Webremix Articles

Official: Audi confirms R18 hybrid as part of 2012 endurance racing program

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:33:00 GMT

Filed under: Motorsports, Hybrid, Diesel, Racing

The diesel era at Le Mans may not be over yet, but already we're seeing the emergence of a new propulsion trend: hybrids. Toyota recently announced the TS030 Hybrid LMP1, Peugeot was working on a hybrid version of its 908 prototype before it killed the race program, and now Audi has confirmed a hybrid version of the R18 TDI .

Few details were released, but what we can tell you is that Audi will field four cars at Le Mans this year: two with hybrid assist and two without. One will be headlined by Allan McNish, one by Oliver Jarvis, one by Timo Bernhard and one by André Lotterer, with supplemental drivers to be announced sometime before the 80th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans kicks off in June.

Audi also announced a two-car entry for the inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship , with four cars to be run at select racers like Spa and Sebring. Expect more details on the R18 hybrid to be released later this month, but in the meantime you can check out the official announcement after the jump.

Continue reading Audi confirms R18 hybrid as part of 2012 endurance racing program

Audi confirms R18 hybrid as part of 2012 endurance racing program originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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$1 Million 'Obamamobile' Stalls at Auction

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:13:43 GMT

A battered old Peugeot once driven by Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad fetched $2.5 million at auction. A 1975 Ford Escort owned by the late Pope John Paul II sold for nearly $700,000. Would you fork over $1 million for a 7-year-old gray Chrysler once driven...

Official: Lotus headed to Le Mans with Lola LMP2

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:31:00 GMT

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Lotus, Racing

The suitably rapid expansion of the Lotus Racing division is showing no signs of slowing down. The British marque has its own Formula One team, is supplying engines to the IndyCar Series , oversees both GP2 and GP3 teams, has competition versions of its road cars in various GT and rally championships, runs its own karting program, and offers enthusiasts top-notch trackday programs with the Evora GT and Exos/Type 125 single-seater. But that's not enough: now Lotus is gearing up to take on Le Mans .

The company was planning to design its own LMP2 racer, and it had snagged the designer of the 908 HDi away from the now-shuttered Peugeot Sport racing program. But that apparently didn't go quite as smoothly as planned, so Lotus has instead opted to back an independent team to run a second-tier Le Mans prototype on its behalf.

That team is Kodewa, headed up by former HRT F1 team principal Colin Kolles and his father Romulus. They'll be running a chassis built by Lola and powered by a BMW V8 prepared by Engine Developments - the same arrangement by which Lotus is powering its Indy program. The car, as you can see, features the same iconic black and gold livery as other Lotus racers, penned in this case by Daniel Simon - a former Volkswagen Group designer responsible for the Tron:Legacy lightcycles and the livery run on last year's HRT F111 .

Look for the Lotus LMP2 to debut when the FIA World Endurance Championship kicks off here at Sebring in March, with a second car expected to join at Spa in May. Press release after the jump.

Continue reading Lotus headed to Le Mans with Lola LMP2

Lotus headed to Le Mans with Lola LMP2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota Take Peugeot's Place in Endurance Series

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:46:49 GMT

Toyota have entered the FIA world endurance championship after Peugeot abruptly pulled out of the new sportscar series last month, the Japanese manufacturer team said on Thursday.

Peugeots India HQ in Prahladnagar!

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:11:51 GMT

First auto giant to set up national head office in Gujarat; Sanand plant's launch date unclear.

OnCars India Buzz: February 1, 2012

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 07:14:45 GMT

Whatever the pricing may be, the car seems to be a hit already. - Peugeot has clarified that it isn't shutting down its Mumbai offices, it is merely relocating them to Ahmedabad.

Peugeot says Gujarat plant may be delayed

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:05:00 GMT

The company, which in September announced plans to build a factory at Sanand in Gujarat with an outlay of Rs4,000 crore by 2014, has rescheduled its plans.

Report: McLaren denies plans to switch engine suppliers

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:59:00 GMT

Filed under: Motorsports, Mercedes-Benz

For 15 years, McLaren was the F1 team of choice for Mercedes-Benz , enjoying a near-works level of support and collaboration from the German automaker. But as you may recall, Daimler bought its own team three seasons ago: the outfit that started out as British American Racing, then became Honda before branching out as Brawn GP, was rebranded Mercedes GP under its latest management and now rechristened Mercedes AMG Petronas. And ever since, McLaren has had to deflect speculation that it was looking for a new engine supplier.

Back in November, those rumors, somewhat ironically, centered around Honda, the company that once owned the team now owned by Mercedes-Benz and which was once McLaren's most victorious engine supplier. The Woking-based outfit scuttled those rumors at the time, and has now had to deny another set, this time involving PURE .

The new engine supplier established by former Jacques Villeneuve manager and BAR-Honda team principal Craig Pollock (with considerable technical know-how from former Peugeot , Renault and Ferrari engineers) is hard at work designing a new engine to be used from 2014 when the new turbocharged V6 engine regulations come into effect. There's no telling which teams PURE will power at that point, but one thing McLaren is adamant about is that it won't be theirs.

Instead, the brass at Woking is insistent that it is perfectly happy in its relationship with Mercedes-Benz, whose racing engine operations are linked to its eponymous racing team by little more than name and common ownership. McLaren, then, is expected to stick with Silver Star power at least through the end of 2015, if not longer.

McLaren denies plans to switch engine suppliers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Peugeot 'evaluating' India car project schedule

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:00:14 GMT

French carmaker Peugeot, battling falling sales at home, said Tuesday it was taking another look at its Indian car rollout schedule but would not shelve plans to enter the vast...

Peugeot starts production of the 208 supermini in France

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:50:40 GMT

The company said that the start of production is a part of the total investment of a 600 million in the country.

South Africa: Peugeot Revitalising Its Image

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:45:23 GMT

Biz-Community (Cape Town)-As part of Peugeot South Africa's plans to boost the brand's image, service and sales during 2012 it is introducing for the first time in the French carmaker's history a full five-year maintenance plan for its entire passenger car range.

Official: Toyota reveals TS030 Hybrid endurance prototype

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:28:00 GMT

Filed under: Coupe, Toyota, Racing

The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away. So, apparently, do the world's automakers. At least, that is, when it comes to Le Mans . Case in point: the new Toyota TS030 Hybrid, the Le Mans prototype that the Japanese automaker has just revealed, mere days after Peugeot announced its departure from the endurance racing scene.

Shorthand for the third Toyota Sport prototype - following the TS010 and TS020 that challenged Le Mans in the '90s - the TS030 is the first LMP1 to employ a hybrid drivetrain. (Peugeot was experimenting with a similar system before shutting down its program, and Audi is rumored to be testing one as well, but has yet to announce it to the public.)

Toyota Hybrid System - Racing (THS-R) couples a 3.4-liter V8 to one of two potential electric motor setups: a front-mounted system developed by Aisin AW or a rear-mounted one from Denso. According to regulations, the electric boost can only drive one set of wheels, and Toyota has yet to decide which, although the 500kJ capacitor supplied by Nisshinbo is already a lock.

The carbon fiber chassis, meanwhile, was developed in-house by Toyota Motorsport GmbH in Cologne, Germany - the same outfit that ran the company's F1 team and has been looking for a new project ever since. The facility will serve as the team's headquarters as well, from which it will field one car in its debut at the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps - the second round of the inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship - on May 5. Toyota is planning to field a second car at Le Mans in June, but while the first car's driver roster is already confirmed , the team has yet to decide on its second line-up.

Follow the jump for the full press release and spec sheet, and check out the first batch of official images in the high-res gallery above.

Continue reading Toyota reveals TS030 Hybrid endurance prototype

Toyota reveals TS030 Hybrid endurance prototype originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Toyota begins testing new hybrid LMP1

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:27:00 GMT

Filed under: Motorsports, Spy Photos, Coupe, Hybrid, Europe, Toyota, Racing

The sudden departure of Peugeot from the Le Mans racing scene came as quite a shock, we know. But don't count the inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship - or the famed 24-hour race at its center - out for the count before it's even started, because another powerhouse is already gearing up to take Peugeot's place. And that powerhouse is Toyota .

The Japanese auto giant announced its plans to build and campaign a new LMP1 racer at Le Mans and the WEC back in October. Toyota Motorsport GmbH (which ran the company's F1 team until its withdrawal in 2009) then set about designing the car, partnering with Team Oreca to help with the logistics of entering the pinnacle of endurance racing, and hired three top pilots to, you know, actually drive the thing.

With all those pieces in place, the Toyota team began testing their new prototype racer last week at the Paul Ricard test track in France. Toyota itself didn't release much in the way of details, but Alex Wurz was said to have led the shake-down, with his team-mates Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima on hand to share in the driving duties as well.

And while no "official" photos were "officially" released, Toyota PR rep Scott Brownlee tweeted a couple of snapshots to whet our appetites. The result looks, predictably enough, much like the latest LMP1 racers fielded by Audi and the departed Peugeot, but as with most things, it's what's underneath the surface that will count the most. In Toyota's sake, that would be a gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain of some sort, but we'll have to wait a little while longer - as the next round of testing and the car's anticipated debut at Spa come May approach - to find out more.

Toyota begins testing new hybrid LMP1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Peugeot Financial Issues Force Cancellation Of Le Mans Racing Program

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:10:15 GMT

After 14 victories in the last 16 races, including a double at the Le Mans 24 Hours 2009 as part of the ILMC championship won by Peugeot two years running, in 2010 and 2011, the Brand has decided to close its 2012 endurance programme and will not be taking part in the next Le Mans 24 Hours.

Peugeot Quit Le Mans for Cost Reasons

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:41:56 GMT

PARIS (Reuters) - Former winners Peugeot will not enter this year's Le Mans 24 Hours race after announcing on Wednesday that they had pulled out of the new FIA world endurance championship for ...

Peugeot Quit Le Mans for Cost Reasons

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:41:56 GMT

Former winners Peugeot will not enter this year's Le Mans 24 Hours race after announcing on Wednesday that they had pulled out of the new FIA world endurance championship for financial reasons.

Breaking: Peugeot exiting Le Mans racing effective immediately

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:52:00 GMT

Filed under: Motorsports, Earnings/Financials, Peugeot

PSA Peugeot Citroën has announced the French automaker will leave Le Mans racing indefinitely. Reuters reports the manufacturer cites financial issues as the reason for the drastic move, saying Peugeot will now focus its efforts on improving its sales performance in 2012. For its part, Peugeot has issued an official statement confirming the development on its motorsports site, which you can read after the jump.

Peugeot is currently Europe's second-largest vehicle manufacturer, though the company has suffered a string of thinning profit reports in recent months. Last year, Phillippe Varin, Peugeot's chief executive, announced a plan to save the company $1.03 billion in 2012 through a variety of tactics, including 6,000 job cuts. We now know the company's impressive Le Mans racing effort is a casualty of cost savings as well.

Of all the rivalries in motorsports, few have been as entertaining or heated as the one that blossomed between Peugeot and Audi at the 24 Hours of Le Mans . Peugeot swiped the crown from its German rivals in 2009 with its futuristic, diesel-powered 908 prototype, though Audi has won the legendary race seven out of the last eight years. That loss, however, forced Audi to abandon the open cockpit design of its R15 and earlier models in favor of a closed dome on the new R18 .

Interestingly enough, Reuters reports Peugeot sister company Citroën won't turn its back on the World Rally Championship .

Continue reading Peugeot exiting Le Mans racing effective immediately

Peugeot exiting Le Mans racing effective immediately originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fire destroys car in Senglea

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:31:00 GMT

A Peugeot 206 was destroyed in a fire in Senglea last night. The car was parked in Gorg Mitrovich Square when the flames were noticed at about 11 p.m.. Fire-fighters were on the scene. Magistrate Apap Bologna is holding an inquiry.

Report: Fiat, Chrysler and who? Marchionne mulling third partner

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:58:00 GMT

Filed under: Chrysler, Earnings/Financials, Fiat

Fiat /Chrysler sold about 4.2 million cars in 2010, and company CEO Sergio Marchionne expects to improve that by more than 33% come 2014, predicting sales of 5.7 units that year (analysts, on the other hand, predict average Fiat/Chrysler sales of 4.9 million in 2014). Operating profit for 2011 has been pegged at around $600 million, a rewarding bump from the $200 to $500 million predicted earlier in the year and dwarfed by the predicted $3 billion operating profit for 2012.

For Marchionne, though, those numbers need help from the outside: he says that an automaker needs to sell ten million units per year globally in order to reach "a new level of efficiency" and get development costs where he wants them. To wit, he is considering a partnership with a third car company to make that happen. He has repeatedly stated that he hasn't spoken with anyone yet, but Italian paper Corriere della Serra has said that Peugeot is ready to talk, while other analysts have mentioned makers in emerging markets as potential partners.

This is hardly the first time Marchionne has mentioned his quest for Volkswagen -like scale - in fact, he's been quite consistent on his desire to rationalize costs throughout the carmaking process. Based on that, it's inevitable that he'll tie up, the only questions now are who and when. He could wait until Fiat digests the remaining 41.5 percent of Chrysler it doesn't own and "merges" with The Pentastar, or if the right partner raises a hand, it might be sooner. Whoever it is, if it results in more novelties like the Dodge Dart , we tentatively say we're all for it.

Fiat, Chrysler and who? Marchionne mulling third partner originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Peugeot open to alliances with other carmakers

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:05:39 GMT

France's largest carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen said Thursday it may form an alliance with another auto group, as it announced that weak demand in Europe dragged its 2011 sales down by 1.5 percent.

"We don't exclude the possibility of accelerating what we're doing through a broader alliance," said Frederic Saint-Geours, the head of the group's Peugeot and Citroen brands.

Blast kills Iran nuclear expert amid `covert war' (AP)

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:11:19 GMT

AP - It seemed a clockwork killing: Motorcycle riders flashed by and attached a magnetic bomb onto a car carrying a nuclear scientist working at Iran's main uranium enrichment facility. By the time the blast tore apart the silver Peugeot, the bike was blocks away, weaving through Tehran traffic after what Iran calls the latest strike in an escalating covert war.

Assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist is a familiar story

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:50:48 GMT

The script, by now, is familiar enough. An assassin riding a motorcycle weaves through Tehran's morning traffic towards his target, almost invariably a Peugeot 405, the vehicle of choice for officials on Iran's nuclear programme.

Iranian official at Natanz nuclear site assassinated in Tehran

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:19:06 GMT

The academic was identified as Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan, 32, a graduate of Sharif University of Technology in chemical engineering.A The terrorists, who were riding a motorcycle, attached a magnetic bomb to his Peugeot 405 on Gol Nabi Street.A According to the Mehr, there were 2 other people in the car when the bomb exploded.

Fiat-Chrysler chief denies report of PSA tie-up

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:51 GMT

Chrysler-Fiat chief Sergio Marchionne on Tuesday denied a report that he is mulling an alliance with France's PSA Peugeot-Citroen."I have not discussed a thing" with PSA...

Banks turn to companies for loans

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:18:41 GMT

LONDON — Blue-chip names like Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and Peugeot are among firms bailing out Europe's ailing banks in a reversal of the established roles of clients and ...

Man critically injured in head-on crash

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 06:31:00 GMT

A 51-year-old man was critically injured early this morning in a head-on crash between two vehicles in High Street, St Julians. The crash involved a Peugeot 205 and a Land Rover. The man was a passenger in the Peugeot along with two women, aged 44 and 30, with the latter in the driving seat. All are from Tarxien. Two foreigners were in the Land Rover. The two women who were in the Peugeot were also hospitalised.

Update 4: Eight people hospitalised after two accidents

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:55:00 GMT

Six people were hospitalised following two accidents this evening, one in the limits of Mellieha, the other at Mosta. One is in a critical condition. In the first accident, in Triq il-Mistra, limits of Mellieha, a Ford Transit and a mini-cooper collided at around 6.15 p.m. The mini-van driver, a 49-year-old man from Gharghur and three passengers, two women aged 39 and 23 and a 52-year-old man, all from Mellieha, as well as the Dutch driver of the mini-cooper, who is also resident in Mellieha, were hospitalised. The 52-year-old man is in danger of losing his life. An inquiry is being held. Three people were hospitalised after the second incident, in Main Street, Mosta, at around 6.45 p.m. The driver of a wine-coloured BMW 318, a 29-year-old man from San Gwann, lost control and crashed into a white Peugeot Partner and a Hyundai Atos. The car was headed towards Mosta from Ta’ Qali. The Peugeot was pushed onto the pavement with the impact and crashed into the wall. The Hyundai also ended up on the pavement. Both cars, as well as the BMW, were considerably damaged. Two men from Mosta, one who was in the Peugeot, aged 49 and the...

Report: Peugeot developing compact crossover based on 208 hatch

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:26:00 GMT

There are things that Peugeot does well, and there are things that Peugeot doesn't do well. Come to think of it, there aren't many things it does all that well, short of the 908 HDi endurance racer, but in any event, crossovers aren't one of the French automaker's core competencies.

Aside from the 508 RXH, which is more closer to a Subaru Outback and Audi Allroad in its beefed-up wagon approach, all of Peugeot's crossovers to date have been based on borrowed mechanicals - and built for it - by the likes of Mitsubishi . But parent company PSA knows that it can't rely on borrowed tech for long, and so it's working on some new crossovers on its own.

Among those in the pipeline is said to be the 2008, a crossover version of the 208 hatchback that just debuted in November. Tipped to replace the slot previously taken by SW wagon versions of the previous 206 and 207, the 2008 is expected to borrow some of its styling cues from the HR1 concept (pictured in the rendering above) that debuted at the last Paris Auto Salon.

Overseas buyers will have to wait a little while longer to see what the Lion marque has in store, but one thing we can tell you with as much certainty as can be assured in this business is that the 2008 - like the rest of the Peugeot range - won't be making it Stateside.

Peugeot developing compact crossover based on 208 hatch originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Citroën C1 / Peugeot 107 twins refreshed

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:29:00 GMT

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Hatchback, Misc. Auto Shows, Peugeot, Citroën, Design/Style

Citroën and Peugeot have released the first volley of information and images on their refreshed C1 and 107 runabouts. The Citroen C1 will bow with a new face, complete with a shorter hood, redesigned foglamp housings and new LED daytime running lights. The vehicle's rear valance has also received a few design touches to differentiate it from the previous year model. Buyers can expect to find the same 68-horsepower three-cylinder gasoline engine bolted to a manual transmission under the hood.

Not surprisingly, its mechanical twin, the Peugeot 107, has received a similar once over. Designers have graced the three-door with a reworked front fascia that features a new front bumper, foglight housings and LED daytime running lights, just like its Citroën cousin. Peugeot will also offer the 107 in three trim levels: Access, Active and Allure.

The Citroën C1 will be on display at the Brussels Motor Show starting on January 10, and it's probably fair to assume the Pug will make the scene there as well. Hit the jump for press releases on both of these small hatchbacks.

Continue reading Citroën C1 / Peugeot 107 twins refreshed

Citroën C1 / Peugeot 107 twins refreshed originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Peugeot Shuffles Top Ranks

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 04:27:44 GMT

French car maker Peugeot Citroën unveiled a shake-up of its top management team at a crucial time for the group, as it struggles to make its automotive operations profitable.

Peugeot, Fiat at Risk Amid European Auto Slump

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:03:02 GMT

Amid an expected 2012 European recession and auto slump, Peugeot Citroen, Renault, and Fiat will likely suffer most because of their high reliance on sales in the region

Car damaged by fire

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 20:13:00 GMT

A white Peugeot was damaged in a fire in Vittoriosa this evening. The car was parked in Triq it-Torri ta' San Gwann. The blaze was controlled by members of the Civil Protection Department.

PSA Peugeot Citroen has admitted it was facing a significant loss in the second half of 2011

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 07:32:05 GMT

Cars waiting for export at the French auto giant PSA Peugeot Citroen plant in the French eastern city of Mulhouse.

French auto sector facing 'storm' in 2012

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 03:29:51 GMT

It is one of the key engines of the French economy and a historically vital industry, but France's auto sector is heading into 2012 amid dire forecasts for its future and warnings of major job losses.

Accounting -- directly or indirectly -- for a quarter of the national workforce, vehicle manufacturing is one of the gems of French industry and the country is home to two global auto giants, PSA Peugeot Citroen and Renault.

Rumormill: Audi testing revised R18 at Sebring with possible hybrid power

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:29:00 GMT

Filed under: Motorsports, Hybrid, Audi, Racing

After dominating Le Mans-class endurance sportscar racing for years now, Audi is left with little to prove. Plus, with sister-company Porsche returning with an LMP1 program of its own, and Bentley reportedly considering the same, rumors have been circulating that the four-ringed automaker could quit while it's ahead. It's something that rivals old (like Peugeot ) and new (like Toyota ) were undoubtedly rooting for, but no such luck: Audi isn't going anywhere but the finish line.

The German automaker's racing division - which is, incidentally, undergoing a thorough shake-up in preparation for new opposition - has brought its new R18 prototype to these United States for testing at Sebring, saying little more than that it's preparing to challenge the new FIA World Endurance Championship in the new year. But take a close look at the photos the company released along with the statement after the jump and the keenest of eyes may notice that the new R18 has undergone what looks like some significant changes.

Of course, all we can see from the outside is the aero package, but sources suggest there's something more lurking under the skin. The Audi fanatics over at QuattroWorld insist this latest prototype is packing a hybrid powertrain, putting it up against Peugeot's 908 Hybrid4 and Toyota's upcoming hybrid challenger. If that's the case, we can pretty much guarantee that whoever's car will cross the finish line in the upcoming season of endurance racing will be doing so with a bit of battery boost, too.

Continue reading Audi testing revised R18 at Sebring with possible hybrid power

Audi testing revised R18 at Sebring with possible hybrid power originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kenya: Peugeot - a Story of Fantastic Successes and Pitiful Failures

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:00:51 GMT

Of all the great car companies and brands, one of the most overlooked is Peugeot of France.

Peugeot, Fiat Lead European Car-Sales Drop

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 07:51:52 GMT

PSA Peugeot Citroen, Fiat SpA and General Motors Co. led the biggest decline in European car sales in five months as the region’s economy slipped closer toward a recession.

Peugeot, Fiat Lead European Car-Sales Drop

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 13:07:08 GMT

PSA Peugeot Citroen, Fiat SpA and General Motors Co. led the biggest decline in European car sales in five months as the region’s economy slipped closer toward a recession.

Peugeot, Fiat Lead European Car-Sales Drop

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:51:37 GMT

PSA Peugeot Citroen, Fiat SpA and General Motors Co. led the biggest decline in European car sales in five months as the region’s economy slipped closer toward a recession.

Peugeot Sees 'Significant' Loss

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:06:48 GMT

French car maker Peugeot Citroën said it expects to post a "significant" operating loss for the second half of this year, as it struggles against a price war and overcapacity in Europe in the subcompact segment.

Official: Volvo introduces production V60 diesel plug-in hybrid

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:02:00 GMT

Filed under: Hybrid, Wagon, Europe, Technology, Volvo, Electric, Diesel

Volvo is laying claim to the first production diesel plug-in hybrid title with the company's new V60 . The vehicle makes use of a five-cylinder 2.4-liter turbo diesel engine with 215 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission as well as an electric motor good for up to 70 horsepower and 147 pound-feet of torque. The forced-induction internal combustion engine puts power to the front wheels while the electric motor feeds its grunt to the rear. An 11.2-kWh lithium-ion battery pack fields power storage duties, and Volvo says the V60 plug-in diesel hybrid can travel up to 32 miles on all-electric power with a single charge.

As with most plug-ins, charge times vary depending on the available current, but Volvo claims the V60 can top off its cells in as little as 3.5 hours on a 16-amp line. Interestingly enough, the vehicle allows the driver to chose between three drive modes. Pure mode relies on the electric motor as much as possible while Hybrid mode splits the difference between the diesel mill and the electric motor. Finally, Power mode calls on the full 285 horsepower and 362 pound-feet of torque for the most driving enjoyment. Volvo says the V60 diesel plug-in hybrid can kick up to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds in Power mode.

It's worth recalling that Peugeot was the first automaker to bring a production diesel hybrid to market, but the fact that the new V60 can plug in to charge its cells earns Volvo a spot in the pantheon of green firsts. For now, the model is only slated for European dealerships. Hit the jump to check out the full press release.

Continue reading Volvo introduces production V60 diesel plug-in hybrid

Volvo introduces production V60 diesel plug-in hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Porsche primes us for Le Mans return with look back

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 21:03:00 GMT

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Porsche

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is still eight months away, but that hasn't stopped Porsche from producing another video to get us excited about it. Or rather, Porsche is working to get us excited for the 2014 Le Mans race , when it will return to the 16.75-kilometer circuit with a new LMP1 car.

Porsche hasn't won Le Mans' top category since 1998, when the 911 GT1 was the overall winner. With Aston and Toyota entered in the LMP1 club, Jaguar and Bentley considering, and the years-long battle between Audi and Peugeot still going strong, even if it is 2.5 years before Porsche's return, the wait is looking very, very worthwhile. For now, you'll find the new video after the jump.

Continue reading Porsche primes us for Le Mans return with look back

Porsche primes us for Le Mans return with look back originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Renault Laguna Coupé gets modest revisions for 2012

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:33:00 GMT

Filed under: Coupe, Europe, Renault

The French have made some nice coupes over the years. The Pininfarina-designed Peugeot 406 may stand out as one fine example, but the Renault Laguna Coupé is no less a looker. Unfortunately the market hasn't agreed - or has, just not to the extent to make it a sales success - leaving Renault struggling to keep the model relevant.

Sources anticipate the next-generation model will represent a substantial re-thinking of the coupe's approach, but in the meantime the French automaker has released a series of updates to the 2012 model to spruce it up.

The subtly updated 2012 Laguna Coupé has been treated to new LED running lights and 17- or 18-inch alloys (depending on specified trim level) and an interior with visible top-stitching on the dashboard. Buyers can choose from the Black Edition, Monaco GP edition, GP 4Control and Initiale trims, and between three gasoline and two diesel engines ranging from 150 to 240 horsepower.

Features like four-wheel steering and regenerative braking round out the package, but whether the latest updates - and the rather Aston Martin -like rear end - will prove enough to lure European buyers into showrooms remains to be seen. Details in the press release after the jump with high-res images in the gallery.

Continue reading Renault Laguna Coupé gets modest revisions for 2012

Renault Laguna Coupé gets modest revisions for 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fire destroys two cars

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 13:39:00 GMT

Two cars were destroyed in a fire at Triq il-Planec, Mosta, early this morning, the police said. The blaze was reported at about 3.40 a.m. The cars were a Peugeot 106 and a Fiat Punto. Fire-fighters of the civil protection department were on the scene. No one was injured. Magistrate Dr. M Hayman is leading an inquiry.

Dacia Lodgy MPV to start at 10.000 EUR

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:43:52 GMT

The French based automaker Renault and its Dacia sub-brand are planning to offer the new Lodgy model at a starting price of maximum 10.000 EUR, which is way less than other similar models like the Renault Scenic, Citroen C4 Picasso or Peugeot 5008.

Peugeot to idle factories to cut stocks

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:00:42 GMT

French car manufacturer PSA Peugeot Citroen said Wednesday it will partially idle two of its main French production facilities for a total of 13 days in December to cut...

Rescue in Paradise Bay

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:38:00 GMT

Rescuers from the Civil Protection Department and divers of the AFM this evening rescued a woman in her 30s whose car fell into the sea at Paradise Bay. It was not clear how the car, a Peugeot 106, ended up in the sea from the old quay. The woman managed to get out through a window and was seen swimming in the bay. She was picked up by a patrol boat and after a medical examination on shore was rushed to Mater Dei Hospital.

French workers protest Taiwan scooter deal

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:44:30 GMT

The French Post Office's procurement of 3,000 50cc KYMCO scooters from Taiwan sparked a protest at a Peugeot Scooters factory Friday, as the deal has affected the factory workers' job prospects, according to a report on the Le Pays newspaper website.

Meet Me at The Mall

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 15:01:03 GMT

ALANOUD BADR TAKES ONE HAND off the steering wheel of her limited-edition Peugeot 407 convertible, turns down the volume on the Black Eyed Peas and pulls her Moto Razr V3 out of her Gucci tote.

French workers protest Taiwan scooter deal

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 19:02:50 GMT

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Fire destroys two cars

Dacia Lodgy MPV to start at 10.000 EUR

Peugeot to idle factories to cut stocks

Rescue in Paradise Bay

French workers protest Taiwan scooter deal

Meet Me at The Mall

French workers protest Taiwan scooter deal

Peugeots India HQ in Prahladnagar!