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Nissan to Market Infiniti Cars in China

The Chinese luxury automobile market is booming and Nissan plans to enter the market in 2007 with its Infiniti brand of automobiles.

Nissan is planning on setting up dealerships across China, particularly in major cities. China’s auto market is exploding with year to year sales growth of 20% being recorded. Luxury cars are also in demand as sales of this all important and lucrative category is increasing at a 10% annual rate according to Xinhua.

GM Pulls Plug on GTO

General Motors has announced that the automaker will no longer be producing and importing the Australian built Pontiac GTO to the US market opting to discontinue production altogether.

Derived from the discontinued Holden Morano, the GTO hearkened back to GM’s muscle car era with its 400 h.p. V8. Still, the car was a disappointment to some as they complained about its bland styling. GM cited the Morano’s earlier termination and the GTO’s lackluster sales as reasons for killing the model. Instead, the automaker is expected to soon announce the return of the popular Chevrolet Camaro as well as its Pontiac sibling, the Firebird.

Toyota and Simple Slim

Toyota is incorporating an important engineering method in its quest to cut costs. The Camry, Toyota’s most popular vehicle and the number one selling car model in America, uses “simple slim” to reduce engine costs.

According to company news reports, Simple Slim is

“a new technology for pouring molten aluminum into moulds to create engine parts. The new equipment, part of a larger Toyota cost-cutting program called Simple Slim, allows Toyota to use smaller and cheaper moulds.”

So, what does this all translate to? Big cost savings up to 50% on Toyota Camry engines. Instead of an engine costing $2000 to build, it now costs the company $1000. This same engine is also available in various other Toyota and Lexus models.

A Scion Fighter For Dodge?

Dodge’s newest and smallest model is the Caliper, its replacement for the compact Neon. As the current entry level car in the Dodge line up, the Caliper is actually too big and too expensive for many new car owners. With that in mind, Dodge is toying with building a Scion-like vehicle, the Hornet to compete effectively against Toyota’s Generation “Y” vehicle as well as against the Honda Fit.

Dodge will be showing the Hornet at the upcoming Geneva Car Show in March. The car to be displayed is a full two feet shorter than the Caliper. According to a published report in Newsday, Dodge is looking for an offshore partner to build the vehicle for them.

Copyright 2006 - Matt Keegan is The Auto Writer, who writes on a variety of automotive topics including new models, classics, auto parts and accessories, insurance, and news.

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One generation after the introduction of its first line of cars in the US, Hyundai Motors is preparing to import to the US its first V8 powered car. The Equus, a full sized sedan, will be new to the US market, but the Korean automaker has been making large cars for years. Please read on for more information about this exciting development.

Give Hyundai credit. In the teeth of strong competition from Asian and American automobile manufacturers, the South Korean auto giant has managed to carve out a niche for itself in the hyper-competitive US auto market. Twenty years after the Excel Pony was introduced at the budget price of $3750, Hyundai has upgraded its line up and now sells small and medium models, sporty cars, and a pair of SUVs.

For 2006, Hyundai has released an all new Accent and its first larger car, the Azera. Powered by an aluminum 3.8L V6 engine, the Azera compares favorably in size and in amenities with the Toyota Avalon, the top of the line car for the Japanese automaker. However, Hyundai isn’t finished just yet.

Waiting in the wings is a full sized rear wheel drive car, the Equus. With the same standard engine as the Azera, the Equus also comes with a V8 and will be positioned to compete directly with the Buick Lucerne, perhaps even Cadillac’s DTS. The current model, introduced in 1999, is undergoing a major revision and will be replaced in 2006. Hyundai hopes to bring this model to the US by 2008, although the Equus name might be changed. Hyundai is also looking at the possibility of creating a separate line of luxury cars and making the “Equus” its first entrant.

We don’t know too much about the Equus as Hyundai is keeping mum about what they have planned. Regardless, introducing a full sized luxury car into the US market is smart and knowing how Hyundai prices their products the car will be a relative bargain for consumers and more competition for Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, Mercedes, BMW, Lincoln, Buick, and Cadillac.

Copyright 2005 — Matthew Keegan is The Article Writer who writes on a variety of topics including: advocacy, automobiles, aviation, business, Christian themes, family, news, product reviews, travel, writing, and more. Please visit Matt’s blog for absolutely stunning and humorous writings from the master himself!

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