Mopar 68241059ac Module Transmitter on 2040-parts.com

Volvos to get twin-clutch gearbox

By Ben Pulman Motor Industry 14 May 2008 13:33 Volvo’s C30, S40 and V50 are now available with a new six-speed twin-clutch ‘box – dubbed Powershift – mated to the company’s 134bhp 2.0-litre diesel. The new twin-clutch gearbox has been developed with Getrag (and Volvo's parent company Ford), and is basically the same unit recently announced in the Focus and C-Max. Volvo claims the new gearbox offers an 8 percent improvement in fuel consumption over a conventional six-speed automatic.

Spyker Cars to change name, shift focus

Spyker Cars is changing its name to Swedish Automobile N.V., and its new Chinese partner, Pang Da, is waiting for authorities to approve the investment in Spyker and Saab. Known for more than a decade as a producer of exclusive muscle cars, Spyker sold off its sports-car business in February to focus on Saab. The company bought the Swedish automaker a year ago when General Motors was on the verge of shutting Saab down.

India turns the screw on luxury car makers

Land Rover will still be sending CKD to India despite the rise in import duty India’s economy is growing almost exponentially, as a result of which it has a big, rising middle-class with much the same aspirations as the middle-class in the West. Those aspirations include the accumulation of status symbols considered worthy of representing their success and new wealth, none more so than a good set of wheels. So it’s no surprise that the mainstream luxury car makers – Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes, Audi and BMW – are ready, willing and able to provide exactly what India’s middles classes are looking for.