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The U.S.
arm of DaimlerChrysler AG has spent years trying to find a way to build demand
for its brand in Europe, but so far with little success. While its Jeeps and
minivans can be seen on the streets of Paris and other cities across the
continent, Chrysler can claim barely a 0.7-percent share of the competitive
European market. That doesn’t mean it’s giving up, according to Dieter Zetsche,
CEO of the U.S. carmaker. “We believe we can create steady growth and double our
volume in the (upcoming) three to five year timeframe,” he declared during a
press preview of the Paris Motor Show. Zetsche stressed that Chrysler will not
try to come up with products specifically geared for Europe. Quite the contrary.
To succeed, it needs “very unique, pushing-the-envelope type products,” such as
the California Cruiser, a two-toned version of the PT Cruiser, which is getting
its first showing in Europe. Chrysler would have to make some concessions,
Zetsche acknowledged, in the form of right-hand-drive and diesel engines.
Diesels now account for nearly half the overall market in Europe. —TCC Team
2002 Dodge Razor concept
Chrysler’s popular
Razor concept vehicle may be in for a reprieve. Dodge unveiled the retro-styled
roadster at the Detroit auto show last January, but despite strong public
response, it had looked like Chrysler wouldn’t put the orange-colored coupe into
production. Well, speaking at a preview of the Paris Motor Show, the automaker’s
CEO, Dieter Zetsche, suggested Chrysler is having second thoughts. “Razor is not
in front position to go into production,” Zetsche said, quickly adding that,
“this is not a ‘no.’” —TCC Team
2003 Porsche Cayenne
It would seem an oxymoron
to put a high-mileage diesel into the new Porsche Cayenne, a prospect the
automaker’s CEO, Wendelin Wiedeking, took pains to put to rest during the first
showing of the actual SUV/sports car hybrid. (Porsche released a few Cayenne
photos to the press last March.) It makes no sense to spend money developing a
diesel if Porsche can sell all the gasoline-powered Cayennes it can build,
according to Wiedeking. Well, perhaps for now, but German sources tell
TheCarConnection that Porsche is preparing a contingency plan recognizing the
dramatic European shift towards diesels. To hold down costs, the Stuttgart
sports car maker would likely turn to its long-time ally, Volkswagen, which
partnered on the development of Cayenne and the similarly conceived VW Touareg.
VW is expected to offer at least one, and possibly several diesel options in its
own version of the SUV. —TCC Team
2003 Ford Streetka
Ford pulled the wraps
off the Streetka, a stubby roadster that started life as a European concept
study. Designed by the Ghia studios and bearing more than a little resemblance
to the Audi TT Cabrio, the Streetka is based off the newest incarnation of
Ford’s mini-compact Fiesta. “Streetka will be almost an icon,” predicted David
Thursfield, head of Ford’s European operations. The Streetka was originally
designed for a limited production run, reflecting the fast ups-and-downs of
stylish niche products. But Thursfield predicted the two-seater likely would
maintain its popularity far longer than expected. Meanwhile, Ford also got a
jump on the primary press days in Paris, unveiling a multipurpose version of its
popular Focus line. Dubbed the Focus C-Max, Thursfield promised the prototype
will shortly go into production, and deliver a surprising amount of interior
space as well as “great driving dynamics.” —TCC Team
WHO NEEDS A GURU?
Not Ford, declared Ford CEO Bill Ford.
He argued the automotive and business media are all wrong when they demand the
number-two automaker find a product “czar,” like General Motors’ Bob Lutz. “The
public doesn’t care who designed their car,” Ford said, suggesting that there
are plenty of car-savvy executives at the automaker, not just one in a ranking
position. Ford of Europe’s nascent comeback proves the point, the family heir
and company chairman emphasized. “A lot of what worked here (in Europe) is in
the process of being transferred back to the United States,” said Ford, during a
press preview marking the start of the biannual Paris auto show. But he also
cautioned that “The U.S. (arm of Ford) is a bigger organization and because of
that, it’s probably going to be slower to react” to the changes now underway.
—TCC Team
ASTON’S BEZ: IT’S IN THE EYES
With sales expected to
triple over the next four to five years, Aston Martin is going to be looking for
a lot of new dealers, especially in the U.S., said its CEO, Ulrich Bez.
Considering the low volumes and personalized service needed to sell and service
cars of Aston’s caliber, the British automaker is taking a very slow and
cautious approach to approving new franchises. After the initial vetting
process, Bez says he goes to see each new candidate. What clinches the deal?
“It’s not the interview,” he tells TheCarConnection. “But I want to looking into
their eyes and see what they bring to the market. I’m inspired (when) I feel
some passion.” —TCC Team
Aston Brewing
Porsche Fighter by TCC Team (9/25/2002)
Kia KCV-11 concept
Kia unveiled its KCV-II
concept car that’s aimed at young owners with an active lifestyle. The concept
has a flexible seating system and an open pickup bed. The car was designed in
Kia’s European design studio in Frankfurt, Germany, after an in-house
competition. The KCV-II concept is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 and has full time
AWD. It is built on a new platform, code-named KM, that will be used in future
new Kias, such as a conventional SUV and a lifestyle version like the KCV-II.
With this concept Kia also wants to show that it will introduce a tire-pressure
warning system, active headrests and emergency brake assist in their production
models in due course. —Henny Hemmes
A RALLY CONCEPT FROM MITSU
Mitsubishi shows its Pajero
Evolution, the first rally car based on a concept car, the Pajero Evo that was
launched in Frankfurt last year. The Pajero Evolution will be ready to race the
2003 season and will debut in the 2002 UAE Desert Rally in Dubai Rally (October
29 – November 2). Of course the Evolution will also participate in the Rally
Paris-Dakar in January. The new car has a better weight distribution and a lower
center of gravity than its predecessor, achieved by placing the tuned 24-valve
3.5-liter V-6 about four inches lower and 12 inches further backwards. The
Evolution is the first Pajero with a sequential six-speed stick shift. The car
also features a system to adjust tire pressure from the passenger seat.
—Henny Hemmes
2002 Honda Civic Type-R (Euro)
Honda unveiled two
special editions to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Civic. The
first is of the Civic Type-R and the other is called 1.6 Sport. Both cars have
30th anniversary badges. The Type-R is equipped with Recaro seats and
a Momo steering wheel; the rear side windows and the rear window have dark
tinted glass. The 1.6 Sport has some of the Type-R details, such as the bumper
spoilers and the side skirts. The car also has a roof spoiler on top of the
hatch, 15-inch alloy wheels, smoked headlamps and door handles in body color.
—Henny Hemmes
Volkswagen Magellan concept
Volkswagen AG
chairman Bernd Pischetsrieder confirmed a published report that the Volkswagen
Magellan crossover SUV concept that the company showed at last January's Detroit
auto show will be developed as an Audi, and will share some parts and components
with the Volkswagen Touareg. VW is introducing the Touareg, Audi A8 and Audi S4
at this week's Paris motor show. Pischetsrieder also said the new A8 shows
Audi's design direction of designing its sedans to look more like coupes. "When
I was at BMW, we looked at Audi as following in our footsteps all the time...but
you can never get ahead of the competition if you do that," said the former BMW
chairman. He noted that BMW's sedans were looking more like traditional Mercedes
sedans in the coming redesigns of the 5-Series and 3-Series, leaving Audi
designs looking all the more distinctive. "I would say Jaguar and Acura were
closer to our natural competitors going forward," said Pischetsrieder. —Jim
Burt
Magellan at Detroit: ’02 Detroit Show, Part II by Marty
Padgett (1/14/2002)
MICHELIN: NO MORE SPARES
Most new vehicles sold a decade
from now, especially premium vehicles, will not carry a spare tire, said
Michelin Group chairman CEO Edouard Michelin Wednesday at an industry event
sponsored by J.D. Power and Associates and Automotive News. "The spare tire is
prehistoric," said Michelin, who says it will take another decade for consumers
to accept not having a spare. "Most people do not know how to change a tire
anyway," said the Michelin scion. The Renault Scenic in Europe is one car, noted
Michelin, that does not carry a spare. "Look at the size of the spare tire
sitting under the trunk in a Mercedes S Class, and how much room that opens up,"
said Michelin.The costs of a run-flat tire are still higher than traditional
tires, but the costs are coming down, said Michelin, and there is clearly
interest at the consumer level and by regulators, especially in the U.S. —Jim
Burt
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