Nazi past keeps VW from celebrating landmark event

Volkswagen's Nazi past kept it from celebrating the 75th anniversary of a big event in the automaker's history. During a gala celebration on May 26, 1938, Adolf Hitler laid the foundation stone for what would become VW's Wolfsburg plant. Series production of what we know today as the Beetle was interrupted by World War II. Instead of making the People's Car, the factory churned out products for the military. In 1944, two-thirds of the factory's workers were forced laborers, according to German media. After the war the British military became trustee of the plant, which was led by Senior Resident Officer Ivan Hirst. Under Hirst, the plant resumed car production in December 1945. When Hirst left the plant in 1949, VW had become the biggest automobile maker in Germany, VW's historical records show.

Driver's license in Japan comes with lots of ritual

TOKYO -- Japan's automakers love to moan about all the red tape that discourages young people here from buying cars: high taxes, thickets of registration, the need to show proof of an overnight parking spot, onerous inspection regimes. Add to all that the trials and travails of simply getting a driver's license and then keeping it. After years of driving in Japan on an international permit, I finally went local. This week I endured my first license renewal. It was a five-hour odyssey at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police's sprawling traffic safety center -- replete with a two-hour remedial course on rules of the road. I knew I was in trouble when our 60-something proctor spent the first 15 minutes telling us where the restrooms and smoker's corner were. She also apologized profusely to the two foreigners in attendance that she couldn't speak English and promised to speak slowly and clearly. This was all in Japanese. No arm crossing! She also warned: Don't slump your heads or cross your arms in impatience. And keep all drinks in bottles with closeable caps. And by all means, keep those caps screwed tight between swigs. "If you stay focused with a good attitude, two hours won't seem that long," she assured us. She then inexplicably launched into a 10-minute lecture on proper bicycling etiquette. Among those lessons: A 50,000-yen ($500) fine awaits those brash enough to bicycle with an umbrella in the rain. What that had to do with our motor vehicle licenses, I still don't know. The entire process oozed with unbearable paternalism. Getting the licenses in the first place is even more pedantic. A failed walk-around A Nissan Motor Co. public relations executive, a foreigner who had just arrived in Japan but has since left the company, famously flunked his driver's license exam. He failed to do the perfunctory test-car walk-around to make sure there are no kids under the back axle, broken taillights or other hazards. They made him come back to test again. (He passed, but only after taking a course that forewarned of all such pitfalls.) My renewal episode included the "Death on Wheels" video of bereaved parents recounting how their precious children were run down on their way home from the neighborhood park. Halfway through the class, our instructor noticed some nodders. She then led us on a forced exercise march -- directing us to close our eyes, rotate our necks and stretch our arms. Still, the day wasn't a complete waste. Among the valuable takeaways: • In a severe earthquake, all nonemergency vehicles will be banned from entering central Tokyo on major freeways and boulevards. Now that's news I might actually use. (Though hopefully not.) • Also decoded were the special stickers seen on so many cars. Each of these subsets of drivers is required to affix its own brightly colored decal "warning" others on the road of their presence: hearing-impaired, elderly, handicapped and beginner drivers. • Aichi prefecture, home of Toyota, had the most traffic fatalities of any Japanese prefecture last year. Its 235 deaths topped the 183 in much more densely populated Tokyo. Still, Japan had only 4,411 traffic deaths in 2012. Compare that with 27,770 in the European Union last year and just over 32,000 in the United States in 2011. Of course, the EU and the United States have much larger populations than Japan. But the stats still work out to one traffic death per 29,000 people in Japan, one death per 18,200 in the EU and one in 10,000 in the United States. So perhaps Japan's nursemaid mind-set, so benevolently despotic to my American sensitivities, counts for something after all.

Ford Ka faces uncertain future

The future of the Ford Ka appears uncertain after a senior marketing executive said that the minicar has been left out of a new, brandwide advertising campaign. "For quite a long time we have not produced new advertising" for the Ka, Elena Cortesi, Ford of Europe's director of social media, told Automotive News Europe. "It is considered a stand-alone vehicle." Stand-alone might be a nice way of saying "forgotten" as the Ka's sales continue to shrink. The minicar's European volume fell by 20 percent last year to 59,112. Sales through April are down 27 percent to 18,824 units, according to the most current figures from market researchers at JATO Dynamics. Launched in 2008 as a replacement for the successful first-generation model, the Ka is based on the Fiat 500. Both cars are built in at Fiat's factory in Tychy, Poland. The Ka, however, doesn't command the premium prices that the similarly sized, retro-styled Fiat gets. In Germany, for example, the Ka starts at 7,990 euros ($10,500), compared with an entry price of 11,600 euros for the 500. 'No profit' As a result the Ka "produces absolutely no profit," Ford of Europe design head Martin Smith told British magazine Autocar The problem he said was that the Ka doesn't fit into the company's global One Ford strategy. "It won't pass a U.S. crash test, it was designed too narrowly to suit European tastes and it's only built in one place," he told the magazine. Smith said he "couldn't see much life for it" past a mid-cycle refresh. A Ford spokesperson, however, told us a face-lift wasn't imminently planned. "The outgoing Ka was treated in the same way – there was no face-lift as such as sales remained good over its 12-year tenure." Fiat partnership Fiat is keen to continue its Ford partnership, which helps the Italian automaker fill capacity in Tychy, but Ford will need to get a minicar with a much wider geographical appeal. Sources say Fiat plans to concentrate production of a global-ready next-generation 500 in Poland starting in 2015. This could have an effect on Ford's next move in the minicar segment. European sales of the Ford Ka fell by 20 percent last year and are down 27 percent through April. Other potential solutions include quitting the minicar segment or forming a new partnership to jointly produce the entry-level car in a country with even cheaper labor. Cortesi pointed out that sales of the Ka are still "healthy." If so, then Ford needs to do for the Ka what it needs to do for its entire European operations, start making a profit.

MERCEDES-BENZ SLS AMG ELECTRIC DRIVE LAP RECORD

Only two weeks after the first overall win for the SLS AMG GT3 at Nurburgring 24 Hours, the German powerhouse has done it again. Setting a Nurburgring Nordschleife (north loop) record, the SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive broke all past records for the north loop and even made a first for an all-electric vehicle. Setting a time of 7:56.234, the SLS is the first to make it around in less than eight minutes. With 715 available horsepower and letting out zero emissions this Benz is setting the bar for all other electrically powered supercar companies. This four-motor car implements AMG Torque Dynamics, which gives individual control to each of the electric motors allowing for optimal performance. AMG Torque Dynamics offers further variability by offering three different driving modes including Comfort, Sport, and Sport Plus. Additionally the energy and power efficiency used in the SLS was derived from the experts behind the Formula 1 KERS technology. Mercedes-Benz is not only celebrating its incredible record breaking success with the SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive, but also the official sales launch this month. Read more: http://www.europeancarweb.com/news/1306_mercedes_benz_sls_amg_electric_drive_lap_record/#ixzz2VurYrzxC

RANGE ROVER SPORT SETS PIKES PEAK RECORD

The all-new Range Rover Sport has out shinned all other standard production vehicles with a new record. Racing up the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb course, the new Sport not only broke the long standing production-standard vehicle record, but also the production- standard SUV record. Completing the 12.42-mile asphalt course in just 12:35.61 with an average speed of 59.17mph. The 510hp 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine raced to the top through 156 corners, up to 14110-feet above sea level. Still not impressed? Well the oxygen level at that elevation is about 58%, which diminishes engine and driver performance, making the task doubly hard. Piloting the vehicle was American competition and stunt driver Paul Dallenbach. Who's won his division at the Hill Climb six times and the overall event three times. Dallenbach said, "There's no margin for error at Pikes Pike - you only need to misjudge one of those 156 turns and you're into the trees or over the edge of the mountain. To take on this place the way I did today, you need complete confidence in your vehicle, and the Range Rover Sport sure gave me that - it's fast, responsive and agile." Read more: http://www.europeancarweb.com/news/1306_range_rover_sport_sets_pikes_peak_record/#ixzz2VurIyqO2

BMW says May brand sales up 8%, beating Audi, Mercedes

FRANKFURT -- BMW said global sales of its core BMW brand rose 8 percent in May to 139,161, outpacing delivery gains of rivals Audi and Mercedes-Benz brand, and pushing five-month sales up 7 percent to 651,168. BMW Group said that demand in the United States and China helped boost group vehicle sales, including its Mini and Rolls-Royce brands, by 6 percent last month to a record 166,397 vehicles, its best May sales result. In the first five months, sales rose 6 percent to 770,025, the company said in a statement today. "We could offset the headwinds in Europe through solid gains in other markets such as the U.S., China, Japan and Russia,'' BMW sales and marketing chief Ian Robertson said in the statement. BMW Group sales gained in all the company's major markets last month except Europe, where they remained flat, falling 1 percent to 74,918. Since January, deliveries have risen 2 percent to 352,013. In the United States, monthly volume was up 10 percent to 31,174 and sales in No. 1 market China grew 11 percent to 30,311. Monthly deliveries of the group's Mini brand rose by 2 percent to 26,955, helped by the Paceman model that has boosted sales of the marque by nearly 3,000 vehicles since its launch in mid-March this year. BMW said the Mini brand has reached a total of more than 2.5 million deliveries to customers since its relaunch under the BMW Group in 2001. In the first five months, brand sales fell 2 percent to 117,694. BMW said demand for its core brand in May was driven by strong sales of the X1 compact SUV, which rose 29 percent to 14,718, and the sixth-generation 3 series, which rose 28 percent to 41,811 vehicles. In total, the latest 3 series has sold 400,000 units since its launch in February 2012, BMW said. BMW brand sales top Audi, Mercedes in May BMW, the world's biggest premium-vehicle maker since 2005, is working to stave off challenges by second-ranked Audi and third-place Mercedes-Benz. Both have vowed to pass BMW for the global luxury-car sales lead by the end of the decade. Last week, Audi said sales rose 6 percent in May to 137,200, pushing five-month sales up 7 percent to 640,200. The Mercedes brand sold 121,360 in May, a rise of 7 percent. Through May, Mercedes' global deliveries rose 6 percent to 562,824. Last year, BMW brand reported unit sales of 1.54 million, compared with Audi's 1.45 million and Mercedes brand's 1.32 million. Reuters contributed to this report

VW brand sales rise 5.5% in May as China demand offsets Europe drop

FRANKFURT -- Volkswagen Group said today that global sales of its core VW brand rose 5.5 percent in May to 503,100 vehicles, buoyed by gains in China, which helped offset weak Europe sales and a slowdown in markets including the United States. "Overall the Volkswagen passenger cars brand is showing stable development despite continuing economic uncertainty, although the trends vary quite significantly," sales chief Christian Klingler said in a statement. "While deliveries in China, for example, continued to rise, unit sales for May in other regions such as western Europe declined," he added. Europe, U.S., Russia, Brazil sales drop Five-month brand sales gained 5 percent to 2.41 million vehicles thanks to continued growth in China. The brand's sales in western Europe, excluding Germany, fell 7 percent to 351,400 through May. In Germany, volume fell 10 percent to 229,300. In central and eastern Europe, deliveries were flat, falling 0.2 percent to 108,200, and sales in Russia fell 4 percent to 62,600. Through May, deliveries in China, including Hong Kong, rose 20 percent to 980,000, but in the United States, sales dropped slightly by 0.4 percent to at 169,800. In South America, volume declined by 3 percent to 303,100 with deliveries in Brazil falling 2 percent to 227,100.

Saab parent's $3 billion lawsuit versus GM thrown out by U.S. judge

DETROIT (Reuters) -- Dutch sports car maker Spyker's $3 billion lawsuit accusing General Motors Co. of trying to bankrupt Swedish automaker Saab was dismissed by a judge who said the U.S. automaker had the right to block the sale of a company using its technology. Spyker sued GM in August 2012, seeking damages and accusing the U.S. automaker of trying to stop a deal with Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile Co. and eliminate a potential rival in the growing Chinese market. "General Motors had a contractual right to approve or disapprove the proposed transaction," U.S. District Court Judge Gershwin Drain said in a hearing in Detroit on Monday. "The court is going to grant the motion to dismiss the matter." Drain said the deal Spyker had reached when it purchased Saab, giving GM the right to stop change of ownership, "is clear, unambiguous and absolute." He added that GM's statements voicing its opposition to Saab's deal with Youngman were not made with malice or to intentionally harm Saab. "We are pleased with the court's decision to dismiss the case, which we believe was the appropriate result," GM spokesman Dave Roman said. Spyker CEO Victor Muller, who attended the hearing, declined to say whether he would appeal the decision. "We will be awaiting the written order and then we will assess," he told Reuters. Drain said he would file a more detailed explanation of his ruling later. Last autumn, GM rejected claims that it deliberately bankrupted the Swedish company by blocking a deal with Youngman. The U.S. automaker has said the lawsuit was without merit and it had the legal right to approve Saab's transaction. Saab, one of Sweden's best-known brands, stopped production in May 2011 when it could no longer pay suppliers and employees. It entered bankruptcy in December 2011, less than two years after GM sold it to Spyker.

2014 BMW X5 - ALL-NEW SUV

It's been 14 years since the first BMW X5 rolled off the assembly line. That's two generations and 1.3 million vehicles, to be exact, and now the all-new third generation X5 is here to set new standards for luxury, versatility and driving dynamics. While the X5 itself started a new vehicle segment, the Sports Activity Vehicle, this newest generation will have another first in the X5 sDrive35i, which marks the first time an X5 model will be offered in rear-wheel drive. Of course it'll house the multi-award winning 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo inline-six. The X5 will also come in its standard xDrive all-wheel drive wit the 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo six and the 4.4-liter TwinPower Turbo V8 in the X5 xDrive50i. These models will arrive in US showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2013. All models will come equipped with BMW's latest 8-speed automatic transmission and will be produced exclusively at BMW's production facility in Spartanburg, SC. This new model has been entirely redesigned, inside and out. For customers looking to add some extra flavor and individuality to their new X5, the Luxury Line, xLine or M Sport will be available, as will two interior Design Packages - Ivory White and Mocha Brown. xLine: presence and robustness The underbody protection elements are finished in brushed stainless steel while newly designed air intake bars are in matte silver and a rear trim strip is finished the same. The xLine adds distinctive touches to the exterior and emphasizes the SAV character of the X5. The xLine also includes 19-inch Orbit Grey wheels or 20-inch Y-spoke wheels as an available staggered upgrade. The roof rails are available in Satin Aluminum or high-gloss finish and inside you're met with the ever-loved BMW sport steering wheel. Luxury Line: modern and distinctive Wheel arch surrounds are paint-matched to the exterior and the underbody is adorned by stylistic elements. Black kidney grille bars are surrounded by high-gloss chrome. The exterior mirror bases, B-pillars and C-pillars all feature high-gloss black trim. Roof raise are available in Satin Aluminum or high gloss finish and the same sport steering wheel and wheel packages are available as in the xLine. M Sport: provides the right look and feel for the performance-oriented driver. Of course, if we were outfitting our new X5, the M Sport package would be check marked. It offers the M-aerodynamic body kit; Shadowline trim, high-gloss roof rails and 19-inch M-Double Spoke light allow wheels. 20-inch M-Double Spoke wheels in staggered sizes are available as an upgrade. The interior has M foot rest and door sills, Aluminum Hexagonal trim and sport seats. Multi-contour seats can be specified as an alternative. An M Adaptive Suspension is also an available upgrade we recommend taking advantage of. Seating up to seven. Newly designed front seats ensure a high level of long-distance comfort and impressive lateral support. Comfort seats are now available for rear passengers as well as seat heating. The folding backrest of the second-row seat can now be slipt 40:20:40, which has increased load capacity to 66 cubic feet. The tailgate is again a split two-section unit and can be open and closed via the remote. The numbers: The xDrive35i and sDrive35i are powered by the 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo inline-6. It makes 300hp and 300 lb-ft, giving the X5 a 0-60 sprint in just 6.2 seconds (0-.2 seconds quicker than its predecessor. Thanks to a lower curb weight and other EfficientDynamics measures it is also expected to be more efficient. The 4.4-liter V-8 in the xDrive50i has been upgraded with Valvetronic variable valve timing. Now making 445hp and 480 lb-ft, the newest TwinPower Turbo V8 hits 60mph in 4.9 seconds, 0.4 seconds quicker than the outgoing model. Don't fret, there's still a diesel option, too, in the xDrive35d. It features an all new inline six 3.0-liter engine with TwinPower Turbo technology developing 255hp and 413 lb-ft. The diesel model reaches 60mph in 6.9 seconds, which is still quite impressive. Chassis control. The standard Driving Dynamics Control switch on the center console lets you select a chassis setting for the condition and your mood. Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Eco Pro modes are available. From accelerator response to power steering characteristics and transmission characteristics to Dynamic Damper Control, you can really customize the ride of the new X5. The suspension packages offered are suited to either comfort-bias or sporty-bias driving styles. With the Dynamic Damper Control and automatic rear self-leveling suspension option, electronic control logic adapts the damping characteristics to changing road conditions and situations. If you've got the Adaptive M suspension, as part of the M Sport package, the Sport and Sport+ modes are extra firm. All in all, we can't wait to drive the new X5. It has invented its own segment and as far as cars in this class go, they're hard to beat. The third generation looks to be the best, without a doubt. Read more: http://www.europeancarweb.com/news/epcp_1305_2014_bmw_x5/#ixzz2VL5VspIB

ASTON MARTIN V12 VANTAGE S

Aston Martin has announced their new V12 Vantage S. The new car replaces the outgoing V12 Vantage and with the exception of the One-88, it is the fastest road-going Aston Martin ever offered. The Vantage S is built for speed, no doubt, but it's other purpose is long distance refinement; A true touring beast. The new AM28 6.0-liter V12 makes 565hp and 457 lb-ft, up from 420 previously. The latest Bosch ECU is in part to thank for the new power, and a top speed of 205mph. Most impressive is the low-end grunt from this beauty. At just 1,000 rpm, the V12 generates 376 lb-ft. Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ulrich Bez said, "The new V21 Vantage S is, simply, pure Aston Martin. It is extreme in its nature yet truly timeless in its design language. Learning from our successes on track feeds the development of this type of car and I'm proud to launch such an exciting sports car in this, our centenary year." The racecar roots are obvious throughout the engine. From the CNN machine combustion chambers to the hollow cam shafts. The Vantage gets a new gearbox too, dubbed the Sportshift III AMT (automotive manual transmission). It's a major development for Aston and uses a hydraulically actuated automotive manual transmission to provide motorsport-style paddle shift changes for optimum performance delivery and efficiency. Plus, it saves 55 kb over the outgoing six-speed manual gearbox. It's a joy to hear a ZF box won't be used, as this new transmission is made by the experts at Oerlikon Graziano. Also a first for the Vantage line is a three stage adaptive damping system, allowing the driver to tailor the cars character between Normal, Sport and Track modes, providing a broad array of performance capability to suit requirements of the driver. Sport mode, working alongside the suspension, also alters throttle response, gearshift speed and timing, and of course, the exhaust note. The exhaust, like the Vanquish, is derived from the One-77 hypercar, so of course it sounds amazing. With a quicker steering ratio, now 15:1, the Vantage will be easier to point and shoot but still not too twitchy for the road. The V12 Vantage S has been restyled to reflect its position as Astons new flagship for the Vantage range. Most noticeable is the grille that does away with the famous aluminum vanes, replacing them with a carbon fiber arrangement that also includes black carbon or titanium silver mesh. Light adjustments have been made inside, as well, with new sport seats, revised stitching and welt detailing, two leather grade option, Luxmill and semi-aniline, plus optional Alcantara. Dr. Bez added, "The new V12 Vantage S is our most extreme Vantage to date-engineered to bring race car performance and technology to the open road. It is our most powerful engine in a beautifully tailored suit. It is elegant, yet brutal, and it is at the same time easy to control. It has everything that sums up Aston Martin: power, beauty and soul!" Read more: http://www.europeancarweb.com/news/epcp_1305_aston_martin_v12_vantage/#ixzz2VL5NOOJy

PORSCHE 911 LIMITED EDITION 50TH ANNIVERSARY MODEL

The Porsche 911 is undoubtedly the most recognizable sports car in the world, and one that can traces its roots back to the 1940s designs of the original Volkswagen, making it one of the longest running designs in automotive history. So when it came time to celebrate its 50th anniversary, we were perhaps hoping for something a little more memorable than widebody Carrera S with a Powerkit. That said, it's going to be an instant collector's car, particularly with only 1963 being built - the number representing the year the 911 model was first introduced. The new car will be introduced at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, Germany - the same venue where the Type 901 was first introduced in 1963. Cars sold in the US will cost from $124100, plus $950 destination charge. Each will get the 430hp Powerkit as standard that includes the Sport Chrono Package. This will allow the 911 50th Anniversary Edition to sprint from 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds (3.8 with PDK) and reach a top speed of 186mph (185 with PDK). Other features include Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS) with bi-xenon headlights and dynamic cornering lights, plus Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) with special tuning to exploit the increased track width. It will also sit on 20" "Fuchs" wheels as a visual tribute to the past, and they are finished in matte black with machine-polished centers. Another visual identifier will be chrome strips on the front ducts, engine grille as well as the panel between the rear lights. The cars also have high-gloss window frames and sport design mirrors. Two unique colors are available: a graphite grey and lighter Geyser grey metallic, plus black monochrome is available. Each car has a two-tone 3D-effect badge on the rear lid, with "911 50" badging. This is repeated in three-color embroidery on the headrest and in two colors on the tacho and the door sills. It can also be found on the cup holder panel, together with the limited edition number of the individual vehicle. There are tributes to the original 911 in the interior: green labeling on the instruments with white pointer needles and silver caps on the instrument pivot pins, just like 50 years ago. Another special feature is on the leather seats, where the center panels use a fabric pattern similar of the "Pepita" tartan from the 1960s. The leather interior is designed in agate grey or black with decorative stitching. Read more: http://www.europeancarweb.com/news/1306_porsche_911_limited_edition_50th_anniversary_model/#ixzz2VL5EXStD

German car sales fall 10% in May

MUNICH -- New-car sales in Germany fell nearly 10 percent in May dampening hopes for a recovery this year in the crisis-hit European market. The drop in the region's biggest market followed declines in France, Italy and Spain last month. Germany's passenger car registrations declined by 9.9 percent to 261,316 last month, the Federal Transport Authority said today. The decrease followed a gain of 3.8 percent in April. The biggest fall among volume brands was Opel's 16 percent drop. VW brand sales fell 10 percent and Fiat sales fell 11 percent while Ford limited its drop to 1 percent. VW's Seat brand, along with the Jaguar and Land Rover brands, Dacia, Mazda and Porsche increased registrations. Fleet sales fall fast Sales to fleet customers fell by nearly 14 percent in May, higher than the 4 percent decline in sales to private customers, the KBA said. The share of registrations by private customers bounced back to 41.3 percent, the highest level in more than 12 months. Germany's annualized selling rate was 2.8 million units in May compared with 3.15 million in April, Morgan Stanley said in a note to clients, Dacia was among the best performers with its German sales increasing by 19 percent, continuing the brand's positive momentum from the previous months following new product launches, Morgan Stanley said. A drop of 8 percent in Mercedes-Benz sales was "a somewhat disappointing performance" because the brand should be seeing some tailwinds from launches of the new A class and facelifted E-class, the note said. BMW sales fell 11 percent while Audi registrations were down 10 percent. Download PDF, above right, for German vehicle registrations by brand for May and first five months. The May fall in car sales in major markets shows that a 2 percent increase in Europe-wide car registrations in April was helped by extra sales days as Easter holidays fell earlier than in 2012. In France, car sales fell 10.3 percent last month. Sales in Italy were down 7.9 percent while Spain's registrations dropped 2.6 percent as a government subsidy to car buyers helped to limit the decline.

Mitsubishi recalls EV and Outlander plug-in hybrid

TOKYO -- Mitsubishi Motors Corp. has formally recalled its i-MiEV electric vehicle in Japan, possibly paving the way for similar callbacks in Europe and the United States. Sales and production of the EV minicar, which is also sold as the Peugeot iOn and Citroen C-Zero in Europe, along with the Outlander plug-in hybrid crossover sold only in Japan, have been halted since a manufacturing glitch caused one of their lithium ion battery packs to melt and another to catch fire in March. Mitsubishi will recall more than 4,000 vehicles with the potentially faulty batteries in Japan starting mid-month, the company said Tuesday. A small number of affected i-MiEVs were sold in Europe and the United States. "We are preparing appropriate measures for markets outside Japan, but this is not the appropriate time to give details," spokeswoman Namie Koketsu said. A company spokesman in Europe as well as a spokesman for Peugeot and Citoren could not be reached for additional comment. Mitsubishi said earlier that about 50 i-MiEVs were affected overseas, including in the Europe and the United States. Mitsubishi did not break down overseas numbers but said most of the i-MiEVs were in Europe, where the car also is sold as the iOn and C-Zero. Mitsubishi ironed out a manufacturing fix last month that will prevent the defects. The new process will churn out replacement batteries for the cars being recalled, Koketsu said. The Japanese carmaker aims to resume production of new i-MiEVs and Outlander plug-in hybrids by the end of August, after the recalled vehicles are fixed. That should return the Outlander to production before its planned U.S. launch next year. The plug-in version of the SUV was scheduled to debut in Europe this year. The batteries were prone to short-circuiting for two reasons. In some instances, workers dropped the batteries, causing parts of the battery cells to break off and contaminate the cells. In other cases, a screening process applied excessive force to the batteries, which also caused internal damage to the cells. Fixes verified The battery supplier, Lithium Energy Japan, verified fixes for both problems last month. The company reduced steps in which the batteries were carried by hand and switched its screening process to avoid wear and tear on the cells. It also introduced additional video surveillance of the assembly line to double check for quality gaps. In Japan, Mitsubishi recalled 4,313 Outlander plug-in hybrids that potentially have the defective batteries, as well as 17 i-MiEVs and 98 Minicab i-MiEVs, a electric commercial minivan. Mitsubishi said earlier that about 50 i-MiEVs were affected overseas, including in the United States and Europe. Mitsubishi's announcement that it had found the problem came just a day after it recalled the Outlander plug-in hybrid in Japan for separate problems with its driver motors. That callback affected 3,839 units. The problem was traced to software that controls the drive motors and possible glitches in the gasoline-electric vehicle's generator. Setback to plans The snags are a blow to Mitsubishi, which is positioning electrified vehicles at the center of a push to rebrand itself as an eco-car leader. They also are a setback for the Outlander plug-in hybrid, which had enjoyed brisk sales in Japan and is the first vehicle showcasing Mitsubishi's new hybrid technology. The battery problems evoke those of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which had its global fleet grounded because of overheating lithium ion batteries. The Boeing and the Mitsubishi battery packs trace their origins to the same supplier. Mitsubishi's were made by Lithium Energy Japan, a joint venture with Japanese battery maker GS Yuasa Corp. Boeing's batteries were made directly by GS Yuasa. The batteries were made at different plants and have different materials and designs.

Renault Espace will be replaced with SUV-styled crossover

MONTE CARLO -- Renault will replace its Espace minivan with a SUV-styled crossover, the automaker's design chief, Laurens van den Acker, said. The Espace successor will be a cross between a minivan and a crossover to make it more relevant in the marketplace van den Acker said at a press event here. Customers in Europe are switching from minivans and hatchbacks to crossover models attracteed by the SUV looks and high driving position. Renault's first-generation Espace was the forerunner in Europe's minivan segment when it launched in 1984. Sales of the current model, introduced in 2002, are falling due to the vehicle's age. The new Espace likely will debut as a concept at the Frankfurt auto show in September. The model will have upscale features as part of Renault's push to move its larger cars upmarket. "The Espace is a respected vehicle. It is one Renault you'd likely see on a driveway alongside a Volkswagen or a Mercedes but we've let it live for too long," van den Acker said. Renault's concept car director, Axel Breun, said the next Espace will not have aggressive styling like some SUVs. "The design is not as brutal as today's cars. They becoming very military, which might be okay for the Evoque or Range Rover but it's maybe not the direction we are going," he said. The Espace will be functional, but at the same time it will be a vehicle that the occupants will "enjoy travelling in, with a good view," Breun said. Renault's thinking on the Espace's design can be seen on the Scenic XMOD, a crossover version of the Scenic medium minivan unveiled at the Geneva auto show inn March. Renault is investing 420 million euros ($542 million) to build the Espace and the next Laguna at its factory in Douai, northern France, where the Scenic is built. Both models are currently built in Sandouville, also in northern France. Production begin from next year, starting with the new Espace. Renault likely will also sell the Espace in China for the first time where it will join the Koleos SUV, Laguna, Megane, Fluence and Scenic vehicles in the automaker's line The Espace will be the first Renault built on the new CFM1 modular platform developed by the automaker and its alliance partner Nissan.

Clues to the next Wrangler: See the want ads

Jeep has begun searching for the extra bodies to mount its next big project: the redesign of the Jeep Wrangler. And the job opening descriptions provide some clues as to the changes planned for the off-roader's next generation. This is supposition on my part, of course -- and a Jeep spokesman declined to comment when asked, saying the company doesn't discuss future product. With just one exception, the job descriptions posted on the Chryslercareers.com Web site don't identify the Wrangler by name. But given the updated five-year product plan Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne revealed in January, some of the jobs identified appear to be for the next-generation Wrangler, due in 2016. What the descriptions appear to show is that Jeep has decided to put the next-generation Wrangler on a serious diet, just as Ram did for the 2013 Ram 1500 pickup. If that's the case, then the lightweight Wrangler Stitch concept that engineers revealed in March for this year's Moab Easter Jeep Safari was a harbinger of things to come. The job descriptions point to Jeep seeking to use advanced high-strength steels for its frame, a feature that pulled 30 pounds from the weight of the Ram. It also looks as though the Wrangler could lose some steel body panels in favor of aluminum. It's also likely to pick up the air suspension system used on the Grand Cherokee and Ram. That would provide added clearance when needed and reduce drag on the Wrangler's rolling brick design at highway speeds and increase fuel economy. I would also look for the Wrangler to add the Ram's pulse-width modulation technology, which pulses the electrical load from the alternator.From a powertrain standpoint, the job descriptions -- and executive statements -- point to the inclusion of a diesel engine variant into the Wrangler, as well as the adoption of Chrysler's eight-speed automatic transmission, or a next-generation variant. Engineers also will look at the Wrangler's unique closure systems -- the clip-down hood, for example, or its somewhat-inviting-to-thieves exterior door hinges. What's not clear is whether the next Wrangler might include a permanently fixed wind screen. Only a small percentage of Wrangler owners ever go through the trouble of dropping their wind screen, but eliminating the ability to do so would allow engineers to increase its rake and with it, the Wrangler's fuel economy. In many ways, the next Wrangler will be the ultimate engineering test for Jeep under its new Fiat ownership, and its biggest potential trap. Keeping the off-roader's capabilities and customizability is paramount from a sales standpoint, while increasing its fuel efficiency is required by ever-tightening corporate average fuel economy standards. It's going to be a big, tough job, and it's good to see Chrysler reaching out early to add the expertise it will need to get it done.

Ford will retain 1,000 jobs at French plant

BLANQUEFORT, France (Reuters) -- Ford Motor Co. will retain 1,000 jobs at a transmissions plant in southwest France after striking a deal with local authorities to share the burden of new investments needed to keep the factory operating. Under the deal, Ford will invest 125 million euros ($162 million) and local authorities will invest 12.5 million euros to produce a next-generation transmission for compact cars in Europe, in exchange for guarantees to retain workers for five years. The plant in Blanquefort, near Bordeaux, currently employs about 1,200 workers, only 300 of whom are actively employed. The remainder of the workers receive a pay cheque and come to work but have no activity in the plant. Previously, the factory produced components for old-model Ford cars in the United States, but it has been reducing its production for years as the cars went out of production. Its work force has shrunk from a high of 3,000 in the 1970s. Ford sold the plant in 2009 to German investment company HZ Holding, which intended to use it to build windmill parts. That deal fell apart when HZ Holding's industrial partner pulled out, and Ford bought its factory back in early 2011.