales of the Chevrolet brand cars, including Aveo, Sail and Lova, soared 13% to 150,000 units in the past year, while sales of its Buick series, another mainstream brand that targets the middle-to-high class market, dropped 10% in the same period.

(Read the full post about ‘Shanghai GM Reports 8% Drop In 2008 sales’…)

Share This

The Volkswagen Group has now gone online with a user-friendly internet archive of its 70 years of existence. Anyone interested in history has access to a comprehensive chronological record in the section entitled “The Group” on the www.volkswagenag.com website. This internet chronicle offers a detailed insight into the development of the company: largely unpublished photographs as well as ads and TV spots illustrate information and facts about model launches, business development at subsidiaries or milestones in the Group’s history plus oddities from the world of Volkswagen. In addition to the internet chronicle, the new history pages also bring information on the “Place of Remembrance of Forced Labor in the Volkswagen Factory”, the Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Corporate Archives and publications about the company’s history.

Coinciding with the online launch, the Corporate History Department has also published a hardcover version of the “Volkswagen Chronicle” in its “Historical Notes” series. Apart from documenting the various stages in the company’s development and presenting yearly timelines containing additional facts and figures, for the first time the “Volkswagen Chronicle” also traces the history of the Group brands. Milestones in the evolution of the individual brands and their development within the Group alliance are recorded in clear and compact form.

”The transition from a one-product company to a global player in the world automotive industry was a lengthy one,” Dr. Manfred Grieger, Head of the Corporate History Department at Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, comments. “This masterly record of Volkswagen’s history in the form of the “Internet Chronicle” and the “Volkswagen Chronicle” sharpens the contours of the corporate and brand identity. The wealth of data and facts gives users and readers excellent information and entertainment value.”

The “Volkswagen Chronicle” is published in English and German and is available from bookshops priced at €14.90. An English version of the “Internet Chronicle” will go online soon.

Sounds like a job for a “M” car right? Well maybe not. The car is rumored to carry “Motorsport” badging (although Motorsport is exactly what “M” stands for in the hot BMWs, “Motorsport” never gets used on the insignia.) Plus BMW can’t call it the “M1” because that’s already been used in it’s history to mark a very different kind of car (and it may be making a comeback.) If BMW was really wise about the naming the car it would stick with the “tii” from the concept, which goes back to the classic 2002 model.

But the name doesn’t matter as long as the car makes it to the production line. There is still is a long way to go in an uncertain economy before the 2010 model year.

Racing’s In Our Blood
After 36 years of rallying (starting with the Lancer 1600 GSR in 1973) and 17 years of “Evolution” legend, it was only legitimate for the newest generation of Lancers to go racing as well, keeping the Mitsubishi sporting flame alive and supporting Lancer’s initial steps in the market, be it with the Lancer Evolution Group N rally car or the more extreme Racing Lancer cross-country racer.

Racing Driver, Racing Machine
Tackling the uncharted territory of a South American Dakar rally this year with this all-new Racing Lancer, Mitsubishi Motor Sports’ driver Stephane Peterhansel is probably in the best position to appreciate that twist, having owned Lancer Evolutions since the late 90’s (with two successive “Evo VI”), then a VIII and a IX, all the way to today’s “Project Global” Lancer Evolution X.

As he puts it:

“Very small-looking next to our Racing Lancer, the new Lancer Evolution is really a fantastic machine. With its TC-SST twin clutch gearbox and improved comfort and features, it is really a unique machine in the marketplace: set it to “Sport” or “Super Sport” and play with the paddle shifts and all of a sudden you are behind the wheel of a fantastic video game-like sports car. Then, move to “Auto” and the car can travel over long distances in full comfort mode.” He added: “It is meant to be less manic that my older VIs were for instance, but at the same time, I can’t think of any other sports car than can offer that dual personality really…”

This latest shot continues to suggest that this coupe will use the CLK-inspired deleted B-pillar design to achieve a stylish hardtop convertible look. When the production car arrives in 2010, we expect Mercedes to offer a wide variety of V6 and V8 engines, including a 525 hp 6.3-liter V8 for the E63 AMG model.

The BMW M1 Homage was created in 2008 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the BMW M1 road and race car programme, the car developed by the highly successful BMW M GmbH division.

The BMW M1 Homage will sit alongside the all-new BMW 7 Series Sedan which makes its Australian public debut at Melbourne, and the just-released BMW X6 xDrive50i, both of which are powered by the first ever BMW Twin Turbo V8 engines.

The link is apt, given the BMW M1 Group 5 race version was powered by an 850 bhp twin-turbo six-cylinder engine.

“For BMW, heritage is always also a living heritage. Drawing inspiration from your own past and thereby reinventing yourself – that is exactly what the BMW M1 Homage demonstrates in impressive style,” Dr Klaus Draeger, BMW Group Board Member, Development explained at the unveiling of the BMW M1 Homage at the world famous Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este at Lake Como, Italy.

The BMW M1 Homage is a design study in the tradition of a BMW Turbo that represents a contemporary take on the BMW M1 and the mid-engine concept.

The Liquid Orange paintwork exclusively developed for the BMW M1 Homage cites the classic BMW M1 colour, yet surprises with its powerfully iridescent play of colour and brilliant depth.

It gives life to the extrovert silhouette, highlighting the bold convex and concave surfaces.

The BMW M1 Homage lifts many of the unique styling cues for the original M1 such as the air vents in the bonnet, louvers on the rear screen and the black cut line that divides the roofline from the rear section of the body.

Another feature carried over is the twin outboard BMW Roundels, positioned at the extremity of each wing, as in all previous mid-engined BMW models.

Back in 1979, the BMW M1 was Germany’s fastest series production sports car. While many were dressed in aggressive war paint for racing in the Proccar series, none is better known than the BMW Art Car, immortalised by Andy Warhol.

“We are delighted to be able to announce the BMW M1 Homage show car will be arriving in Australia for the Melbourne International Motor Show,” said BMW Group Australia Managing Director Guenther Seemann.

“The BMW M1 Homage is a sensational looking car that highlights both the strong dynamic Motorsport heritage of BMW, but also the talent and skill of our current designers, who created a 21st century look at how a new generation BMW M1 could look.

“There is no doubt the BMW M1 Homage will be a draw card for the visitors to the Melbourne show, joining with our new Twin Turbo V8-powered BMW 7 Series and X6 Sports Activity Coupé,” he said.

Jim Tyrrell, Mitsubishi’s UK CEO said that, “Our new shareholder, Mitsubishi Corporation, is one of the biggest companies in the world and it is at times like these that having a big, strong parent really pays off. They are taking a very sensible long-term view and want to ensure that our dealers make a profit with a positive cash flow in 2009. To do this, we know we have to achieve a reasonable sales volume, whilst remaining entirely reasonable about our expectations.”

Three Main Areas
Times are certainly tough, with Mitsubishi sales and parts turnover down compared with 2007. Even though service turnover and profits are up on the previous year, Mitsubishi’s UK bosses know that it’s time to put in place an extensive support package to ensure dealer profitability is maximised in 2009.

The dealer support package comes in three main areas:

1. A significant reduction in dealer charges
This will essentially make owning the Mitsubishi franchise ‘cost free’ as long as basic criteria are met. In total, for an average sized Mitsubishi dealer selling around 300 units per annum, this will equate to a real saving of over 50,000 but for a bigger dealer with multiple sites this could grow to over 100,000 a year, all of which will go straight to the bottom line as it’s not a part of any trading margin.

2. New product plans
2009 and beyond will see the introduction of a range of greener cars and new Special Editions – including the low CO2 ClearTec range and the all-electric i-MiEV.

3. Other key cost and finance areas
Other focus areas will include reduced demonstrator requirements and vehicle stocking costs – including 180 days free stocking on new vehicles.

Further Areas Of Support
In addition to the three main support areas, Mitsubishi is also offering dealers a brand-new service to enhance their web presence – all free of charge. The service will enable dealers to manage their site from their desk using a suite of options to let them personalise their site, change sales messages and special offers while keeping fully in-line with Mitsubishi’s corporate identity.

“For some dealers,” said Lance Bradley, Director of Sales and Marketing at Mitsubishi, “this will mean a real and tangible cost saving of several thousand pounds per annum, whilst also improving the quality of information to the customer and sales leads to the dealer.”

In Conclusion
Jim Tyrrell concluded that, “For some in our industry during 2009, survival will mean victory. We have clearly shown that our dealers are key to our ongoing success and have backed that up with real benefits, not just tokenistic gestures.”

“The 2010 Shelby GT500 demonstrates Ford’s continuing commitment to high-performance vehicles,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “In addition to the numerous performance and refinement improvements inside and out, the 2010 Shelby GT500 is an estimated 2 miles per gallon more fuel efficient on the highway.”

“We’re proud of the many enhancements that were developed jointly by the Ford and Shelby Automobiles team last year that we’ve now incorporated into the new 2010 Shelby GT500,” said Carroll Shelby, founder of Shelby Automobiles. “Building on what we learned to create the Shelby GT500KR, this new car offers a great combination of power, handling and braking. It is truly a special car that is a great deal of fun to drive.”

Ford’s Special Vehicle Team used the gains made on the 40th anniversary edition Shelby GT500KR “King of the Road” Mustangs as the performance starting point and built from there. The design team, with a nod to the original Shelby Cobras from the 1960s, takes those design cues even further with nuanced improvements in both the coupe and convertible, each of which boasts a more-refined interior.

“Working together on the KR, the Ford and Shelby teams developed new systems to continually improve the iconic Mustang,” stated Amy Boylan, president of Shelby Automobiles. “Those lessons learned are incorporated into the 2010 Shelby GT500. This approach will help maintain Mustang’s leadership position at the front of the pack and make the ownership experience even more enjoyable.”

“The muscle car segment is becoming even more competitive,” said Jamal Hameedi, chief nameplate engineer for SVT. “We need to uphold the Mustang badge with honor, the Shelby badge with honor and most importantly the Ford badge with honor. The 2010 GT500 is the car that will do all of that.”

More horsepower, more refinement, more functionality
The combination of added horsepower, refinement and functionality makes the 2010 Shelby GT500 a unique high-performance car. The 2010 Shelby GT500 delivers more horsepower and more torque than the outgoing model, thanks in part to advancements pioneered on the GT500KR.

The 2010 Shelby GT500 is powered by a supercharged and intercooled 5.4-liter dual overhead cam V-8 engine expected to produce 540 horsepower and 510 foot-pounds of torque. The redline is 6,250 rpm. The car’s aluminum power dome hood not only adds to the Shelby’s appearance, it helps cool the engine through a hood extractor.

The Shelby’s open-element air induction system features a conical air filter instead of a flat-panel closed system to reduce air restriction. This approach allows more air to be pumped through the engine, producing more power and increasing the engine’s efficiency.

A cold-air intake feeds the coolest air possible directly into the air box, helping further increase horsepower. The intake necessitated moving the Cobra snake badge to the other side of the grille to enable maximum airflow.

The twin-disc clutch on the six-speed manual transmission has been significantly upgraded, improving drivability and NVH. The discs on the 2010 Shelby GT500 are larger – 250 mm in diameter compared with 215 mm in diameter on the outgoing model – and made of copper and fiberglass to make them more robust.

A unique component of the twin-disc system is the control of the intermediate disc. Rather than floating, it instead has six straps that control the engagement of the clutch, improving drivability.

The 2010 Shelby GT500 offers customers improved straight-line acceleration, plus fuel savings when cruising on the highway in the top gears. Gears 1-4 remain the same, but fifth gear changes from .80 to .74 while sixth gear goes from .63 to .50, meaning that the 2010 Shelby GT500 will turn lower engine RPMs in those gears and deliver improved fuel efficiency. The new final drive ratio, from 3.31 to 3.55, enables the improved acceleration in lower gears while complementing the revised fifth and sixth gear ratios.

The Shelby’s distinct sounds will be apparent as always, though with new refinements, thanks to the work of the Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) team. A patented resonator placed between the air filter and engine throttle body helps keep unwanted noise in check.

“You still hear the supercharger but not so that it’s intrusive,” said Kerry Baldori, chief functional engineer for SVT. “It’s the same with the exhaust. You want people to know you’re driving something special, but you don’t want an exhaust note that overpowers the whole interior.

“We spent a lot of time getting the right sound quality out of the exhaust so you get that nice, crisp Shelby sound outside and a pleasant sound inside the cabin. It’s a nice balance; one isn’t overpowering the other.”

Driving dynamics also are improved, thanks to SVT’s signature chassis tuning as well as new 19-inch Goodyear F1 Supercar tires and forged aluminum wheels on the 2010 Shelby GT500 coupe and 18s on the convertible.

Spring and dampers have been optimized for better roll control, giving customers more confidence when braking, accelerating or turning. The new chassis tuning takes its philosophy from the KR program, with a greater emphasis placed on primary body control.

The team also stiffened the steering shaft.

“All our changes were about making the car to respond as fast and as predictable as possible,” Hameedi said. “The 2010 Shelby GT500 conveys an athletic, confident feel. The shifter, clutch pedal, brake-pedal efforts and overall steering efforts are easier now. We wanted to make sure we had a nice, crisp short-throw shifter that was easy to go from gear to gear.”

The Goodyear F1 Supercar 19-inch tires have been upgraded, too. SVT members developed a “recipe” for the attributes and characteristics they wanted in the tire, which Goodyear’s team of engineers, designers and manufacturers brought to life. The result is better grip, better handling and better NVH properties, leading to a better customer experience.

The wheels themselves complement the high-performance nature of the 2010 Shelby GT500. The 19-inch wheels are forged aluminum wheels milled on both sides. The extra machining process creates “blade” spokes with very thin, yet strong, cross-sections. The spokes have a specific curve from the rim to the hub, not only for strength, but also to accentuate the offset and width of the tires.

The 2010 Shelby GT500 features AdvanceTrac, Ford’s stability control system with several options for performance. The default “on” mode accommodates every-day driving, and a Sport mode delivers for those wanting to put the Shelby GT500 through its paces on the track. The system also can be turned completely off, although the anti-lock brake system and other active safety systems remain in place. Standard safety equipment includes: dual stage front air bags, side-impact air bags and Ford’s Personal Safety System.

Numerous aerodynamic upgrades, including a redesigned splitter, were made to the front end of the 2010 Shelby GT500.

“We worked hard to get as much downforce with as little drag as possible,” Baldori said. “We worked to seal off the air that comes in the front so it can’t go underneath the car. We spent a lot time sealing components such as the radiator and intercoolor to get rid of all the leak paths.

“The result of this evolution of aerodynamics is we’ve increased downforce, reduced drag and improved the overall efficiency of the 2010 Shelby GT500.”

Directing the air so it’s used most efficiently was a painstaking process that ultimately will be rewarding to customers. The design of the front fascia and the car’s “flush” hood helps focus air flow. The top grille focuses air into the radiator, with a rubber flap inside the engine compartment helping to seal the system. The lower grille helps cool the intercooler. SVT engineers also went as far to block off specific diamonds in the front of the 2010 Shelby GT500’s distinctive grille to help maintain the correct cooling and aerodynamic balance.

A meaner, reskinned snake ready to take to the streets
The 2010 Shelby GT500 is the most-robust design and most-distinctive model of the new 2010 Mustang lineup. “The design we chose was a ‘flush’ hood where the fascia defines the entire front of the vehicle,” Hameedi said. “That’s very hard to execute from an engineering standpoint, but it really sets the Shelby off as very, very different from the base Mustang.”

“This epitomizes the ultimate Mustang,” added George Saridakis, Exterior Design manager of the Mustang and Shelby GT500. “It’s all about power and expressing power.”

Saridakis said his team took a cue from the Shelby AC Cobra 427 with respect to the front grilles, which are gaping and appear ready to swallow the road.

Another obvious difference for the Shelby is the addition of racing stripes, which also will now be available on the convertible. “Racing stripes made their mark on 1960s-era Ford performance vehicles,” Hameedi notes. “That’s something we feel is a key part of the Shelby performance DNA – maybe more so than some of our competition.”

Rounding out the Shelby’s exterior modifications are the unique signature coiled Cobra badges on the front grille and front fenders, a more aggressive front splitter and lower-drag rear spoiler, which added to improved aerodynamic features, round out the exterior modifications. “We wanted the spoiler raked back aggressively to minimize drag, but we also have an integrated Gurney Flap that provides the downforce,” Saridakis said.

What’s inside counts with the 2010 Shelby GT500
The base 2010 Mustang received a powerful new interior design. For the GT500, the interior design team members challenged themselves to raise the bar even higher to create the ultimate Shelby Mustang interior.

Using genuine materials such as real leather in all seats, real aluminum on the instrument panel and Alcantara inserts on the seats and steering wheel gave the appearance a precisely crafted, jewel-like yet functional feel. “You’ll definitely know you’re in a Shelby,” said Douglas Gaffka, Chief Designer, Shelby GT500.

The genuine aluminum finish panels have a unique-to-GT500 three-dimensional dimpled texture pattern inspired by racing clutch plates, braided hoses and cross-drilled racing brake rotors. The pattern has been painstakingly tuned to compensate for the compound curvature of the instrument panels. In addition, the “GT500” logo has been discretely engraved into the aluminum in front of the passenger as a nod to classic Shelby Mustangs of the 1960s.

This unique aluminum finish panel is fully encapsulated by an exquisite soft seamless TPO (Thermoplastic Olefin) instrument panel with a shape that resonates with Mustang’s powerful heritage. The center stack flows into the console and features a sub-flush shifter trim ring, flush cup holder door and lockable console stowage featuring the word “SHELBY” engraved in its Satin Liquid Chrome release button.

All 2010 Mustangs and Shelbys feature bright 360-degree rings surrounding the gauge cluster, uninterrupted by the steering column. These rings will come in chrome for the Mustang and a Satin Liquid Chrome finish for the GT500. This finish is featured throughout the interior. An intricate cobra is etched into the center of the aluminum steering wheel badge. The Shelby Cobra appears at startup on the navigation screen, and the familiar red “SVT” logo utilizes new ambient lighting to illuminate the door scuffplate.

“When customers drive this car, they’re not only going to be impressed by the performance and the Shelby heritage, but they’re going to see all these carefully designed details and know they’ve bought a well-crafted car,” Saridakis said.

Even the classic white shift knob – an icon of Shelby Mustang DNA from years past – received special attention. First, it had to be the traditional white. It also had to be specific to the Shelby. The answer was to combine the racing-stripes theme with the traditional “H” pattern found on shifters to create a one-of-a-kind knob. Like the exterior, the racing stripes wrap from end to end, encircling the knob.

Wide suite of standard features on the 2010 Shelby GT500
The 2010 Shelby GT500 includes several Ford innovations and industry-exclusive standard features, including:

• SYNC: The voice-activated hands-free in-car communication and entertainment system developed by Ford and Microsoft. The system fully integrates most Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and digital media players, providing customers hands-free cell phone and music selection capabilities – plus new 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report provided with no monthly fees.
• 911 Assist: When a phone is properly paired, turned on and connected to SYNC, the system is ready to assist in placing a call directly to a local 911 emergency operator in the event of an air bag-deploying accident. The key advantage of SYNC 911 Assist is speed, as calls are placed directly to local 911 operators.
• Vehicle Health Report (VHR): SYNC gathers relevant information from the major vehicle control modules and packages diagnostic data into a usable format in a matter of minutes. That data packet is sent to Ford via an 800-number automatically dialed using the customer’s paired and operable mobile phone.
• Ambient Lighting System with MyColor™ allows drivers to customize the interior lighting of the vehicle to suit their mood. The enhanced MyColor system features seven base colors – ice blue, purple, blue, orange, red, white and green. Customers also can create 125 custom colors by mixing the red-green-blue palette.

Available options:

• Voice-Activated Navigation with SIRIUS Travel Link™ is an industry-leading technology that will provide users with a unique, information-rich in-car experience. The suite of data services includes up-to-the-minute real-time traffic data with accident and incident information for 78 markets, coast-to-coast weather data including current conditions and five-day forecasts and fuel price information for more than 120,000 gas stations. SIRIUS Travel Link also offers sports scores and schedules and a listing of more than 4,500 movie theaters with movie times, theater addresses, movie synopses and more.

This combination of outstanding performance coupled with a fresh, exciting, well-crafted interior intensely focused on improving the entire experience will make the 2010 Shelby GT500 even more sought after, and a fitting addition to a long and proud history.

The 2010 Shelby GT500 will be in dealer showrooms in spring. The cars will be built at the Auto Alliance International Plant in Flat Rock, Mich.