Toyota Says it Received 60,000 Orders for New Aqua Hybrid in Japan Before Launch

The new Aqua is off to an excellent start in Japan as Toyota revealed that it had already received pre-orders for 60,000 cars ahead of the sub-compact hybrid hatchback's launch on Monday, December 26. That's five times the company's monthly sales target of 12,000 cars in Japan.

"It will take about four months to receive the car once an order is placed," Toyota managing officer Koei Saga told reporters during a media briefing earlier this week.

The Aqua, which will be marketed around the world as the new Prius C, made its world premiere at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show in the beginning of December.

Roughly the same size as the latest Yaris hatchback, the Aqua pairs a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with 74PS at 4,800 rpm and 111Nm (81.9 lb-ft) to an electric motor producing up to 45kW (61PS) and 169Nm (125 lb-ft), for combined output of 100PS (73kW or 98HP).

The CVT-equipped hybrid model can accelerate from standstill to 100 km/h (62mph) in 10.7 seconds while completing the 40 km/h to 70 km/h sprint in 3.6 seconds.

Toyota says that in Japan, the Aqua returns a fuel efficiency of 35.4 km/L (equal to 83.3 mpg US or 2.8lt/100km) under the JC08 test cycle and 40 km/L (94 mpg US or 2.5lt/100 km) under the 10-15 driving cycle.

Pricing for the new Aqua in Japan starts from 1.69 million yen (US$21,770 at today's exchange rates) for the base "L" model and rises to 1.85 million yen (US$23,830) for the range-topping "G" trim level.

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VW to Increase U.S. Dealer Network in order to Meet Sales Target

Jonathan Browning, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, told reporters in Los Angeles Auto Show that the company would have added significantly to the network of dealers in the United States in the coming years, if you want to achieve sales targets.

VW existing network of the United States consists of approximately 600 dealers. Browning expects the number will remain stable for the next three to four years, but states that from this point on it will increase significantly.

"In 2014/15 we will have more distributors in the United States to achieve long-term objectives," said Browning Automotive News.

The German manufacturer aims to nearly triple its U.S. sales over the next seven years, from 256,830 units in 2010 and estimates of 300,000 cars Browning in 2011 to about 800,000 in 2018.

Browning also expects sales of VW in the U.S. market to record a "double digit" growth in 2012, without giving an exact figure. He added that for the first time since 2003, the U.S. division Volkswagen will make a profit at the end of 2011.

 

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Fisker Karma Says That To Reach Its Sales Target In 2011, Boosting Production Of $ 50 000 Nina In Mid-2013

Just yesterday, has sold the first copy of the Fisker Karma hybrid sedan has extended its having received the necessary certification, EPA - mpg even if the numbers were not exactly what the company hoped to ...

Despite the delay, Henrik Fisker, CEO and co-founder, insists that the Karma will reach its sales target for 2011, which is somewhat optimistic 7,000 units.

"Analysts are watching a different perspective," he said, rejecting reports that Karma is not given a promise. "We have already challenged the analysts a couple of times. We have. We have to produce cars."

But it's not so good karma (pun intended) who made delay the timetable for the Fisker sedan and not the original targets seem to have an impact on its second model line.

Fisker has already signed an agreement with BMW to the German 2.0-liter TwinPower compressor engines for the project Nina, which is a small hybrid sedan. However, the timing for the launch has been pushed back a year from 2012 to mid 2013th the

While Valmet in Finland Karma base, Nina will be built in Delaware, USA. And while Fisker employs only 120 people, the new ex-GM plant in Delaware has about 2,500 employees.

The reason is that Nina has a volume of much higher production of 100,000 cars a year. If it's a realistic goal remains to be seen. So far, Henrik Fisker Hybrid made its first major profile in the market and began to fill 3,000 orders for the company says it is karma.

Story Sources: Delaware Online

 

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Peugeot 308 Sedan Launches In China

French carmaker Peugeot has released its third new model in the Chinese market in the last eighteen months, the 308 compact sedan, which debuted at the Auto Show in Chengdu in mid-September this year.

Made locally in cooperation with Chinese partner Dongfeng Peugeot Motor Corporation, the new 308 Sedan joined the manufacturer, offers more in the C segment, which also include 307 and 408 cars.

Peugeot said that with the launch of new, it intends to strengthen its presence in the highly competitive category, with one year sales target of 60,000 complete units.

Along with the 307 and 408 sedans, the French carmaker expects to sell 150,000 cars in segment C in 2012, representing 60 percent of total brand sales in the country.

The 308 sedan goes on sale in China with two petrol engine options, a 1.6-liter unit that produces 106hp and 142Nm and a 2.0 liter 147HP and 200 Nm of torque, available with manual and automatic transmissions.

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