The Demo Site

We’re about a month away from July 9th when Jaguar will unveil the much-anticipated Jaguar XJ for the very first time. So far, we’ve seen a teaser image that doesn’t reveal much and a boring video from Jaguar’s design head, Ian Callum.

The folks at Car Magazine now bring is some more details on the XJ and a couple of renderings on how the 2010 XJ will look like.

Known internally at Jaguar as the X351, the new XJ is out to set a new stylistic benchmark for Jaguar. In fact, the only thing we can remember Callum saying from his one-minute video is: “It certainly meets the expectations of people who understand design with a capital D,” says Callum.

Sources say that along with its good looks, the new XJ is all about performance, handling and economy. The new diesel spec models, which will be powered by a 237-hp and the 275-hp AJ-V6D found in the XF Diesel, will help the XJ achieve the lowest CO2 of any luxury sedan - including the Lexus LS600h hybrid.

While the XJ will be launched with a line of gasoline and diesel units, Jaguar is set to develop a hybrid powertrain of its own alongside Land Rover. Of course, you can expect Jaguar will be taking on the luxury hybrid sedans with its own ‘green’ models.

Source: CAR

So Hummer is going to China and Saturn allegedly has 16 interested buyers - but what about Saab? According to two top executives at the Swedish brand, GM has narrowed down talks with potential buyers of the brand to two.

“Now we are negotiating with just two parties,” Saab’s CEO, Jan-Ake Jonsson, said in an interview with Dagens Industri.

He said that final negotiations with either one of the two potential buyers could start as early as this week.

“This can go fast now and should absolutely be wrapped up in a maximum of two weeks,” said Jonsson.

So far, we have seen interest in Saab from Fiat, Koenigsegg and a U.S. financier, Ira Rennert and his Renco Group. Geely has denied reports of it bidding for the Swedish brand. How will win Saab at the end of this battle? Stay tuned to find out.

Source: Reuters

The state of Indiana has a big problem with Chrysler's bankruptcy proceedings. Indiana state treasurer Richard Mourdock explained that "Indiana retirees and Indiana taxpayers have suffered losses because of unprecedented and illegal acts of the federal government." The home of the Indianapolis 500 has $42 million worth of retirement funds invested in the Pentastar; less than 1% of the $6.9 billion in secured debt owed by Chrysler. Indiana's appeal of the Fiat sale officially puts any deal with the Italian automaker on hold until a resolution has been made.
Veteran bankruptcy judge Arthur Gonzalez couldn't disagree with Mr. Mourdock more, saying ""the Court finds that all relevant standards have been established to grant the relief requested." By "relief," Judge Gonzalez is likely talking about Fiat and its ability to take ownership of Chrysler.
Though $42 million doesn't buy a lot these days, the state has the right to fight the bankruptcy. Whether the midwestern state wins its case is another matter all together.The New York Court of Appeals hearing of the state of Indiana's objection to the Chrysler bankruptcy hearing is widely viewed as little more than a formality. Chrysler's bankruptcy has gone very smoothly thus far, and with the backing of plenty of rock-solid legal types in the White House, it is now looking more and more likely that Chrysler will indeed exit bankruptcy in around 60 days.
[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen incoming CEO Philippe Varin (left) and chairman Thierry Peugeot (right)

It's buddy-up time in the European auto industry, and French automaker PSA/Peugeot-Citroen does not want to be left all by itself. With Fiat gobbling up automakers large and small, and General Motors poised to sell off its European assets, the Peugeot family, which owns a controlling interest in parent company PSA, wants to pursue a merger. And towards that end, the family has stated its willingness to dilute its own interest in Europe's second-largest automaker.
Currently, the Peugeot family - headed by the normally reclusive Thierry Peugeot (above, right), chairman of the company's supervisory board - holds 30% of PSA's shares, and controls 45% of its voting rights. The Peugeots would be willing to give up some of its shares, as long as it remained the largest shareholder. The announcement came the day before the company's annual shareholders meeting, at which Philippe Varin (above, left) was presented as PSA's new chief executive to replace the ousted Christian Streiff.
[Source: Automotive News Europe - Sub. Req.]

Maybe this image is exciting in France?

While the French are best known for their valiant defense of their homeland and their love of high-brow American comedians like Jerry Lewis, did you know that they also make the most exciting minivans in the world? Move over, Zafira and Mazda 5, here comes the 5008 (those extra “0s” come at no extra charge). To generate “interest” in advance of the Frankfurt Auto Show, Peugeot has released a stunning series of shots of the 5008 in action! (If you’re wondering if it’s a slow news day, don’t even ask!)

Peugeot's official photos of bored children in a 5008.

Even the 5008 has bags under its eyes, probably from boring itself to sleep in the development process. That being said, it seems like a useful vehicle and perfect for the Euro-mommy set. Thankfully for us non-Euro mommies, we won’t have to see this things at Pop Warner football anytime soon.

The dog looks happy because it's been drugged.

[Source: Autoblog]

Holden’s chairman and managing director Mark Reuss has confirmed that GM’s Australian division is working on a new compact hatch for global markets. Reuss said that the hatch will be built alongside the Holden Cruze sedan at the company’s Elizabeth plant in South Australia in the third-quarter of 2010.

The Cruze-based hatch will be designed and engineered entirely in Europe. Sharing the same underpinning as the Cruze, the hatch will get steering and suspension input from Holden engineers for a more European feel. Styling cues are expected to come close to Holden’s flagship Commodore model.

It is said that the hatch will be positioned as a more upmarket model than the Cruze sedan when it hits showrooms.

Insiders say that Holden’s new hatch could get Opel’s new 140-hp 1.4L turbocharged engine. Holden’s energy and environment director Richard Marshall says that some engine options from the Cruze sedan that have “best-in-class” fuel-consumption could also be considered.

So now that you’re all excited about this new Holden hatchback, you’re probably wondering if it will ever come to the United States. So far, the answer to that question is - yes. But keep your fingers crossed because you never know with General Motors.

Apparently the car is being produced for global markets and chairman Reuss says that Holden has been “aggressively pursuing” a deal to replace the $1 billion U.S. Commodore, aka Pontiac G8, export program that was recently canned by GM.

Usually when we’re fed up with the problems with our cars, we turn to car forums on the internet to vent our anger over the brand we bought and the issues we face with our dealership in getting those problems fixed.

Well, not this individual. An anonymous driver parked and left a Land Rover Range Rover Sport HSE after customizing it with lettering that lists the faults with the SUV on the side window.

On top, the disgruntled owner of the Range Rover wrote: ”Problems with… 6 front ball joints, 4 front arm bushes, new seat base, front and rear n/s struts, full n/s suspension unit, anti-roll bar bushes, air con.”

Below the list of problems in large yellow letters, the Range Rover Sport reads: “If you want trouble free motoring do not buy one of these!!!”

Of course, it’s not the best piece of advertising to have outside your dealership but the Colchester, Essex dealership has no power to move the car since it is parked legally on a public road outside the showroom.

Jaguar Land Rover’s corporate communications manage Mark Foster said: ”Land Rover operates a comprehensive warranty programme with, where appropriate, a strong goodwill policy. All necessary repairs to this vehicle over 42,000 miles have been carried out under warranty. However, we are disappointed this customer’s ownership experience has been unfortunate and as such we have made a goodwill offer towards helping him into a new vehicle.”