Honda Pulls Out from 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show

With the auto industry feeling the pinch or rather the punch of the global financial crisis, carmakers are looking for ways to cut down expenses, and that includes their participation at auto shows. Now Honda has become the first major automaker to officially pull out of the forthcoming 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany this September. "Due to the unprecedented market downturn, Honda has come to a conclusion that the company will have to skip its participation to the Frankfurt motor show this year," the company said in a statement.

As part of its cost-cutting plan, Honda announced in December 2008 that it would withdraw from all Formula One activities while the automaker has also cut down on other 'expenses'. "Honda is trying to reduce every possible cost in various areas including manufacturing, sales and marketing activities to strengthen its business constitution to overcome the tough climate of today," the automaker said.

Kia Release AFD Rally Package for Soul

Korean automaker Kia has announced the launch of a new aero kit for the Soul crossover. Aside from the aesthetic rewards, buyers will be happy to know that the aerodynamic doodads also reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions through a simple and low-cost system called Air Propulsion and Retardation Installation Line. The system is said to rely on microscopic sensors built into the bumpers which constantly monitor wind speed and deploy panels when the wind is sufficient to provide additional directional impetus according to the car's behavior.

Systems Manager Kuasimati Seoulitsou from Kia's Advanced Technorave Research Institute in Mabuk, said: "The big problem with most emission reduction systems is that they are expensive. We wanted to come up with an answer that didn't cost the earth and could be retrospectively applied to cars already on the road."

"Tests of this system at our Nong Dam facility have shown that during windy weather fuel consumption can be reduced by up to 25 per cent and emissions by anything up 40 per cent. Even in calm weather using the system simply under braking can result in reductions of 10 per cent and 15 per cent respectively," he added.

The new aero kit system will be available on all Souls ordered after midnight on March 31, 2011. Prices will be announced in a few hours.

Spied: 2010 BMW X5 to Receive Subtle Facelift

As well as preparing the first-ever "M" version of the X5 that is due to be officially revealed towards the end of the week, BMW is also tweaking the rest of the range of its crossover model. If you're finding it hard to spot the cosmetic changes in our latest spy photos, we don't blame you as on the outside they are limited to the newly styled front and rear bumpers, the repositioned fog lights plus a different alloy wheel or two - or four if you want to take it literally.

Our Bavarian sources also told us that the 2010 X5 will also benefit from a few minor interior updates including the new trim, some ergonomic optimizations and the addition of some toys to the standard and options list.

In terms of mechanical revisions, it is said that BMW will add to the X5's range the latest version of its 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six engine that develops 326HP in the 740i (up from 306HP in the 335i and the X6 xDrive35i).

2011 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Photos Leaked by EU Patent Office

The European trademark office has done it again; following the premature leaks of the 2010 Mazda3, Renault Megane Coupe and the 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster, the latest slip out from the bureau concerns the first official photos of Mercedes-Benz' new B-Class hatch that will compete head on with the Audi A3 and VW Golf. According to our sources, the new B-Class will be unveiled sometime in 2010 with sales starting in Europe towards the end of the year and in the U.S. and other international markets, during the first half of 2011.

Mercedes-Benz officials have high hopes for the new B-Class that will spawn a whole range of models including a three-door hatchback, a small four-door coupe sedan in the likes of the CLS called BLS plus a small SUV model that will most likely be named BLK.

Power will come from a variety of naturally aspirated and turbocharged gasoline engines as well as 'uber' clean diesels including the range-topping 2.2-liter CDi with an output of 204-horsepower. There's also talk of a gasoline-hybrid variant but Mercedes-Benz has yet to confirm the rumors.

Vorsteiner Release New Body Kit for BMW E90 M3 Sedan

California-based Vorsteiner prefers working on the German brands BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. Having already provided kit for the BMW E92 M3 (coupe) Vorsteiner has now released a new lightweight aero kit for the E90 M3 (sedan).


The package is made up of parts like a carbon-fiber add-on spoiler, a carbon fiber rear diffuser with three integrated fins and a carbon fiber boot lid with a lip spoiler. The latter acts to enhance down force and weighs over 35 percent less than the stock unit which is made of steel.


Thanks to these components the lighter-than-average Vorsteiner M3 sedan should be better placed to exploit BMW's factory 4.0-litre V8 with its 414 bhp (309 kW; 420 PS) and 400Nm of torque.


Source: Vorsteiner via:World Car Fans




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Hyundai released New i10 conversion

Hyundai went a little further with their April Fools' Day joke and announced that they offer a Hyundai i10 Papa Mobil conversion kit specifically targeted at the world and religious leaders. The Hyundai i10 Papa Mobil even has the V471 CAN registration number. The Korean manufacturer says the Hyundai i10 Papa Mobil is still on trial in Italy where's being tested by a German customer.

The Hyundai i10 Papa Mobil is powered by a 1.2-litre Kappa engine that emits 119g/km of CO2 and the company says it's very easy to maneuver among large crowds of adoring subjects.

The Hyundai i10 Papa Mobil is also equipped with various security systems among which being a lightweight composite armor built into the top of the car. The material, called Armor Protected Roof Integrated Lining, was developed for offshore powerboat racing in Switzerland.
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Kia Unveil Dramatic Wind-Assisted Aero-Soul

In a dramatic move aimed at delivering environmental benefits without expensive ­technology Kia has revealed its new Aero-Soul concept that reduces fuel consumpt­ion and exhaust emissions with a simple and low-cost system called Air Propulsio­n and Retardation Installation Line.

Although unveiled on the company’s stylish and fun cross-over Soul the pat­ented system can be easily extended to all the company’s vehicles and will­ even be available as a bolt-on accessory for vehicles already in use.

The system relies on small sensors built into the front and rear bumpers which m­onitor external wind speed and deploy panels when the wind is sufficient to prov­ide additional directional impetus according to the car’s behaviour.

So at cruising speeds if the wind behind the car is strong – such as in wi­nter gales – the panels will harness wind power to provide forward motion.­ If the car is slowing or under braking the panels will deploy to provide additi­onal retardation effort. Additionally a small electrically powered baffle can be­ lowered just behind the exhaust pipe under harsh braking to provide the kind of­ “reverse-thrust” normally associated with aircraft during landing &­ndash; this element will only be available as a factory-fitted device.


This system does not just work when the car is running at speed. When braking or decelerating the panels also pop out like drag chutes to help slow the car down. Also part of the system is a reverse thruster that drops down from behind the exhaust pipe to reduce the strain on the brakes.

From her Mabuk, Korea, office, Kia green-technology engineer Avril Babo said, "The big problem with most emission reduction systems is that they are expensive. We wanted to come up with an answer that didn't cost the earth and could be retrospectively applied to cars already on the road."

Testing in Nong Dam shows that fuel efficiency can be increased by 25%, with emissions reduced by as much as 40%. When using the system while on a severe downhill slope, fuel use and CO2 emissions drops to almost nothing. The system is even beneficial if you live in a calmer environment. Just using the system to help braking can reduce fuel use by 10%, decrease emissions by 15%, and extend brake-pad life by nearly 50%.

The Kia Aero-Soul concept, with the Air Propulsion and Retardation Installation Line, or A.P.R.I.L., will be available shortly. Pricing will be revealed closer to the release date.
Source: Kia via: community.mocca




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