click analytics

» Archive for the 'auto show' Category

Toyota considering Indian plant for small car production

Sunday, May 4th, 2008 by admin

India, iQ, Microcar, Tata Nano, TataNano, Toyota

Toyota has been working on an affordable small car that will be cost-competitive in emerging markets, and Autocar is reporting that India is being considered as a destination for production. India makes sense due to its low-cost labor, and with competitors like the Tata Nano going for as little as $2,500, the world’s biggest automaker will need to cut cost everywhere it can. There is no word as to exactly what vehicle would be produced in India, but one option is Toyota’s production iQ from Geneva, which is scheduled to begin production later in 2008. Toyota is looking for initial sales of the iQ to crest 100,000 units.
[Source: Autocar via Winding Road]

Read

Posted in Cars News, Toyota, auto show | No Comments »

Champ Car Atlantic champ turns down $2 million

Sunday, April 27th, 2008 by admin

2 million, 2Million, andretti green, AndrettiGreen, atlantic series, AtlanticSeries, champ car, ChampCar, indy car, IndyCar, rafa matos, RafaMatos, raphael matos, RaphaelMatos, two million, TwoMillion

Every year the driver who wins the Atlantic Series gets a $2 million grant earmarked towards moving up to the Champ Car World Series. Critics say it’s not enough to secure a ride in the competitive racing class, but who’s going to turn down a multi-million-dollar purse? Raphael Matos, that’s who. The cash-strapped Brazilian driver needs the green to continue racing, but rather than take the money and run, as Steve Miller would advise, Matos is instead moving over next season to the Indy Pro Series, Atlantic’s equivalent in the competing IRL framework. Andretti Green Racing is giving him a ride as a stepping-stone to the full-fat IndyCar Series for 2009. Matos may continue to drive for Team Brazil in A1GP, as well.

While the snubbed officials at Champ Car try to figure out what to do with Matos’ prize money – it could go to runner-up Franck Perera – they’ve also got to find a replacement for Executive VP and race director Tony Cotman who is leaving his job. Cotman’s departure follows that of Beaux Barfield (seriously, that’s his name) who was replaced by Johnny Unser as director of the Atlantic series. That on top of four-time series champion Sebastien Bourdais’ departure to race in Formula One means Champ Car racing could be running on its last set of tires before the wheels come off altogether.

[Source: AutoWeek]

Read

Posted in Cars News, auto show, autoweek | No Comments »