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Industry News
SEMA eNews, Vol. 11, No. 38 - Sep 18, 2008
SPY SHOTS—BMW'S UPDATED Z4 BACKROADS CARVER
Brenda Priddy's network of auto-spy photographers caught this BMW Z4 prototype with its top down. Priddy says there's still speculation that the Z4 will have a retractable hard-top, but most sources tell her that the base model will still offer a soft-top. The upgraded version will likely offer a removable hard-top. The Spartanburg-built Z4 will now call Regensburg, Germany, home, with production starting late in 2009.
A Mercedes Hybrid at Last
In June 2009 the automaker will launch in Europe a 30-mpg hybrid version of its luxury S-Class sedan
by Jack Ewing
German automakers pride themselves on being at the leading edge of new technology, so it has been a bit of an embarrassment that—a decade after Toyota (TM) launched the Prius—none of them has a hybrid electric model on the market. But, with fuel economy and environmental impact suddenly a key concern for well-heeled buyers, Daimler's (DAI) Mercedes unit is finally poised to get into the hybrid game.
In June 2009 the company will begin European sales of a hybrid version of its luxury S-Class that, its engineers say, will use 7.9 liters of gasoline per 100 km (or get 29.8 miles per gallon). Launches in the U.S. and China will follow in September, Mercedes said on Sept. 11.
The carmaker hasn't yet established a price for the hybrid land yacht, but Mercedes Sales and Marketing Director Klaus Maier said the premium will be less than €10,000, or $14,000. The S-Class starts at about $88,000 in the U.S., though the top-of-the-line V12 costs a staggering $145,000.
Why Such a Big Car
Cynics might say that people concerned about global warming and the massive transfer of wealth to oil-producing nations should simply buy a smaller car. But Mercedes executives don't think their customer base has quite reached that stage of enlightenment. "Not everyone can drive a Smart on vacation," Maier says. "We need solutions for big cars."
Why did it take so long for Mercedes to get into the hybrid market? One reason is that Mercedes, as well as BMW (BMWG.DE) and Volkswagen (VOWG.DE), have concentrated on optimizing diesel engines. BMW's diesel Mini and 1 Series rival the Prius for gas mileage and carbon dioxide emissions. Daimler says its BlueTec line of diesel SUVs, launched in the U.S. over the summer, account for 20% of Mercedes SUV sales in the country, a substantial percentage considering that diesel passenger cars make up only 4% of the total market.
From an engineering point of view, diesel is the better technology because it offers comparable gas mileage to a hybrid—or even superior mileage in highway driving—with less weight and expense. But the success of Toyota's luxury Lexus hybrid models showed that gasoline-oriented U.S. buyers want hybrids. "Mercedes said: 'If you want to save the planet, buy a diesel,'" says Christoph Stürmer, Frankfurt-based auto analyst at Global Insight. "They were right in their own way but proven wrong by the market."
The S-Class is not a so-called full hybrid—it can't run solely on battery power. Rather, the electric motor supplements the six-cylinder, 279-horsepower gasoline engine, improving fuel economy by providing a boost while accelerating. The car also recovers energy when braking, feeding it back into the battery. However, Mercedes has included some innovations that it hopes will set the S-Class hybrid apart from Japanese competitors.
Better Battery
The main innovation is the lithium-ion battery. Developed along with German components supplier Continental (CONG.DE), the battery weighs less and takes up less space than batteries used by competing hybrids. Slightly larger than a conventional auto battery, it fits under the hood and does not reduce the amount of space in the rest of the car. All told, the hybrid components including an electric motor add a modest 75 kg (165 lb.) to the total weight of the car.
The battery employs the same chemical principle as those used in laptops and mobile phones, but Mercedes execs insist there is no danger of the overheating that has plagued consumer electronics makers. In the unlikely event that the battery gets too hot, says Oliver Vollrath, strategic director of the S-Class hybrid project, the system will shut down automatically. In any event, Vollrath says the car's power-management system precludes any such problems. "You can be sure that what happens in laptops won't be a problem in automobiles," he says.
Besides being more efficient than competitors, the battery also helps Mercedes meet its long-term goal of offering better mileage without any sacrifices in performance and comfort. Following the S-Class launch, the company aims to add at least one hybrid model a year. "We have to ensure that people in six years will be able to drive a big car without sacrifices or a bad conscience," says marketing chief Maier.
Ewing is BusinessWeek's European regional editor .
SEMA eNews, Vol. 11, No. 25 - Jun 19, 2008
SPY PHOTOS: BMW TIGHTENS UP THE M3 TAIL
Spy shooter Brenda Priddy tells us that this BMW M3 prototype, caught here in blinding, law-enforcement baiting red, shows us that a minor facelift is in store for the 414-hp 3 Series alpha male. Priddy says a new set of taillights is in order, while other changes may lurk beneath the sheetmetal. Look for the freshened M3 to debut sometime in the next six to 12 months.
2009 Audi S4 Details Surface
June 4, 2008 4:00 PM by Thami Masemola
Audi-fest. That’s what it should be called. For here’s a company that only 15 years ago no one knew if it would be coming or going. Seems it’s coming now, and coming pretty fast on your rear view mirrors! Much like the new blazing Audi S4, which we have already reported as a 3.0-litre V6 with a supercharged system that offers driver the sure pleasure of 350bhp or so. Quattro will bear the traction responsibilities as expected, where a quick run to 100km/h should take just less than 6 seconds, while top whack will be limited at 250km/h. Yeah right, this is Audi we’re talking about, so-called "gentlemen’s agreements' are tossed out as fast as an R8 V10 tosses around a track.
Where was I? Oh yeah, gearbox. 2009 S4 will sport the brand new twin-clutch changer found in the new S5 which Audi fancily refers to as S-Tronic rather than what big brother VW calls it; DSG. Same thing. Except S-Tronic changes at 200ms under S4 guidance, weighs 40kg more than the 6-speed changer but yet performs faster and is C02 cleaner as well. Amazing stuff.
Dear S4. As has been promised, we will see you at the Paris Motor Show later in the year, hopefully with hints of your avant and cabriolet present too. Don’t forget also that 2009 is promised to give us your mentor RS 4, so we await that monumental event as well.
New BMW 7 Series to be Revealed on 7th July
June 4, 2008 5:00 PM by Thami Masemola
Did the ugly duckling really turn into a swan, or did we get so familiar with it that it became a close friend whose side we took, whose ugliness we saw through to recognise its inner beauty? Hans Christian Andersen is no longer around to answer, but Adrian van Hooydonk certainly is. Come July 7th 2008 we will find out when the new 2009 BMW 7 Series is shown to the public, according to the fanatics of the Bavarian brand BMWBlog. There is something to be said about a 7 Series reveal on the 7th day and 7th month of the year...What else do these foreseers see a month and a bit ahead?
A few things really, very interesting things. The first of these is a twin-turbo V12 engine, which we guess will be afforded the M7. Yes, the M7 is coming, finally, to instigate a case of power-theft against the 450kW, 1000Nm Mercedes-Benz S 65 AMG and a possible twin-turboed Audi A8 MY2010. At least 450kW is coming from this high-end ‘bahnbuster. As is BMW tradition, don’t expect M7 to boast huge capacity; it will rather be light for its size and pack a mean punch. M Power strikes back? Looks that way. But wait, there’s more. A twin-turbo V8 bomber expected to be the same as the one found in the X6 and the upcoming 405kW X5.
Following Lexus, which lead the way with its 8-speed automatic gear changer, the 2009 BMW 7 Series will feature this technology probably from ZF systems. XDrive will be a new option for the 7, and as you can probably see from the interior pics, the driver-focused console (tilted to face the driver) will make a comeback on 7. Other techno wizardry will include Dynamic Performance Control and ConnectedDrive. Cosmetically a number of changes appear, notably the flat rectangular slanted exhaust pipes and an improved rear end.
SEMA eNews, Vol. 11, No. 20 - May 15, 2008
SPY PHOTOS: THE ROXSTER—PORSCHE'S NEW "BABY" CAYENNE
Proof at last that the Panamera range will not end the Porsche success story is the new "baby" Cayenne, likely to be called the Roxster, says spy shooter Brenda Priddy. Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking is dead serious about launching the company’s fifth model Priddy says, and grabbed the pictures to prove it as the small ute—Porsche's answer to BMW's X3—was leaving the company's Stuttgart headquarters.
Following the successful Cayenne, built with partner Volkswagen, the new Roxster may use components of Audi’s all-new Q5. It might also herald Porsche’s entry into the diesel segment. Without an oil-burner in this class, failure in Europe is almost guaranteed.
Wolfgang Porsche turns 65Shareholder, Member of the Supervisory Board, Family Spokesman and Entrepreneur
Stuttgart. Dr. Wolfgang Porsche, Shareholder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Porsche Automobil Holding SE, as well as
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, is celebrating his 65th birthday on May 10, 2008. Ferdinand (‘Ferry’) Porsche’s youngest son, who was born in Stuttgart, has been a member of the Supervisory Board of the sports car manufacturer since 1978. He has also been family spokesman since the death of his father Ferry in 1998.
Wolfgang Porsche has always seen it as his primary duty to continue to drive forward the company in the same spirit that his father Ferry and grandfather Ferdinand intended when they founded and built up the firm, in close collaboration with the members of the Porsche and Piëch families. As a result of this fundamental stance, he contributed signi-
ficantly to the increase in capital that occurred in 1992 to ensure the continued independence of the family-owned company, and has also influenced all further important business decisions. This particularly includes decisions relating to the expansion of the product portfolio to include the Roadster Boxster, the Cayenne sports utility vehicle, and the four-seater Gran Turismo Panamera, as well as the building of the Leipzig plant, and last but not least, the stake of Porsche AG in the Volkswagen Group in 2005.
As Dr. Wendelin Wiedeking, CEO of Porsche SE, notes: “Throughout the past 16 years, Wolfgang Porsche has tirelessly supported us as an approachable and competent advisor, both on everyday questions as well as on the various strategic decisions we have faced to position the company in the best way. This advice has always been open and frank, and he has served as an essential bridge between company and shareholders. In all decisions, the Porsche Managing Board could always count on his integrity and his support, and for this we are extremely thankful”.
Wolfgang Porsche was born on May 10, 1943, the youngest son of Dorothea and Ferry Porsche, the founder of the sports car icon. He spent the first 6 ½ years of his life at the so called ‘Schüttgut’ in Zell am See, Austria, to which his parents and grandparents had retreated during the final years of the war. The family returned to Stuttgart in 1950. At first, Wolfgang went to the Waldorf School in Stuttgart, before moving over to the Odenwald School in Heppenheim. It was here that he obtained his Abitur (higher school-leaving certificate) in 1965, and at the same time abandoned his training as an apprentice locksmith. Following this, he obtained his degree in Business Administration from the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration. He received his doctorate in International Business in 1973.
After completing his studies, Wolfgang Porsche went into business, and became an importer for Yamaha motorbikes in Austria, a trade that he pursued successfully for 27 years. He returned to Stuttgart in 1976, and worked at the then Daimler-Benz AG as a manager in several different areas of domestic and foreign sales. In 1978 he was appointed a member of the Supervisory Board of Porsche AG, taking over the position of Chairman in January 2007. He was also appointed Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Porsche Automobil Holding SE at its incorporation in June 2007. In addition, he has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Porsche Holding Ges.m.b.H. in Salzburg, the largest Austrian trading company, since 1983. Furthermore, he is Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Swiss watch manufacturer Eterna S.A. in Grenchen, and, since April 24, 2008, a member of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG, Wolfsburg.
On the death of his father Ferry in 1998, he was selected as spokesman by the Porsche family. As such, Wolfgang Porsche considers his main role to be that of an intermediary and consensus-builder between the individual family members to ensure that the shared goal of the independence and financial stability of the Porsche company isnever compromised. His calm, objective style, as well as his wit and humor, are his chief assets. In this regard, Wolfgang Porsche has even described himself as a ‘Swabian Austrian’, for whom level-headedness, reliability and tradition are all important. The father-of-four lives alternately in Munich, Stuttgart, and at the paternal ‘Schüttgut’ in Zell am See, which he has inherited. A keen hunter, he has always maintained his special affinity with the sports car icon that is still ‘made in Zuffenhausen’, both to its past and its present.
Wolfgang Porsche has received numerous honors for his services to business. In 2005 he was awarded the ‘Great Golden Medal for Services to the Republic of Austria’ by the Prime Minister of Austria, the highest award granted by the country of his birth.
GO
Please note: Photographic material on Dr. Wolfgang Porsche is available to accredited journalists for downloading from the Porsche press database at the internet address http://presse.porsche.de/.
SEMA eNews, Vol. 11, No. 16 - Apr 17, 2008
SPY SHOTS—THE SHARP LINES OF BMW'S NEXT 7 SERIES
Without the heavy cladding that accompanied earlier spy shots of the car, the forthcoming BMW 7 Series looks every bit the elegant Mercedes-Benz S-Class competitor in these latest shots from photographer Brenda Priddy and her network of spy shooters. Spied near BMW headquarters in Munich, Germany, the new 7 Series mimics design elements of the X5 and X6 with its huge twin-kidney grille and wrap-around headlights.
"Though still disguised with a fake rear spoiler, it is clearly visible that the rear end and especially the trunk lid will become much more elegant compared to the current car's [rear]," Priddy says. In addition to exterior updates, BMW will also introduce a new iDrive system and a rumored eight-speed transmission, she adds. The new 7 Series is expected to bow at the Paris Auto Show later this year as a 2009 model.
SEMA eNews, Vol. 11, No. 11 - Mar 13, 2008
SPY SHOTS—NEXT MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS: MORE SPORT, MORE TECH
Spy photog commander Brenda Priddy tell us that this is the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, still at least a year away from the showroom floor.
Code-named W212, the new E-Class will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Priddy says, and will copy the S-Class' wheel-arch extensions, rising character line below the door handles, massive bumpers and greenhouse. A more sculpted wide-frame grille, more geometric nasal air intakes and a wedge-shaped profile should give W212 a sportier stance, she adds.
The 2010 E-Class is also expected to include cutting-edge safety technology, including lane-departure warnings, an eye-movement monitor, traffic-sign identification, road-condition sensors, and stability control that accounts for crosswinds, camber changes and tire wear. Engine-wise, expect the usual V6 and V8 options, including a normally aspirated, 500+hp 6.3L V8 in the E63 AMG model.
SEMA eNews, Vol. 11, No. 9 - Feb 28, 2008
150-MPG PRODUCTION CAR MAY HIT U.S. DEALERSHIPS
As gas prices begin to rise up to well above a national average of $3 a gallon (regular gasoline), consumers are becoming more financially strained by the cost of refueling. In an ongoing Technometrica Market Intelligence survey conducted last year, 63% of consumers pointed out that gasoline prices are "hurting" them financially, which helps explain why sales of hybrid vehicles increased 39% last year.
Automakers continue to roll out new fuel-efficient production vehicles, emphasizing their progress at major auto shows, yet one of the most recent newsmakers was the Loremo concept car that achieves a claimed 130–150 miles per gallon. The German automaker plans to begin production of the car for European markets in 2009 and for the United States a year later, according to a recent article posted on MSN Autos.com.
Details of the car's specs have been few, though two models are planned: An LS version powered by a 20hp, two-cylinder turbodiesel, and a GT that gets an additional 30hp from a three-cylinder engine—pushing it from 0–62 mph in less than 10 seconds. The car's total weight of around 1,300 pounds and 0.22 coefficient of drag helps it achieve its fuel economy ratings. Loremo says it will sell its base model in Europe for around $22,000, according to MSN.
Whether or not the Loremo ends up in the United States is debatable, but the demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles has not abated. Even specialty-equipment companies have latched onto the opportunity to serve consumer demand for fuel economy, as evidenced by the growing number of air filters/intakes and computer engine tuners entered into the performance-street section of the 2007 SEMA Show's New Products Showcase, up 66% from the previous year. Both of these products help improve the way fuel mixes with air prior to combustion, thus adding more miles driven per gallon of gasoline, as well as enhancing performance.
Source: "Loremo: The 'Low Resistance Mobile,'" Jacob Gordon, MSN Autos.com; SEMA Research and Information Center
Mercedes E-Class Spy Video
Lets not beat about the bush, other than the facelifted SL class, the styling of recent models coming from Mercedes having been found wanting, we all hope this trend is at an end with the next generation Mercedes E-Class. Upcoming models such as the 2011 Audi A6 could seriously threaten Mercedes' position in the mid-size premium segment which they also have to content with the likes of the BMW 5-series, Cadillac CTS and the Lexus LS. This latest spy video of the E class shows a prototype pumping its muscle round a wet Nurburgring.
The new model takes the codename W212 and as we can see the new model is gradually shedding the annoying camoflage blocking the view of what we really want to see.
Gone will be the SBC (Sensotronic Brake Control) system in favour a more conventional system which will get wet-weather disc wiping and wheel-selective cornering brake control, ceramic-composite discs are expected to be available for the AMG version. The styling shows similar characteristics to the S-class, with the wheel-arch extensions and huge bumpers showing the most striking similarities. A wider frame grille gives the E class a more meaty look and behind that taping we should find the “four eyes face“ headlights.
Mercedes will once again introduce a range of its new technologies into the W212 E-class including lane-departure warnings, an eye-movement monitor, traffic-sign identification, road-condition sensors, and stability control that accounts for crosswinds, camber changes, and a tire wear warning system. There are no major surprises expected in the engine department with the usual V6- and V8-engines, plus a normally aspirated, 500-plus-bhp 6.3-liter V8 for the E63 AMG model.
It is still more than a year until we will see the debut of the E-class at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.
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