Mitsubishi Motors Corporation announces the display of the i MiEV*1 new-generation electric vehicle at the New York International Automobile Show. The company plans to use the vehicles in a joint fleet testing program in cooperation with select U.S. power companies in the fall of this year. At the show, which opened to the press on March 19 and will open to the public on March 21, the company’s booth is given over to a wide range of exhibits that demonstrate MMC’s advanced environmental technology. They include: the i MiEV-derived i MiEV SPORT concept — which leverages the electric vehicle’s natural power and weight advantages for a performance payoff; the MITSUBISHI Concept-cX*2 compact SUV — powered by MMC’s new clean diesel engine due to make its European debut in 2009; and MMC’s proprietary plant-based Green Plastic range of interior parts and trim.

i MiEV (fleet test model in Japan)

The i MiEV is a 100% electric vehicle, using high-energy density lithium batteries to power its compact, lightweight motor. In offering an option to petroleum-based energy sources, Mitsubishi presents one avenue for addressing global warming. In October 2006, working with several power companies, MMC began a fleet test program in Japan to determine i MiEV’s overall performance under actual driving conditions and its market acceptability. With plans to start a fleet test program this fall working with several power companies in North America, MMC continues to stride forward in making the EV a practical proposition on a global scale.Derived from the i MiEV, the i MiEV SPORT features MMC’s unique in-wheel motors to drive the front wheels and a single motor in the back, with the company’s proven S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) vehicle dynamics control system managing power output, traction and braking at all four wheels. This configuration allows the vehicle to achieve a synergy of environmental and road performance. To boost electric power generation i MiEV SPORT also employs solar panels in its roof and a generator turbine driven by the airflow passing through the front grille. Another feature is its wireless microwave-based battery-charging system.

The MITSUBISHI Concept-cX mates MMC’s new 1.8-liter clean diesel engine to the company’s Twin Clutch SST*3 automated manual transmission to realize very high levels of driving and environmental performance. This compact SUV soft-roader concept also features a top-bottom split tailgate to enhance accessibility to luggage space.

Source: http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/pressrelease/e/corporate/detail1747.html

The Renault-Nissan Alliance actively supports the initiative of Project Better Place which announced today its second deployment in Denmark.

* Renault will provide Danish customers with 100% electric vehicles at European standards in 2011, providing zero emission mobility while at the same time offering driving performance similar to a gasoline engine.
* Nissan, through its joint venture with NEC, has created an advanced lithium-ion battery pack that both meets the requirements of this electric vehicle and can be mass-produced.
In Denmark, the conditions necessary for electric vehicles to be successfully mass-marketed are being brought together. The Danish government will provide tax incentives on 100% electric vehicles, Renault will supply the electric vehicles and, Better Place Denmark will construct and operate an Electric Recharge Grid across the entire country.

This announcement follows the January 21st 2008 signature of an MOU in Jerusalem by Renault and Project Better Place for the first mass-marketed electric vehicles. This second deployment illustrates the major role played by the Renault-Nissan Alliance to bring to mass-market zero-emission cars.

Renault Corporate
The Renault Group generated global revenues of €40,682 million in 2007. It designs, engineers, manufactures and sells passenger and light commercial vehicles throughout the world. The Renault Group is present in 118 countries and sells vehicles under its three brands – Renault, Dacia and Samsung. The Renault Group employs 129,000 people worldwide.

Nissan Corporate
The Nissan Motor Company generated global net revenues of 10.468 trillion yen in 2006. Nissan is present in all major global auto markets selling a comprehensive range of cars, pickup trucks, SUVs and light commercial vehicles under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. Nissan employs over 220,000 people worldwide.

Renault-Nissan Alliance
The Renault-Nissan Alliance, created in 1999, has sold 6,160,046 vehicles in 2007. The Alliance aims to be ranked in the top three in terms of quality, technology and profitability amongst the major global automakers.

Source: http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/NEWS/2008/_STORY/080327-01-e.html

The Geneva International Motor Show sees the World Premiere of the eagerly awaited, all-new European Honda Accord model, and European debuts of the revolutionary zero-emission Honda FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell vehicle and the Honda CR-Z hybrid sports car concept.

The Accord zone dominates the Geneva stand, where ten examples of the latest Accord are on display in both saloon and Tourer body styles. The new Accord has an evolutionary appearance with a sportier and sleeker exterior for the saloon and, more noticeably, the Tourer. Also on display is the all-new 2.2 liter i-DTEC diesel, from the Accord’s new range of engines. This range also includes revised 2.0 and 2.4 liter petrol engines, and all three new engines will comply with the forthcoming Euro 5 emissions standards.

Headlining the environment zone is the FCX Clarity, a 4-seat saloon fuel cell vehicle which emits no pollution, only clean water vapour. Thanks to the V Flow fuel cell stack, the FCX Clarity has a low-slung, dynamic and sophisticated appearance. This landmark car, in the development of fuel cell technology, will be available to lease in the US from this summer and in Japan in the autumn.

The Honda CR-Z concept design study is the basis of a forthcoming global sports hybrid. The CR-Z is a dynamically styled, ecologically conscious concept that allows drivers to enjoy driving while minimising their environmental impact.

Visitors to the stand’s competition zone will be treated to the first public viewing of the 2008 Honda RA108 F1 car. Joining the RA108 in the competition zone, is the Honda Civic Type R R3, which is designed to the new FIA Group R3 rally regulations. The eagerly awaited R3 is now available to rally drivers, after a year of intensive and successful testing and competition.

The All-New Honda ACCORD
· All-new saloon and Tourer offer premium sector qualities
· More dynamic, sporty styling
· Refined interior with carefully selected materials and outstanding fit and finish
· All engines Euro 5 emissions compliant
· The debut of the 2.2-liter i-DTEC engine - the second stage in Honda’s diesel development programme
· Further refined petrol engines
· 6-speed manual transmission or (on petrol engines) a 5-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel paddles for manual changing
· Double wishbone front and multi-link rear suspensions, wider track and lower center of gravity for improved handling characteristics
· Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) now complemented by Motion Adaptive Electric Power Steering (EPS) for even greater security in slippery conditions
· Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Collision Mitigation Brake System (CMBS) safety systems optionally available
· Advanced Compatability Engineering (ACE) Body Structure
· Sales commence early summer

Aimed squarely at challenging established premium contenders in the D-segment, Honda’s all-new Accord saloon and Tourer offer sporty styling, greater refinement and a unique package of safety systems, together with excellent dynamic capabilities and strong environmental credentials in the form of an all Euro 5 emissions compliant engine line-up.

Significantly wider and slightly lower, the styling adopts a more emotional, sporty motif. The ‘sharp-edged’ design, with pronounced muscular wheelarches that emphasize the car’s wider track, gives the Accord a distinctive, strong stance with a solid, planted feel. The distinctive nose and more flowing lines deliver a tauter, more athletic shape.

The evolution from the previous generation Accord is even more pronounced in the case of the Tourer, where a greater emphasis on load carrying practicality has evolved into a more dynamic expression of its advanced technology, while still retaining a strong degree of versatility and practicality.

Three advanced new engines with some of the lowest emissions in their segment
The new range is one of the first to offer a complete engine line-up that will comply with the forthcoming Euro 5 emissions regulations which aren’t due to be introduced until September 2009. The exceptional environmental credentials haven’t been achieved at the cost of driving enjoyment, however, and greater frugality is matched by greater performance and flexibility.

Making its debut is Honda’s second-generation diesel engine which builds on the outstanding qualities of the award-winning i-CTDi unit to raise the bar in the diesel stakes once again. Its advanced technology and overall capabilities place it firmly at the forefront of diesel development and underpins the Accord’s claim to offer one of the strongest combinations of dynamic performance and environmental responsibility in the marketplace.

Like its predecessor, the new i-DTEC engine is compact, lightweight, refined and quiet in operation. It employs the latest piezoelectric multi-stage fuel injection technology, more efficient exhaust gas recirculation and a particulate filter for significantly reduced emissions. At the same time both power and torque levels have been increased for a sportier driving experience. Output is 10 PS greater at 150 PS/110 kW at the same 4,000 rpm, while peak torque is now 350 Nm at 2,000 rpm.

The 2.0-liter i-VTEC offers similar levels of performance to its predecessor - 156 PS at 6,300 rpm - but builds on its class leading fuel economy. Key technological changes include increased diameter intake valves, further optimised valve lift and timing and increased inlet and exhaust air flow volumes.

The 2.4-liter engine is more powerful, delivering 200 PS at 7,000 rpm and peak torque of 233 Nm at 4,500 rpm - up from 190 PS and 223 Nm. Behind the figures are a compression ratio increased from 10.5 to 11.0:1, larger diameter valves, revised valve timing, and reduced exhaust system pressures.

Source: (http://world.honda.com/news/2008/4080304Geneva-2008/)

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced that it will begin bio-ethanol trials through its participation in the Tokachi E10 project. The project, the first of its kind in Japan, aims to test the feasibility of E10 fuel, which contains 10% bio-ethanol mix. Early trials will be conducted in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido, beginning April*1.

Nissan is the first automaker in Japan to come forward with an E10 vehicle fully compliant with the safety, environment and technical guidelines issued by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The Murano E10 is officially recognized as Japan’s first Ministry-authorized E10 vehicle.

The Murano E10, authorized by the Minister of Land,
Infrastructure and Transport

Within the scope of the Tokachi project, Nissan will support research related to the E10 engine’s combustion efficiency and exhaust emissions. Vehicle performance data collected will further the development of E10 bio-ethanol powertrains and allow the engineers to identify key areas for improvement, in order to accelerate the commercialization of bio-fuels and E10 vehicles in the marketplace.

Tokachi Zaidan*2 is the recipient of a technology grant by the Ministry of Environment, aimed at addressing issues related to global warming and fossil fuel dependence, via the promotion of bio-fuels as an alternative energy source.

The Tokachi project uses substandard wheat and sugar beet to produce bio-ethanol, which helps minimize impact on food supplies. The project has the capacity to produce 15,000 kilo-liters of bio-ethanol to substitute up to one percent of the gasoline consumption in Hokkaido per annum.

Bio-ethanol is considered a renewable energy source because it is derived from plants such as sugar-cane or soybean, and thus does not add to the net CO2 level in the atmosphere*3, as opposed to fossil fuel. In the U.S. and Brazil, bio-ethanol has been commercialized for many years and is gaining wider acceptance worldwide.

Nissan has been offering the E85-compatible Titan full-size pickup and Armada SUV in the U.S.*4, and continues to develop and promote bio-fuel technology globally.

Its participation in the Tokachi project is in line with its Nissan Green Program 2010 mid-term environmental plan, aimed at developing new technologies, products and services that can lead to real-world reductions in vehicle CO2 emissions, cleaner emissions, and recycling of resources.

1The project has been implemented from July 2, 2007 and will continue on until Mar 31, 2009. The on-road test will be conducted between April 1 and Dec 19, 2008.
223-9, Nishi 22-jo Kita 2-chome, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-2462
3This is based on the “carbon neutral” concept. Plants capture CO2 through photosynthesis, hence the CO2 released by plant-based fuel will not add to the net CO2 level in the atmosphere.
4Titan has been sold since model year 2005 and Armada since model year 2007.

Source: http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/NEWS/2008/_STORY/080206-02-e.html

Tokyo — TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced today that its 2008 motorsports activities would focus on competing in the FIA Formula One World Championship (F1), NASCAR, Super GT and Formula Nippon, and on training drivers that can perform on the world stage.

Toyota, competing in its seventh year of F1, will employ its new aerodynamically stable TF108 racecar. Timo Glock has been signed as a new driver, and together with veteran driver Jarno Trulli, the team will aim for Toyota’s first victory.

The Toyota Camry will once again participate in the Sprint Cup Series, the pinnacle of NASCAR racing, as well as in the Nationwide Series. Toyota is looking for its first overall win in the Sprint Cup Series with the promising Joe Gibbs Racing team. Toyota will also continue to compete in the Craftsman Truck Series with the Toyota Tundra, after having won the manufacturers’ title last year.

In Japan, the Lexus SC430 will once again participate in the GT500 class of the Super GT, and with a strengthened team, Toyota will be looking for the title. At the same time, Toyota will continue to supply engines to Formula Nippon, a premier formula racing series in Japan.

Toyota is also committed to continuing its support for a wide range of events and race categories—from top-class events all the way down to the grassroots level—in order to promote motorsports in general.

Toyota will continue to promote its Toyota Young Drivers Program (TDP). The program cultivates young race drivers so that they can perform on the world stage and aims to provide a wide range of opportunities for drivers to hone their skills through participation in such events as F1 racing, the GP2 series and F3 Euro series, as well as test driving. This year Toyota has selected 14 drivers worldwide to participate in TDP.

Meanwhile, Toyota is continuing initiatives in the arena of hybrid motorsports as part of its efforts to improve the efficiency of hybrid systems (including production vehicles) and in consideration of the impact of motorsports on the environment.

The Motor Sports Division of the Higashifuji Technical Center is currently in charge of Toyota’s overall motorsports activities, while Toyota Technocraft Co., Ltd. (TRD) in Japan, Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) in Europe and TRD, U.S.A. Inc. (TRD-USA) in the United States serve as local hubs for regional activities.

Source: http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/news/08/0307.html

TOKYO (March 12, 2008) — Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today launched its first crossover vehicle in China – the Qashqai. Qashqai is manufactured at the Huadu plant of Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd. (DFL), Nissan’s local partner in China.

“XIAOKE,” Qashqai’s Chinese name, means “nomad” and is consistent with the positioning of Qashqai as an “urban nomad.” Nissan expects to create a new vehicle category in China with Qashqai, a crossover that bridges the gap between the hatchback and growing SUV markets.

Qashqai (Xiaoke)

“Qashqai will be an iconic model for our product lineup in China, contribute significantly to our brand image and deliver something completely new to customers,” said Toshiaki Otani, Managing Director of Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle Company.

Qashqai is powered by a 2.0L gasoline engine (MR20DE) which delivers a maximum output of 137PS. Qashqai will be available with either a CVT or 6-speed manual transmission and 2WD or 4WD.

In order to meet customer needs in China, some modifications from the European version of Qashqai were made for this market. Among them are an interior color change from black to beige, modification of the sunroof design and the addition of a chrome strip on the side body panel.

Qashqai is priced starting at RMB 167,800 (USD: 23,600) for the 2.0L 2WD Manual Transmission, while the 2.0L 4WD CVT Premium Grade is priced at RMB 219,800 (USD: 30,100). DFL projects sales of more than 3,000 units monthly.

Qashqai becomes the sixth model built at DFL’s Huadu plant, which also manufactures the Livina Geniss, Livina, Sylphy, Tiida sedan and hatchback. The Huadu plant follows the Nissan Production Way (NPW), Nissan’s global production standard for quality.

Launched in February 2007 in Europe, Qashqai has been a global success story for Nissan. Sales in Australia, Europe, Japan, the Middle East and South Africa totaled 140,000 units for CY2007.

In January, Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd. announced that its Sunderland plant, with a 200,000-unit capacity for Qashqai, would create three shifts to increase production, while the Kyushu plant in Japan began Qashqai production in December 2007 with annual capacity of 24,000 units for the vehicle. China is the third country to produce Qashqai.

Note: Amounts in dollars is translated for the convenience of the reader at the foreign exchange rates of 1RMB per 7.1 U.S. dollar.

Source: http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/NEWS/2008/_STORY/080312-01-e.html

Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd., a Honda’s consolidated subsidiary in Japan, announced plans to build a new auto plant which produces both engines and bodies on land adjacent to its Yokkaichi Factory in the effort to further strengthen its mini-vehicle business.

Equipped with advanced technologies, the new plant will be a state-of-the-art, highly flexible, and environmentally-responsible plant. It will start with engine assembly operations in the first half of 2009, followed by establishment of the automobile production in the latter half of 2010.

With the new plant, Yachiyo will establish a highly efficient and high quality production system by separating production between the existing and the new plants based on product characteristics. (The new plant will produce the front-engined models, Life and Zest, with the existing plant concentrating on the midship-engined models, Acty and Vamos.)

The combined annual production capacity of the two plants will be approximately 240,000 units, which is almost the same as the current capacity. Total investment related to the establishment of the new plant is expected to be approximately 50 billion yen.

Once the new plant becomes operational, Honda’s Kumamoto Factory will transfer the production of mini-vehicle engines to the new plant and the assembly of mini-vehicle transmissions to Honda’s Suzuka Factory. Honda is expecting to improve the efficiency of logistics by concentrating production of key components to the Suzuka area.

With ongoing efforts to strengthen its auto sales structure in Japan and this new plan to strengthen its mini-vehicle production system, Honda will strive to further improve the attractiveness of its products and the company’s competitiveness in the mini-vehicle market where demand is expected to remain high.

Source: http://www.world.honda.com/news/2008/c080311Yachiyo-Industry/

HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation has announced the launch of the freshened Mazda RX-8. The updated four-door, four-seat rotary-powered sports car is available from today at all Mazda and Mazda Anfini dealerships throughout Japan.*

Mazda RX-8 Type RS (with six-speed manual transmission) 

The four-seat RX-8 sports car debuted in Japan in May 2003, powered by Mazda’s lightweight, compact and powerful rotary engine. The freshened version evolves and refines the high performance and sporty styling core elements of the RX-8, and features enhanced quality and packaging. The newly released Type RS grade offers exceptional driving pleasure with better performance and bolder styling.

The exterior design features fresh new styling and improved quality, with larger air intakes in the front bumper, side marker lamps integrated with the headlight units, side air vents integrated with the turn indicators, and rear combination lights that contain LED lamps. Three new designs for the aluminum wheels all reflect rotor-shaped motifs, and the 16-inch wheels (on the Type E and RX-8 base grade) have been upgraded to 17 inches. With the addition of new exterior colors such as the high quality Diamond Grey Metallic, eight colors are now available.

Interior quality has been improved through densely woven black fabric seat covers in the Type S and RX-8 base grade, finely-perforated genuine leather seat covers in the Type E (available in black, red or beige) and a new tachometer with silver markings and white illumination. The packaging has been further refined with the addition of power adjustable seats with a memory function,*2 an electric folding driver’s seat*3 and a GPS navigation system fully integrated into the center panel.*4

The RX-8 now offers even better driving dynamics. New water and oil pumps, among other changes, improve the rotary engine’s performance and provide a better acceleration feel. Revised gear ratios in the six-speed manual transmission provide more responsive acceleration at lower engine speeds. Through a redesign of the body structure, increased local rigidity and improved aerodynamics provide greater sports car performance.

The new Type RS grade comes with exclusive aero parts, 19-inch forged aluminum wheels, RECARO bucket seats, Bilstein dampers and other equipment to emphasize the sporty appeal of the freshened RX-8 model range. To highlight its pedigree as a true driver’s car, the RX-8 Type RS also boasts more aggressive styling.

Manufacturer’s suggested retail prices vary from 2,600,000 to 3,150,000 yen (including consumption tax). The sales target volume for the new RX-8 model range is 270 units a month.

*1: The five-speed manual transmission RX-8 will go on sale in June 2008.
*2: Standard equipment on the Type E (with leather seats).
*3: Standard equipment on the Type E (with leather seats). The Type S and base grade seats are manually adjustable.
*4: Available as a factory-installed option on the Type E, Type S and Type RS grades.

Main features of the freshened RX-8

Exterior
While maintaining the RX-8’s distinctive sports car proportions, the freshened exterior produces better aerodynamics and cooling performance.

- Enlarged central and side air intakes in the front bumper improve engine cooling and emphasize the athletic styling. Side marker lamps integrated with the headlights reflect fine craftsmanship.
- The front fenders feature turn indicators integrated with newly designed air vents.
- The new rear bumper, designed in the same color as the car body, elevates the sense of quality. Enlarged dual exhaust pipes express high power, and LED lamps set in a circle in each rear combination light spotlight the sporty appeal.
- Newly designed aluminum wheels. The Type S has 18-inch wheels with a rotor-shaped motif that symbolizes the rotary engine. The Type E and RX-8 base grade have 17-inch wheels with a five-spoke design.
- New high quality exterior colors, Sparkling Black Mica, Diamond Grey Metallic and the sporty Aurora Blue Mica, bring the total range to eight body colors.

Interior
Based on the RX-8’s iconic sports car design, detailed interior refinements improve the packaging and quality.

- Updated instrument panel center section design. The pop-up type optional GPS navigation system has been replaced by a system fully integrated into the center stack.
- The addition of silver markings on the tachometer enhances the vehicle’s sporty feel. White illumination improves its visibility and the sense of quality.
- Tactile leather is now used to wrap the steering wheel and parking brake lever.*5 The appearance and feel of the door arm rests and rear console lid have also been improved.
- Newly designed seats. The Type S and RX-8 base grade have densely woven black fabric seat covers. The Type E’s seats have a finely perforated leather center section (in black, red or beige). Grades with leather seats also offer improved functionality through an eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat with a three-person memory function, an electric folding driver’s seat for easy access to the rear, and newly added heated front seats for extra comfort in winter.
- The Mazda G-BOOK Alpha-compatible voice controlled HDD navigation system is available at as a factory-installed option.*5 The system offers access to a range of information and services, and also supports Bluetooth® applications.

Mazda RX-8 Type E (with six-speed automatic transmission)

Performance
After a review of every aspect of the RX-8’s superb performance, the freshened RX-8 lineup now offers an even more refined sporty ride.

- The RENESIS rotary engine now provides an enhanced acceleration feel at middle to low-engine speeds due to various improvements such as new water and oil pumps. These changes also contribute to improved durability and stability.
- New variable red zone system. The tachometer red zone moves in three stages according to the engine temperature. This prevents over-revving immediately after startup when the engine is cold.
- The gear ratios in the six-speed manual transmission-equipped grades have been lowered to improve off-the-line acceleration. Model grades with the six-speed automatic (Activematic) transmission feature a newly developed Direct mode. When driving with the gear selector in Drive (D), Direct mode allows the driver to temporarily change gears using the paddle shifters on the steering wheel without having to switch to Manual mode. This provides a boost in acceleration or engine braking to aid certain situations such as overtaking other vehicles or descending steep gradients.
- The front and rear suspensions were revamped, and the dampers, coil springs, bushes and stabilizers were optimized to improve stability and ride comfort.
- A trapezoidal strut tower bar (on manual transmission grades) and reinforced suspension towers and wheel aprons increase the torsional rigidity of the front body and improve stability.
- Aerodynamics were improved by adjusting the shape of the front and rear corners, enlarging the front tire deflectors and adding an engine undercover to control air flow. This resulted in an improved drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.30 and enhanced high-speed stability.

Source: http://www.mazda.com/publicity/release/2008/200803/080310.html

HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation has announced the launch in Japan of the upgraded Mazda MPV minivan. Known for its excellent drivability and sporty dynamic design, the freshened Mazda MPV is available from today at all Mazda, Mazda Anfini and Mazda Autozam dealerships nationwide.

The concept for Mazda’s latest MPV is “+Aggressive, +Luxury.” The refined styling and superb drivability that have become hallmarks of the third generation MPV since its launch in February 2006 have been further evolved. Other enhancements include interior and exterior changes and improved ride quality and comfort.

Extensive new chrome body parts, together with the remodeled upper and lower grilles and bumper, form a bolder and more distinguished front face. The vehicle’s rear combination lights and 18-inch alloy wheels*1 have been redesigned and five fashionable, high quality body colors, including Metropolitan Grey Mica, Diamond Grey Metallic and Lilac Silver Metallic, are newly available.

The interior design maintains the previous version’s sporty image and features newly designed decorative trim and chrome parts that boost quality levels. The slide range of the optional second row ‘Super Relax Seats’ has been extended and a ‘nanoe ion’ air purification system*2 has been adopted as an industry first to increase comfort levels. The interiors of the 23T L Package and 23S L Package model grades have also been fitted with custom sand-beige leather seat covers, heated front seats and a leather-wrapped wood grain-patterned steering wheel.

Vehicle dynamics have been enhanced by installing Mazda’s five-speed automatic transmission*3 as standard equipment on all front-wheel drive (FWD) models with the MZR 2.3L naturally-aspirated engine. This change also improves fuel economy during acceleration and high-speed cruising. The chassis has also been retuned to enhance stability and ride comfort.

Manufacturer’s suggested retail prices for the Mazda MPV vary from 2,500,000 to 3,600,000 yen (including consumption tax). The target sales volume is 1,200 units a month. Special needs models based on the freshened MPV are also available from today.

*1 Standard on grades equipped with the MZR 2.3 DISI Turbo engine
*2 ‘Nanoe’ is a trademark of Matsushita Electric Works Ltd. Available as a factory-installed option. Please refer to the factory installed options list below.
*3 The Mazda MPV was previously equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission. All four-wheel drive (4WD) and FWD grades with the direct injection turbocharged engine offer a six-speed automatic transmission.

Source: http://www.mazda.com/publicity/release/2008/200801/080115.html

Frankfurt, September 11, 2007 – Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, announced that it will unveil its new Subaru Justy at the 62nd Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) and it will go on sale in Europe immediately following the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The new Justy is positioned as an entry-level car in Subaru’s lineup. While offering nimble maneuverability and cabin roominess, the new Justy boasts exceptional fuel economy and low emission levels, thanks to the compact 1.0-litre engine. Two versions will be available in the European market: the sporty 1.0S, and the practical city-driving 1.0E. Both versions are front-wheel drive with 5MT. The new Justy will be supplied by Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd., under an original equipment manufacturing (OEM) agreement with FHI.

Frankfurt, September 11, 2007 – Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, announced that it will unveil its new Subaru Justy at the 62nd Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) and it will go on sale in Europe immediately following the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The new Justy is positioned as an entry-level car in Subaru’s lineup. While offering nimble maneuverability and cabin roominess, the new Justy boasts exceptional fuel economy and low emission levels, thanks to the compact 1.0-litre engine. Two versions will be available in the European market: the sporty 1.0S, and the practical city-driving 1.0E. Both versions are front-wheel drive with 5MT. The new Justy will be supplied by Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd., under an original equipment manufacturing (OEM) agreement with FHI.

Subaru Justy 1.0S

Major Features of the New Justy
Overall length 3,610mm, Overall width 1,665mm, Overall height 1,550mm
1.0-litre DOHC 12-valve inline 3-cylinder gasoline engine
Max. output (DIN): 51 kW / 6,000 rpm
Max. torque (DIN): 94 Nm / 3,600 rpm
Front-wheel drive with 5MT
155/80R13 Tires with full wheel caps (1.0E)
175/65R14 Tires with aluminum alloy wheels (1.0S)
SRS* front airbags and front side airbags (for driver and front passenger)
SRS* curtain airbags (front and rear, both sides) (1.0S)
Body colored electric door mirrors
Chrome accented gearshift knob (1.0S)
Manual seat lifter (driver’s seat only) (1.0S)
ABS with EBD (Electronic brake force distribution)* SRS: Supplemental Restraint System. Effective when used in conjunction with seatbelts.
About Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, is a leading manufacturer in Japan with a long history of technological innovations that dates back to its origin as an aircraft company. While the automotive business is a main business pillar, FHI’s Aerospace, Industrial Products and Eco Technologies divisions offer a diverse range of products from general-purpose engines, power generators, and sanitation trucks to small airplanes, crucial components for passenger aircrafts, and wind-powered electricity generating systems. Recognized internationally for its AWD (all-wheel drive) technology and Horizontally-Opposed engines in Subaru, FHI is also spearheading the development of environmentally friendly products and is committed to contributing to global environmental preservation.

Source:http://www.fhi.co.jp/english/news/press/2007/07_09_11e.html