Nissan to Build Next Generation Rogue Crossover in South Korea as well as in the U.S. [Updated]

As it turns out, Nissan will split production of the new Rogue crossover between its Smyrna plant in Tennessee, USA, (starting from next year), and the Renault Samsung Motors factory in Busan, South Korea, (beginning in 2014).
Analysts believe that Nissan will benefit from a weak Korean won and recent free trade deals.

The French-Japanese firm said it will invest US$160 million (€130 million) to add 80,000 units of the Nissan Rogue production in Korea and "increase cost competitiveness of a key industrial base". The vehicles will be shipped to North America and select Asian countries.

"Adding production in Korea shows a commitment across the Alliance to helping Renault Samsung Motors achieve its targets for cost competitiveness and growth," said Renault-Nissan Alliance CEO Carlos Ghosn.

"The Busan announcement represents a unique ‘win-win-win’ for Renault, Nissan and RSM, demonstrating the flexibility and power of the Alliance for all partners -- and I am counting on every RSM employee to contribute to the successful completion of this project," he added.

The Busan factory has a total capacity of 300,000 units per year but is expected to build only 180,000 vehicles in 2012.

Future Cars: 2013 Seat Leon Cupra R Visualized

With the first juicy details and photos of the all-new Seat Leon Mk3 out in the open, it's time to imagine what the range-topping Cupra / Cupra R model, likely to be presented next year, could look like.
The design made by Khalil Bouguerra suggests that Seat will adorn the Cupra model with a black finish for the grille surround, alloy wheels and mirror caps while also adding a new rear bumper with side vents, a diffuser and a centrally mounted single exhaust pipe.
We think that the real Cupra may also feature a different front bumper than the Leon FR upon which this CGI is based, along with side skirts and possibly a roof spoiler.
In it is current form, the Leon Cupra R features the VW Group's 2.0-liter TSI turbocharged inline-four with 261hp (265PS) driving the hatchback's front wheels. We wouldn't be surprised if its replacement made use of the same powertrain, perhaps tweaked to improve its green credentials and fuel economy numbers.
Photo Credits: Khalil Bouguerra

Volkswagen Charts its 2013MY Lineup, Announces New Beetle Convertible and Jetta Hybrid

It's that time of the year again when automakers provide details about their new model year lineups. For Volkswagen, the 2013MY brings new derivatives and changes to all vehicle ranges sold in the States except the Chrysler-based Routan minivan.
The new additions to the range are the next generation of the Beetle Convertible and a hybrid version of the Jetta.
Volkswagen tells us that the new iteration of the rag-topped Beetle, which has yet to be unveiled, will go on sale in the U.S. in late 2012. The German automaker added that it will "feature a fast-acting top that preserves the sleek lines of the coupe".
The convertible will be available with two gasoline units, a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four, plus a 2.0-liter TDI Clean Diesel that will return an EPA estimated 41 mpg on the highway for the manual transmission model.
Moving on to the Jetta Hybrid that was revealed at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show in January, the sedan model goes on sale in late fall.
It features a 150hp 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine and a 20 kW (27hp) electric motor that deliver a combined output of 168hp (170PS). A standard seven-speed dual clutch DSG transmission drives the front wheels.
The German carmaker says that the new Jetta Hybrid will return an estimated combined fuel consumption of 45 mpg.
As for the rest of VW's passenger car lineup, depending on the model, there are new trim levels, adde

BMW Planning 10 Model Lineup for Mini, Closing in on Deal with Mitsubishi's NedCar Plant

The future looks bright for the Mini brand as parent company BMW is aiming to increase its model lineup to 10 vehicles in the mid-term and for this reason, the Bavarian group has officially announced a new investment in its UK operations while also looking to complete a deal to produce cars at Mitsubishi's NedCar plant in Holland.
The BMW Group said it will invest a further £250 million (US$388 million or €314 million) at its manufacturing plant in Oxford, steel body pressings operation at Swindon and engine plant at Hams Hall near Birmingham, which comes on top of the £500m (US$777 million or €628 million) UK investment announced in June 2011
"Over the last eleven years, MINI has been a unique global success and the BMW Group has even greater plans for the future development of the brand," said BMW Group board member Harald Krueger.
In order to handle the extra volume from the addition of new Mini models such as the Countryman coupe / Paceman and the Traveller small minivan, the BMW Group said that it will need a new contract manufacturing site, which it says will likely be the Mitsubishi facility in the Netherlands.
"Our preferred option is to establish a contract manufacturer as a satellite production as close to our UK operations as possible, at the Nedcar plant in The Netherlands, with whom BMW is in discussions," explained Krueger.
"Oxford will provide special Mini production expertise for any new operation, particularly in the areas of dealing with the high complexity and customer individuality which Mini demands and in operating state-of-the-art, multi-model production lines. Just as Munich is the centre of the BMW world, Oxford is and will remain the home and the heart of Mini," he added.



 
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United States Regains Title of Bentley's Biggest Market from China

In a sign that there are even better times ahead for the…financially well-off in the States, the U.S. has re-emerged as Bentley’s number one market in the first half of the year overtaking China.
Bentley saw its sales in the United States increase by 25.7 percent to 1,140 cars, marginally beating China, where the British carmaker recorded a 55.7 percent surge delivering 1,059 units.
The company said that China edged ahead at the end of the first quarter, but America retook the lead at the half year point.
Worldwide, Bentley's sales were up 32 percent to 3,929 cars in the first six months of 2012.
In Europe, the UK took the largest chunk with 557 units, up 4.5 percent over last uyear. In other markets, Bentley increased its sales by 47.9 percent in the Middle East to 346 cars, while results were also up some 52.6 percent in Asia Pacific and 114.3 percent in Japan.
"Our half year results show strong growth for Bentley in every single global region," said Bentley CEO Wolfgang Duerheimer. "The competition between the Americas and China continues and we are watching closely to see who will emerge as the largest region in 2012."
Bentley said that sales of its flagship Mulsanne sedan were up 30 percent, while deliveries of the updated Continental GT, which is now offered with both W12 and V8 engines, increased by 48.5 percent.



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Lexus to Reveal All-New LS Flagship Sedan on end of July.

With a very short statement, Lexus announced on its official website that it will hold the world premiere of its new LS flagship sedan at a "special invitation-only event" in San Francisco on Monday, July 30, (current, 2012MY LS pictured above).
The Japanese carmaker added that the new 2013 LS will be offered as the LS 460, LS 460 L long wheelbase, LS 600h L hybrid sedan and the all-new LS 460 F SPORT.
We suspect that the F-Sport version of the LS will boast similar chassis and styling upgrades to the new GS F-Sport, which comes equipped with an aero package, larger wheels, bespoke interior trim, a sports-tuned suspension and the Lexus Dynamic Handling (LDH) four-wheel steering system, without any improvements to the powertrain.
Lexus' challenger to the BMW 7-Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class in the premium segment will adopt the brand's newest L-Finesse design language as seen on the concept and production GS models as well as the