Nissan's Remodeled Teana Sedan Gets Off to Strong Start

Nissan Motor Co. <7201> said Monday that orders for its fully remodeled Teana luxury sedan came to 5,034 units in some three weeks after its release on June 2.The figure is more than five times the Japanese automaker's monthly sales target of 1,000 units.Consumers aged 60 or older accounted for 50.2 pct of the overall sales, Nissan said.Nissan aims to sell 20,000 units of the Teana by the end of March 2009. It sells the 3,500-c.c. high-end model for 3,948,000 yen and 2,500-c.c. versions at prices ranging from 2,467,500 yen to 3,265,500 yen.

Mini Cooper grows lineup with all-new Clubman

It’s been about 6 years since the Mini Cooper first debuted in the U.S. market, and these cute little cars continue to ooze personality and garner head-turning looks wherever they go.
Thanks to its distinctive retro-styled exterior, uniquely designed cabin and long list of options (including more than 40 color combinations), the Mini Cooper is the most expressive car in its class.

One shortcoming, though, has been Mini’s backseat. It’s so short on legroom that it’s better suited for packages than passengers.
So, for 2008, Mini has launched a larger model called the Cooper Clubman. The all-new 2008 Mini Cooper Clubman is about 9.5 inches longer with a wheelbase that’s been extended by slightly more than 3 inches.
Rear seat passengers get more legroom – about 3 inches worth – but there’s still barely enough legroom when the driver and front seat passenger are tall and have their seats all the way back.
As was the case with the original Mini Cooper, the Clubman provides plenty of room up front for six-footers thanks to a long seat track and tilt-telescoping steering wheel. I’m 6-foot, 3-inches and have no problem fitting comfortably in Clubman’s driver’s seat. For me, the backseat is a totally different story.
From the outside, the all-new Clubman definitely appears longer and still looks true to the Mini brand but with a friendly wagonlike appeal. The Clubman is a five-door model with two coupelike front doors, an additional rear-hinged door on the passenger-side (called the “Clubdoor”) and two split-rear doors in the back.

Although the Clubman is longer than its Mini siblings, it’s still very fun to drive. Some may not care for the stiff suspension when driving around town, but you’ll be surprised at how well this car stays planted in tight turns and how little body roll occurs.

So Maxi Mini ...Sexy Mini

Audi Q5 to be China built in 2009

From concept car to Q5>>>

Audi, the premium unit of Volkswagen, has decided to build the new smaller SUV, Q5, in China next year. The Audi Q5 made its global debut at the 2008 Beijing auto show in April, when sources said that Audi would sell its locally made Q5 cars, rather than imported ones, in the Chinese market.
At this week's Shanghai auto-parts show, Hankook Tire has displayed its Optimo K415 tire for passenger cars. The Korean tire-maker's China company said that the Hankook Optimo K415 tire series will be used next year in the Audi Q5 cars made in China. The testing of various tires in this series specailly designed and upgraded for the Audi Q5 is being carried out. The Hankook Optimo K415 tire has been used in the Nissan Qashqai, Shanghai VW's Polo, and Skoda Octavia.
The Audi Q5 will be built using the new Audi MLP platform and will compete with the BMW X3, Infiniti EX, Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class, Saab 9-4X, Volvo XC60 and the upcoming Cadillac BRX. It will be offered with multiple engine configurations, including gasoline/petrol, TDI, and Hybrid gasoline/electric.
Earlier reports said that Audi has started building a new plant with its Chinese partner FAW in Changchun, northern China, to assemble the new compact SUV Q5. Local production of the vehicle for the Chinese market is due to start in August 2009.
The Audi Q5 is due to hit dealers in Europe later this summer and sales are expected to begin in the United States at the beginning of next year.