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Lamborghini SUV in the works, says report
Lamborghini's parent company, Audi has confirmed reports suggesting the Italian supercar maker is close to launching an SUV/crossover concept, Autoweek has reported. Conceived as an upmarket rival for the likes of the Maserati Kubang and the BMW X6, Lamborghini’s new SUV, codename LB736, is expected to be a 197” long four-seater equipped with a detuned version of the Gallardo's 5.2-litrs V10 engine developing in the region of 580bhp. Also envisaged is a hybrid version of the big four-wheel drive. It is said to combine the standard V10 with a 107bhp electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack, providing a system output of somewhere near 660bhp. The new SUV was conceived to sell in numbers of less than 1,500 annually, suggesting its price will be upwards of $200,000 in North America.
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Arab Spring pushes auto sales as regimes spread money for stability
Volkswagen is investing more heavily in the Middle East, amid rebellion and turmoil, Bloomberg has reported. VW plans to introduce the Polo subcompact and the US-built Passat sedan in the region this year, while its Lamborghini brand projects 50% growth this year. “With the new models, we have new segments that we conquer,” said Stefan Mecha, managing director of Volkswagen’s operations in the Middle East. “Last year, we didn’t have the Passat at all, so I would say we have huge opportunities with this car.” He said VW may increase sales 40% this year in the region, which includes Iraq, Israel and the Gulf states.
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Honda cuts profit hopes due to disasters, rebound expected
Honda Motor has slashed its annual profit guidance to the lowest level in three years, as it counted the cost of natural disasters in Japan and Thailand and a strong yen, but it forecast a healthy rebound next year Reuters has reported. Japan's third-largest automaker cut its expectations for operating profit for the business year to March 31 by a quarter to $2.6bn, marking a drop of 65% compared with year-earlier profits. "Any way you look at it, this has been an extremely tough year for Honda," chief financial officer Fumihiko Ike said.
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Qatari dealer launches all-new 2012 Ford Focus
Almana Motors, the Ford and Lincoln dealer in Qatar, has officially launched the all-new 2012 Ford Focus in the country, Gulf Times has reported. Available in 5-door hatch, 4-door sedan and wagon body styles, the next-generation Ford Focus offers class-exclusive technologies such as torque vectoring control, active park assist, push-button start, and a six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission.
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Volvo plans growth in UAE, Saudi, Qatar
Anders Osberg, chief financial officer of Volvo has said the group is eyeing further growth in Saudi Arabia and Qatar as well as the UAE in 2012, Gulf News has reported. "It is an attractive place to be, we are looking at relationships with banks and so on to try and sell our products even further," Osberg said.
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