A round-up of today's other motoring news in brief
Merkel stands by Magna
CHANCELLOR ANGELA Merkel restated her “clear preference” for Canadian firm Magna as the buyer of General Motors’ Opel unit and said she will intervene in negotiations if needed.
“Magna is fighting, with our support, to have its concept win out,” Merkel said in an interview with RTL television in Berlin yesterday. The German government is in “constant talks” over the sale of Opel, she said.
“I’m always informed, I’m always in the loop and I will get involved whenever necessary,” Merkel said.
“At the same time, it is to a large degree a private business decision.”
GM said last week that it needs more time to make a recommendation on competing bids from Aurora, Magna and Brussels-based RHJ International.
Meanwhile a spokesman for the RHJ bid said it has no plans to close its two UK plants or drop the Vauxhall brand.
Kia’s seven-seat Sorrento soon to be on show
THIS IS one of the first official photos of the new Kia Sorrento, which is also due to be unveiled at next month’s Frankfurt Motor show.
The new seven-seat model carries much of the front styling that first appeared on the c’eed and more recently on the Soul model.
The new car is reportedly longer than the outgoing model and is also lower to the ground than its predecessor.
In terms of powertrain, we can expect a 2.2-litre diesel engine with 194bhp to be the mainstay for Irish buyers.
Inside we are likely to see the funky in-mirror colour screen reversing camera, that is also featured in the top of range Soul models, making its way into the new Sorrento.
While there is no confirmed arrival date for Ireland, it will go on sale elsewhere in right-hand drive by February 2010.
First look at Porsche’s new Turbo 911
PORSCHE HAS released details of its next generation 911 Turbo which will make its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month.
The new Turbo will powered by a revamped version of the firm’s new 3.8-litre six-cylinder engine, which currently features in the Carrera S.
It will offer 500bhp, an increase of 20bhp over the current car. It will manage 100km/h from standing start in just 3.4 seconds and has a claimed top speed of around 314km/h. Despite the extra power, the new 911 Turbo also benefits from improved efficiency. Fuel consumption averages 11.3 l/100km. The four-wheel- drive powertrain will also feature revised traction and stability control systems, and the option of the firm’s new seven- speed dual-clutch transmission.
Hyundai’s new Sonata out in the sun
TESTING OF Hyundai’s new Sonata is in full swing, with the car spotted here during “heat soak” tests in the desert plains of the US.
Codenamed “YF”, this Sonata was penned at Hyundai’s design studio in Irvine, California. We believe there was heated debate in the boardroom over the styling direction of the new Sonata. The final design sports a much sleeker, coupé-like roofline than the current model and should appeal to people who have not previously considered the Korean family car.
Hyundai is supposedly also planning a hybrid model of the Sonata that will use lithium polymer batteries instead of the often discussed lithium-ion. The polymer batteries are said to be more durable and less expensive to manufacture.
While the regular Sonata should start production for the US in the summer of 2010, the hybrid model should follow sometime in 2011.