Bulgaria Car Prices down 25% over Economic Crisis

The Bulgarian Association of Car Importers reports that 46 000 new automobiles have been purchased in Bulgaria in 2009 while the expectations are that the 2007 levels wont be reached until 2011 – 2012. Photo by BGNES

The sales of new cars in Bulgaria are down 50% over the global economic crisis, the Bulgarian new agency BTA reports, citing industry experts.

According to them, the sales reduction involves mainly cars purchased by businesses while car prices are down 20% to 25%.

Automobile dealers say if the prices go down even further they will begin selling cars at a loss, adding Bulgaria is behind a number of countries that implemented different stimuli to revive the car market and increase sales. Part of the problem is also the fact that Bulgaria does not manufacture cars.

The Bulgarian Association of Car Importers reports that 46 000 new automobiles have been purchased in Bulgaria in 2009 while the expectations are that the 2007 levels wont be reached until 2011 – 2012.

The trend will continue in the next year, experts believe, but note the recovery will be helped by the banks renewing their loan and lease offers similarly to the government assistance provided on big European markets for the trading of old cars with new ones.

Ford raises UK car prices for the fourth time in a year

Ford Fiesta. Ford has reduced its UK workforce to 13,000

The new average increase of 2.7pc will be eligible on some of the UK’s bestselling cars, including the Fiesta and Focus, from November 30 and follows previous rises in 2009 of 4.7pc, 3.75pc and 4pc. A car which cost £10,000 at the start of the year would now cost £11,600.

The car maker imports its vehicles into the UK and said the downward slide of the pound – which has lost about a third of its value against the euro compared to pre-2008 levels – was a “fundamental business concern” for companies with costs in euros.

Ford, Subaru shine in recent safety tests

Ford Among Top Safety Picks

The requirements to win are now tougher. Vehicles have to get a ‘good’ rating for roof strength in rollovers for the first time.Official said 27 cars and SUVs make the list for 2010. These are the vehicles with a top rating of ‘good’ in all four crash tests – front, side, rollover, and rear impact, and have electronic stability control for helping drivers avoid crashes.Highlights are: Subaru [with 5 awards] is the only car company with a winner in all of the vehicle classes in which it competes. Ford and subsidiary Volvo combined have 6 winners, Volkswagen/Audi has 5 awards. Chrysler had winners for the first time in 2009, and now has 4 for 2010.General Motors is in with the new Buick LaCrosse and Chevrolet Malibu. Toyota and BMW are major manufacturers with no vehicles that earn the top rating. The Camry, for example, just missed. It’s good for front, side and rollover protection, but didn’t earn a good in the rear impact test.The news release is attached. If you have any questions, let me know.
Large cars
Buick LaCrosse
Ford Taurus
Lincoln MKS
Volvo S80Midsize cars
Audi A3
Chevrolet Malibu built after Oct. 2009
Chrysler Sebring with optional ESC
Dodge Avenger with optional ESC
Mercedes C class
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Outback
Volkswagen Jetta sedan
Volkswagen Passat sedan
Volvo C30Small cars
Honda Civic
Kia Soul
Nissan Cube
Subaru Impreza
Volkswagen Golf 4-doorMidsize SUVs
Dodge Journey
Subaru Tribeca
Volvo XC60
Volvo XC90Small SUVs
Honda Element
Jeep Patriot
Subaru Forester
Volkswagen Tiguan

Skoda Yeti tuned by Cobra

The Yeti is arriving at the Delhi Auto Expo next January. With roughly five months to its Indian launch, we thought it would appropriate to show to you all how customizable this car is.

To help matters, in comes the lubricious Cobra kit for the Yeti. This tradition-breaking SUV with Cobra’s apparel looks more aggressive.

The Skoda Yeti gets a bullbar made out of stainless steel. The front bumper is also redesigned and stainless steel fenders add panache. Underbody protection is supplemented by a protection plate. A step plate is also available either in aluminum or stainless steel.

At the rear, the Yeti receives a protective plate under the bumper, which protects it from minor collisions. The Yeti also gets fashionable black twin-spoke alloys.

Tata Indigo Marina

Tata Indigo Marina GLX - Introduction

It aims to build on the success of the Indica and Indigo, but the Marina is still quite a leap into the unknown. Can the latest Tata prove its credentials as both a useful load-lugger and a capable mainstream contender?

“The Marina can carry up to 670 litres of your belongings.”

‘ Even with a full complement of passengers and luggage, the Marina is hugely comfortable over even the worst of roads. ’

TATA INDIGO GLX/LX
List price (ex-showroom,
Mumbai) Rs 4.89/5.27 lakh
Top speed 160kph/ 157kph
0-60kph 5.38sec/6.45sec
Kpl 11.25 /13.75 (overall)
For Fantastic value, space and comfort
Against Lacks refinement, fit and finish still not the best

Once upon a time, not long ago, we had an estate-car market. Or should we say, we almost had one. Okay, let's be fair, the car manufacturers wanted one. Maruti, Fiat and Opel each launched estate versions of their cars at around the same time, and though each was attractive in its own way, the worms never really seemed to disappear off the hooks. Not quick enough at least.
Sensing a kill, each of the manufacturers placed a premium on their estate cars, but all they did was kill the market. And so, silently, while no one was looking, the estate car passed away.
So what is Tata Motors doing, going where angels fear to tread? Several things actually. Fulfilling the Indica's platform potential to begin with, trying to make something out of nothing — they did it with the Sumo, remember? Or have they really got a plan?

2009 Jeep Lower Forty Official Revealed

The Jeep “Lower Forty” takes the Jeep Wrangler platform to a new extreme. The vehicle is equipped with massive 40-inch x 13.5-inch tires mounted on Mopar’s 20-inch forged-aluminum wheels. Mopar added aggressive wheels and tires to a stock, two-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon without the use of a suspension lift. The team’s goal was to achieve added ground clearance without dramatically altering the vehicle’s center of gravity. The team removed copious amounts of body metal in order to provide room for 40-inch meats. Three inches are chopped from the windshield frame and a 10-degree rake is added.

Custom front and rear fender flares are 1-inch wider and are located 4 inches higher than a stock Jeep Wrangler. A new one-piece carbon-fiber hood with a Jeep CJ-like power dome and an all-new drop-down tailgate stamped with the “Jeep” logo are added to complete the exterior design.

On the interior, an all-new roll cage is neatly integrated into the body tub and tied directly into the frame rails. A custom made bikini top from Bestop keeps drivers in the shade. The spare tire is relocated to the cargo floor and a custom cargo rack, supplied by Poly Performance, holds extra gear. Once all body modifications were completed, the exterior received a fresh coat of Red Eye No. 3 paint, a custom color developed by Mopar.

Custom touches throughout the interior include a color-matched center console and instrument panel. Seats are re-covered with Mopar’s Katzkin leather package in a two-tone scheme. Replacing the carpet is a durable, spray-in truck-bed liner. Rugged Mopar floor mats complete the theme.

Mechanical upgrades came directly out of the Mopar catalog. The Jeep “Lower Forty” features an all-new 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 engine and a Getrag 238 six-speed manual transmission. Powertrain installations were handled by Burnsville Off-Road using an AEV 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 conversion kit.

The Mopar-supplied Dana 44 front axle and a Dana 60 rear axle, fitted with 5.38 gears and ARB air lockers, were assembled by Dynatrac and revalved Bilstein shocks maintain vehicle stability on rough terrain.

Tata Motors launches Indigo Manza

Tata car product group introducing their new car Tata Indigo Manza during launch in Calcutta in Eastern Indian,on 28 October 2009. The Indigo Manza is a modern contemporary sedan on a new car platform in India and priced between 400 thousands to 700 thousands INR .