Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Gets 2011 Launch

THE LAST TIME we heard that the ragtop version of the fan-favourite Chevrolet Camaro was on track for a 2011 showroom debut, there appeared to be some uncertainty around the traps as to just how seriously we could all take that claim.

Now, General Motors US spokesperson Terry Rhadigan has confirmed that the Holden-engineered Camaro Convertible is in fact scheduled to hit showroom floors in early 2011, though a specific date or month wasn’t offered.

“The convertible was never canceled. It was retimed. It will be the first quarter of 2011 for the start of production,” Rhadigan said.

Rhadigan acknowledged that the original plan was for the convertible to debut early next year. With GM’s current woes though, it’s little surprise that the project has been pushed back a year.

“We always thought it would be one year after the coupe,” he said, “instead we are going two.”

Despite GM’s ongoing battle to stay afloat - and now with bankruptcy looking to be a dead certainty - the main issue holding up the convertible project was that the supplier for the folding roof mechanism was looking likely to go under.

The latest news however is that the supplier has sorted itself out, and its agreement with GM is back in place. With that final hurdle out of the way, the Camaro Convertible is on its way.

According to Rhadigan, the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible will debut with the same V6 and V8 engines currently offered with the coupe model.

Porsche Short $4.4b For Continued Operations, Close To Bankruptcy?

WHAT A TIME it’s been for Porsche lately. First the German supercar manufacturer began circling to take over its Volkswagen parent, and then, thanks to the global financial meltdown and finding itself stumbling for funds, the two began discussing a merger.

More recently, those merger talks were put on hold, with Volkswagen declaring Porsche unready for such a step.

Now, German magazine Der Spiegel is reporting that Porsche has found itself $15.3 billion in debt due to its recent manoeuvring to garner a 51 percent majority share in Volkswagen.

Worse still, the report claims the company is $4.4 billion short of the funds needed to keep its operations rolling, asking the German government for $179 million in emergency short term loans.

According to Der Spiegel, the situation at Porsche is so bleak that the company came desperately close to bankruptcy for a period in early March.

It has to be said that without any official acknowledgement from either Porsche of Volkswagen, it’s difficult to ascertain the accuracy of the report.

According to UK paper The Telegraph, Porsche is in talks with the Bank of Tokyo for a $1.3b loan, in addition to the help it has requested from the German Government.

This WILL be a case of “watch this space”.

BMW Motorsport Program Shrouded In Doubt

BMW MOTORSPORT BOSS Dr Mario Theissen has plunged the company’s racing program into uncertainty after revealing the Bavarian manufacturer may reconsider its future in Formula One and the World Touring Car Championship.

The automaker has been left frustrated by a series of controversies which have marred the start of the WTCC and F1 seasons, forcing BMW to potentially review its commitment to both categories.

The BMW board approved of plans to continue its participation in Formula One earlier in the year, but Dr Theissen says the result of negotiations over the 2010 regulations could prompt the company to reassess its position.

“If the framework and the conditions change greatly that would be a reason for us to review the project,” he said.

Dr Theissen has previously expressed concerns over the proposed budget cap and the difficulties his team may have reducing its expenditure.

“In one go you cannot just evaporate by a factor of three. A moving path, for example over two or three years, would be possible,” he told the German press.

BMW has also been involved in a scrap with the FIA at WTCC level, after lodging a protest against rivals SEAT over a perceived breach of the technical regulations.

After struggling to compete with the Spanish manufacturer towards the end of last season, the FIA altered the rules to promote a level playing field, restricting the boost pressure on SEAT’s turbo-diesel powered entries.

But in the aftermath of the Marrakech round earlier this month, it was revealed SEAT had been granted dispensation to increase its boost level to combat atmospheric conditions during the first three rounds of the season, without notifying rival teams.

He told Autosport: “In my opinion the situation is not sustainable and we are presently examining our WTCC commitment very critically.

“We have always been in touring car racing in some form or other, and we will continue in that way. But we have a very broad base of customers so it doesn’t necessarily have to be a works engagement.”

Citroen Looking To Be Europe’s Third Largest Carmaker

SURE, EVERYONE wants to be top of the pops: there’s Fiat pushing harder to become Europe’s biggest manufacturer and Volkswagen also working hard to loosen Toyota’s position on the podium in global markets.

Now, Citroen is coming to the party, with the manufacturer’s Vice President Jean-Marc Gales telling the Corriere della Serra newspaper that the French manufacturer would focus on alliances with other carmakers in a bid to move into Europe’s top three.

“It’s not important for us to produce 6 or 7 million cars to survive,” Gales told Corriere della Serra.

“We have another strategy, we believe in alliances, we cooperate with Ford and BMW on engines and gears, the most expensive parts to develop in a car,” he said.

Gales’ goals for the smaller half of PSA Peugeot Citroen are lofty to say the least, with the carmaker currently ranked seventh in Europe for sales, behind Fiat and its partner Peugeot in fifth place.

The top three in Europe at the moment is made up of Volkswagen, Ford, and Opel/Vauxhall rounding out the trio. With GM Europe’s ongoing troubles, third position may be up for grabs soon enough, but with Renault, Peugeot and Fiat between Citroen and the top three, the French carmaker has a fight on its hands.

In Australia, Citroen’s sales for April dropped 53.3 percent over the same time last year, but it is faring better in other markets and has a strong - if typically Gallic - model line-up.

2009 Mazda RX-8 Launched In Japan With New Featuresm

MAZDA HAS UPDATED its rotary-powered RX-8 for the Japanese market, loading up the four-door coupe with a range of goodies and gadgets designed to make life in the cockpit just a little bit easier.

Rain-sensing windscreen wipers are one such addition, while auto-on headlamps are another. Keyless entry and a keyless ignition are also standard kit across the JDM RX-8 range, and Aluminium Metallic and Metropolitan Grey Mica have been added to the colour palette.

As for when these changes will make their way onto Australian-delivered RX-8s, the official line from Mazda Australia is that it may be on the cards.

“It’s too soon to start talking about it, but it is definitely under consideration at the moment,” said Mazda’s Media Communications Manager, Lydia Richards.

Mazda wouldn’t be drawn on a timeline for a local release of the updated RX-8, but we’ll keeep you informed of any further developments.

2009 Toyota Aurion Touring Edition Released To Commemorate 50 Years Of Toyota In Australia

TOYOTA MARKS 50 years of Australian sales this year, and to celebrate the milestone the company has wheeled out a special-edition variant of its Aurion large sedan.

Based on the Aurion AT-X, the Toyota Aurion Touring Special Edition comes packed with a range of added equipment, effectively endowing it with $2700-worth of gear at no extra cost.

A rear spoiler and 17-inch alloys jazz up the exterior, as does a grille lifted from the Aurion Sportivo, a pair of sports pedals and a set of sports headlamps and taillights. There are also front foglamps, unique badging and front and rear parking sensors to help differentiate the Touring SE from the base model Aurion.

A six-disc CD changer, dual-zone climate-control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather gear knob and a trip computer spice up the interior, which should gel nicely with the Aurion’s standard power seats, windows, and mirrors. Considering the whole lot retails for $34,990 (plus on-roads), that’s not too bad a deal.

Couple all of that kit with the Aurion’s 200kW 3.5 litre V6, six-speed tiptronic auto, and standard stability control, traction control, ABS and comprehensive suite of airbags and you’ve got a very compelling large sedan. It’s now on sale nationally.

F1: Williams Submits Entry For 2010 Season

THE FORMULA ONE Teams Association’s bid to present a united front in sending an ultimatum to FIA President Max Mosley has received a blow after Williams submitted an entry for next year’s championship.

FOTA had written to Mosley on Sunday demanding the FIA scrap the planned 2010 regulations in favour of the current rules, or face the prospect of no team submitting an application by the May 29 deadline.

It is believed the letter detailed a plan for FOTA itself to regulate cost-cutting and assist smaller outfits while working to the 2009 regulations.

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenical told reporters in Monaco the teams remain committed to reducing costs but on their terms.

“What we have asked is to go back to the rules of this year, the 2009 rules,” he said, “and then see together what we can do in order to make changes for next year.

“Bear in mind that for sure the cost is something that all the teams are fully committed to work on, but the cost is something that is related to the business of the teams.”

However, FOTA’s plans are now in disarray after Williams broke ranks with the teams despite being a signatory to the letter, casting doubt on the level of unity within the association.

Williams’ Chief Executive Officer Adam Parr though said the team remains committed to FOTA despite lodging its entry for 2010.

“The unity of FOTA is of paramount importance to Williams,” he said. “(Sunday) we joined the other members of FOTA in writing to the FIA to request a continuing effort to find a compromise concerning the regulations for 2010.”

Parr believes FOTA had made significant progress in its negotiations with the FIA, but said Williams’ was contractually obligated to sign on for the 2010 season.

“We believe that under the leadership of (Ferrari president Luca) di Montezemolo and (Toyota Motorsport boss) John Howett, FOTA has extracted some very significant concessions from the FIA,” he said.

“These include not only the procedural aspects of the budget cap but also other elements that will enable the higher budget teams to participate.

“Having said that, Williams has — and has always maintained — that we have a binding contract with both Formula One Management and the FIA to participate in the world championship from 2008 to 2012.

“We have been paid in full for our participation and we feel both morally and legally obliged to make it clear that we will participate in Formula One in the future as we have in the past 30 years.”