VW Robust will have a new name: Amarok

There are almost no more misteries surrounding the next midsize pick-up truck from Volkswagen. We already have a good idea on what it will look like with the VW Pick-Up Concept presented in Hannover last year. Now we have the final name for it: Amarok. In inuit language, it means wolf, even though it does not sound nice in other languages.



Amarok will very likely keep the technical specs from Pick-Up Concept, or else, it will be 5.18 m long and will have a great variety of body options, as well as diesel, petrol and flex fuel engines. The pick-up truck will be sold in South Africa, Australia and most countries of South America, as well as in some European countries. Produced in Pacheco, Argentina, it will be officially presented at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.











Source: Argentina Auto Blog

Peugeot presents its new midsize minivan, the 5008

Citroën wants to become a more upscale carmaker, but it offers products Peugeot does not have in its range. At least not for the time being, but the idea in PSA seems to include a change in that. This is probably the reason why Peugeot, after presenting its 3008 crossover (sort of), will also introduce the new 5008 minivan at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show. Even though the German event is only in September, Peugeot has already provided us with pictures that present the new minivan in full details.



The new 5008 will be a seven-seater (five, in really, because the third row is composed by very small seats, similar to the ones used by Opel Zafira). It is 4.53 m long, 1.84 m wide, 1.64 m tall and bears a wheelbase of 2.73 m. The car, just like Citroën C4 Grand Picasso, is built over the Citroën C4/Peugeot 308 platform. The lugagge compartment can hold up from 579 l to 679 l with third row seats folded down. This difference in space is due to the fact that the second row of seats slides in order to make more room in the lugagge compartment, if that is necessary.

Besides the Head-Up Display, which projects speed information, for example, in the windshield in order for the driver not to look any other way than the road, 5008 also features six airbags, standard ESP and other safety equipment in order to be one of the safest people movers around.

As for the engines, there will be six options, two petrol and four diesel units. At first, buyers will only have the 1.6-litre VTi petrol engine, with two different outputs: 120 bhp and 156 bhp. Later, they will be able to choose two 1.6-litre HDi diesel engines. Both produce 110 bhp, but one of them, the BMP6, is slightly more fuel efficient, what, apparently, does not make much sense. This is possibly due to the adoption of an automatic gearbox in the other one, the BVM6. The top diesel engines, both 2-litre HDi units, produce respectively 150 bhp and 163 bhp.

Considering Peugeot has never tried to sell anything in this market segment, let's see how the 5008 performs. If looking good has something to do with sales performance, Peugeot may have a great contender in its hands. Or should we say claws?

Citroën presents the C-Quatre Sedan, a possible replacement for C4 Pallas

Citroën C4 Pallas, the sedan version of C4, has been first presented in China as the C-Triomphe in June 2006. Now there is a new sedan based on C4, but it is called C-Quatre Sedan, a difference that can only be explained due to the fact that Chinese people think the number four represents bad luck (and that most of them must not know Quatre means Four in French). The car, which initially was considered to be a mere "taillift" of C-Triomphe, is in fact a new car.



The back end of the car is clearly inspired on the back of the new C5, a car that will be sold in China by 2010. Sales will begin in June. C-Quatre Sedan is 4.56 m long, 1.77 m wide and 1.49 m tall, with a wheelbase of 2.61 m, the same one presented by C4. C-Triomphe is longer (4.77 m) and presents a bigger wheelbase (2.71 m). The luggage compartment in C-Quatre Sedan is also smaller than the one presented by C-Triomphe: 481 l, against 580 l.

These differences make us sure that both C-Triomphe and C-Quatre Sedan will be sold in China. And that can be reassured considering there is no word about the new car replacing any other. In smaller markets, such as in South America, the new C-Quatre Sedan could replace C4 Pallas with cost advantages (a single platform to hatchback and sedan versions) and an appearance that will certainly please a lot more people. Let's wait for news on that. Meanwhile, have another look at the car, in multiple angles.





Source: Citroën

Rolls-Royce reveals the final name for RR4: Ghost

Rolls-Royce has been generating its baby for quite a while. Initially codenamed RR4, it has made its first public appearance as the 200EX Concept. Now, at the Shanghai Auto Show, the British company has decided to make the choice of the baby's name public. We may start getting used to call it Ghost.



The future Rolls-Royce Ghost will certain retain the same measures of the concept, or else, it will be a 5.40 m long, 1.95 m wide, 1.55 m tall and will be powered by a brand new V12 engine created by BMW. The Ghost, in fact, will be heavily based on the new BMW 7 Series, although its platform is said to be completely different. Even if it not, this is something Rolls-Royce would have to say in order to clients not to feel fooled when buying the new car. With an expected price tag of 180,000 pounds, 200EX production version has to be a true Rolls-Royce.

Sales are expected to take place by the first quarter of 2010, with an official presentation of the Ghost at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Production will start at the end of 2009. With a production line all of its own, Ghost will share painting, wood and leather trim with Phantom.











Source: Rolls-Royce

Jaguar start the countdown for the radically new XJ

We have already seen many spy pictures of the next generation of Jaguar XJ and, although the car seemed to be distant from its presentation (it was expected to happen only in 2011), the British company had different plans for the car. Earlier plans, in fact, considering it will be officially revealed on July 9. Meanwhile, Jaguar will present pictures of its new flagship little by little. And the first one its the one below.



Jaguar has created the website www.jaguar.com/allnewXJ in order to have a countdown and to present 22 pictures of the project X351. Considering there are 11 weeks until the car is fully revealed, we can expect two new pictures of the car every week until July 9.

The new XJ platform is basically the same one used by the current vehicle. Made entirely of aluminium, it uses aeronautical technology and is already one of the most advanced vehicles of its market segment. The new XJ promises to take that to a new level.

Source: Jaguar

Bertone tries to return to car manufacturing with Mantide

Stile Bertone has been facing difficult times. Besides the family struggle to control the company, the financial situation was not at its best when the world crisis came upon. It seems the design studio and car manufacturer will try to get back into the right path with the help of Jason Castriota, the man behind the design of the beautiful Ferrari P4/5. It is a pity he was not that inspired this time.



Although many have though this car is a wonder, especially the ones that have had the chance to look at it live at the Shanghai Auto Show, it would not be a vehicle we would be willing to buy, even considering it can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 s and reach a top speed of 351 km/h. Not even the fact that it is built over a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, what includes the fantastic LS9 engine, which pumps out 647 bhp. It will certainly be more expensive and does not look as good as the original. Nor better.

Bertone claims the car has been sculpted in windtunnels, but the results, which they claim to be fantastic, with a cx of 0.298, are far worse than the ones presented by many vehicles. Mercedes-Benz E-Classe Coupe, for example, is a mass-produced vehicle with a cx of 0.24, the best of the world nowadays. Even Opel Calibra, back in the 1990's, had a better mark to present: 0.29.

We just hope that, if this car ever reaches production lines, it may find enough people to buy it and keep Bertone alive. If it was up for us, even if we tried hard, we would not have any means to save the Italian design house, no matter how much we like it.















Source: World Car Fans