New entries What's coming and what's not
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
RANGE ROVER EVOQUE
After debuting the all-new Evoque in three-door form in Paris last month, Range Rover has taken the covers off the more practical five-door variant featuring a 30mm higher roofline. The engine lineup is the same: 240hp 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and 150hp/190hp 2.2-litre turbo-diesel.
Thai sales chance: high
LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP570-4 SPYDER PERFORMANTE
Essentially the soft-top version of the Superleggera, the Performante uses carbonfibre components to help bring down the weight by 65kg to 1,485kg. Like the lightweight hard-top Superleggera, the Performante uses a 570hp 5.2-litre V10 to help yield a 3.9sec 0-100kph time.
Thai sales chance: high
MERCEDES-BENZ CLS63 AMG
Just a month after the regular CLS was unveiled, Mercedes-Benz has topped the range with an AMG version boasting the brand's new 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 coming in two states of tune: 518hp or 550hp. The more economical variant can do 10kpl, thanks to automatic stop/go.
Thai sales chance: moderate
CHEVROLET CAMARO CONVERTIBLE
Sticking with the usual formula mostly applied by other sports car makers, GM's mainstay brand has taken the roof off the Camaro and installed a fabric top for sun-loving motorists. There's either a 308hp V6 or 425hp V8 to choose from, both with six-speed automatic option.
Thai sales chance: moderate
PORSCHE CAYMAN R
The third Cayman has been launched as the fastest in its model range _ just as the Spyder does with the Boxster lineup. The Cayman R is 55kg lighter than the Cayman S and gets a 325hp 3.4-litre flat-six to sprint from 0-100kph in 4.7sec with PDK automatic and Sport Chrono package. There's no air-con system.
Thai sales chance: low
SAAB 9-4X
The lesser of Sweden's two car brands hopes to make a comeback by penetrating the premium compact SUV segment. The 9-4X crossover is powered by either a 265hp 3.0-litre V6 or 300hp 2.8-litre twin-turbo V6 to take on petrol-sipping rivals like the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Volvo XC60.
Thai sales chance: low
NISSAN MURANO CROSSCABRIOLET
In an unusual move, Nissan has literally torn down the roof from its Murano and fitted it with a folding hard-top to make it the first contemporary SUV to go convertible. The Murano CC has been designed specifically to appeal to sun-loving Americans living along the coast.
Thai sales chance: low
KIA OPTIMA HYBRID
To ensure the Koreans are serious about upstaging the Japanese, Kia has introduced hybrid power for its Optima mid-size saloon. It comes with a 2.4-litre petrol/electric and six-speed automatic blend that can achieve 15.9kpl _ a notch higher than the Toyota Camry Hybrid's.
Thai sales chance: low
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
No comments:
Post a Comment