Kia Motors continues to introduce larger vehicles as it has revealed that an all-new Kia Sorento model will start production at their U.S. plant. The latest model is the 2011 Kia Sorento CUV which is scheduled to begin rolling off the assembly line at the West Point, Georgia plant.

The 2011 Kia Sorento CUV boasts of an improved fuel economy and more passenger room and seating capacity that previous Kia Sorento models. It will be longer and lower and carries a sleek styling and futuristic touch. The 2011 Kia Sorento CUV will also highlight two- and four-wheel drive options and a variety of upscale appointments to appeal to a wide range of consumers.

(Source) Pres

Tags: appointments, assembly line, consumers, CUV, four wheel drive, fuel economy, georgia plant, KIA, kia motors, kia sorento, models, west point georgia, wheel

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Due to slumping demand, Ford Motors has halted operations for its plant in Russia. For now, it seems that workers will have to make do with the one-third pay from their normal wages for the duration of the shutdown phase. Operations are said to continue in June although this will only be for a four-day work week until October.

“We have suspended production at the Vsevolozhsk factory because of the market situation and forecasts for falling sales in the automobile industry,” spokeswoman Yekaterina Kulinenko

Ford’s assembly line in Vsevolozhsk, near Russia’s second city, has produced the Focus and Mondeo models for sale on the Russian market since 2002 and employs about 200,000 people.

The highest selling vehicle of Ford in Russia is the Ford Focus. However, due to the spreading economic turmoil, Ford is also experiencing a sales slump thus the need to make the necessary preventive measures to avoid adding more loses for the embattled U.S. car making giant.

(Source) AFP

Tags: assembly line, automobile industry, duration, economic turmoil, Ford, ford focus, ford motors, ford plant, giant source, market situation, models, mondeo, phase operations, preventive measures, Russia, russian market, second city, spokeswoman, wages

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With a rocky state as far as finances are concerned, the ENVI is as good as gone. This was revealed as Fiat has practically overtaken the whole assembly line of Chrysler. The reason for the move is that Fiat thinks that the project may prove to be costly.

ENVI was scheduled to deliver its first electric-vehicle in late 2010 with lithium-ion battery packs supplied by A123Systems. The division had created a total of five vehicle concepts but never confirmed which of those five concepts would make it into production. However, last month CNNMoney said that Chrysler’s first production ENVI would be the Lotus Europa based Dodge Circuit.

“The Europa-based Dodge Circuit electric car has been killed by the credit crunch,” reports AutoCar. Nonetheless, insiders say that Lotus is now talking to European OEM to setup another electric-car program like the Tesla Roadster.

The Dodge Circuit EV is (or was) a pure electric-car that carries a 268-hp electric-motor allowing it to travel 150 miles to 200 miles on a single charge. 0 to 60 comes in under 5 seconds with a top speed of 120 mph.

(Source) EGM Car Tech

Tags: assembly line, car program, car tech, Chrysler, Dodge, electric car, electric vehicle, ev, Fiat, hp electric motor, lithium, lithium ion battery, Lotus, lotus europa, tesla roadster, top speed

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It looks like Renault South Africa is all set to unveil its first locally manufactured car this February. The Sandero hatchback is a product of a refurbished assembly line from the alliance formed by Renault and Nissan.

“The Sandero is a key model in our range revitalisation strategy,” says Renault South Africa MD Xavier Gobille, “but it is also a vital addition to the mostly staid and outdated entry-level sector – a sector in dire need of a thoroughly modern, safe, stylish and spacious contender.”

Renault has started the Sandero’s pricing at below the R100 000 mark, and says it expects the arrival of the “robust, attractive Sandero to revolutionize the local entry-level market”.

(Source) Engineering News

Tags: assembly line, Nissan, r100, Renault, xavier

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