Bangkok (dpa) – Suzuki Motor (Thailand) on Wednesday launched a new version of its Swift compact model under a Thai government programme to promote local manufacture of fuel-efficient vehicles.

Suzuki Motor Corp’s Executive Vice President Toshi Hiro said three versions of the eco-Swift will be available on the Thai market at prices ranging from 469,000 baht to 559,000 baht (15,370 dollars to 18,328 dollars), inexpensive by Thai standards.

The launch of the model, designed to run more than 20 kilometres per litre of fuel, followed a similar launch by Mitsubishi Motors Thailand of its new Mirage model on Tuesday.

Five Japanese automobile manufacturers won tax privileges to design and produce compact, fuel-efficient passenger cars for the domestic and export market.

Nissan Motor Corp was the first to produce a Thai-made eco car, the March, in 2010, and Honda Motors launched the Brio last year.

Toyota Motor Corp is expected to launch a new model for the Thai market by year-end 2012.

Manufacturers of low emission vehicles enjoy reduced excise taxes if they meet government requirements on fuel consumption, safety standards, engine size and production levels.

All models must meet European safety standards.

Thailand designed the programme to attract new investment to its automotive industry, the world’s second-largest producer and exporter of 1-ton pickup trucks.

The eco-car is designed for urban, cost-conscious customers.

Under the programme, manufacturers must produce at least 100,000 units by their fifth year of operation.

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BEIJING (Reuters) – Nissan Motor and Dongfeng Motor Group Co will spin off the heavy truck segment of their China venture to Dongfeng’s state parent, paving the way for local production of Renault and Infiniti cars as well as a possible new Dongfeng-Volvo truck tie-up, Chinese media reported on Monday.

Nissan’s passenger car business in the venture will remain intact, as will its light commercial truck production with Shanghai-listed Dongfeng Automobile Co, sina.com said citing unspecified sources.

Talk of a Dongfeng heavy truck venture with Volvo has been swirling around for years despite both sides having yet to provide any updates on the issue.

The tie-up with Volvo is intended to shore up Dongfeng’s heavy truck business as the unit within the venture with Nissan has been making Dongfeng-branded heavy trucks only, the report said.

To get the consent of Nissan, Dongfeng would in turn back producing Nissan’s premier brand Infiniti as well as Renault cars in its venture with the Japanese automaker.

Dongfeng’s spokesman could not be reached for comment. A Nissan representative said the firm had no information on the deal.

Local production, which can guarantee steady supply and cut costs, has been seen as essential for foreign automakers to expand their footprint in the world’s biggest auto market.

BMW, Volkswagen’s Audi and Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz, which now dominate China’s luxury car segment, started making cars in China years ago.

Renault SA, part of the Nissan-Renault alliance, is one of the few foreign automakers that has been exporting cars to China, to a lackluster response so far.

Under the Dongfeng-Nissan deal Dongfeng Motor Corp will take over the venture’s heavy truck unit effective July 1, the report said.

However it did not give a timetable for any Dongfeng-Volvo truck partnership or local production of Infiniti and Renault cars.

Volvo pulled out of an alliance with China National Heavy-Duty Truck Corp years ago due to sluggish sales.

TOKYO (AP) — Honda has developed a new fuel-efficient motorcycle engine that will be showcased in a scooter that goes on sale globally next year.

Honda Motor Co. said Monday that the new engine for 125-cc scooters is 25 percent more fuel efficient than similar conventional ones.

Honda says it targets people who use scooters to commute to work not only in Japan but also in Southeast Asia and other nations.

Honda has a strong motorcycle division that has helped drive growth and profits during tough times for automakers. Rival Japanese automakers including Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. don’t have such businesses.

FRANKLIN, Tenn./PRNewswire/ — Eleven of the world’s most desirable cars lined up side-by-side. Legendary marques and iconic nameplates – Porsche 911, Corvette Z06, Ford Mustang Boss 302, Ferrari 458 Italia and Audi R8 GT, to name just a few – assembled by the editors of Motor Trend for an informal, bragging rights-only drag race as a sidebar to its 2011 Best Driver’s Car award, announced on motortrend.com today, and cover story for the November issue of Motor Trend magazine. Eleven cars, one shot, one winner: the legendary Nissan GT-R.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110912/CL66348)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080506/NISSANBADGELOGO)

In what the magazine bills as the world’s biggest drag race, the competitors featured a combined 82 cylinders and nearly 5,000 horsepower – wrapped in $1.5 million of beautifully sculpted aluminum, fiberglass and carbon fiber skins. And the revised 2012 Nissan GT-R, now featuring 530 horsepower and 448 lb-ft of torque, beat them all.

“We applaud Motor Trend’s editors for pulling off the automotive equivalent of the running of the bulls,” said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Nissan North America, Inc. “Win or lose, it’s great fun and a great video – especially since we won.”

The $89,950 Nissan GT-R was followed across the quarter-mile finish line by the $225,325 Ferrari 458 Italia and the $198,600 Audi R8 GT. “In all fairness, if we were running for pink slips, we would have had to bring at least two GT-Rs to match the cost of the competitors,” added Carolin. “We’ll settle for the title of baddest of the bad.”

To check out the full four-minute video, go to http://www.facebook.com/Nissan.

About the Event

Contenders were selected by the editors of Motor Trend as part of their “Best Driver’s Car” (BDC) competition – and one of the biggest, most expensive single stories the magazine has ever executed. The supercars were considered among the best sports cars in the world. Unless all-new or significantly revised, previous entrants were not allowed to participate. Vehicles were run at factory recommended settings, with standard or factory optional equipment. The drag race portion was filmed on a closed course at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in El Toro, California.

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Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today unveiled Nissan LEAF, the world’s first affordable, zero-emission car. Designed specifically for a lithium-ion battery-powered chassis, Nissan LEAF is a medium-size hatchback that comfortably seats five adults and has a range of more than 160km (100 miles) to satisfy real-world consumer requirements.

Slated for launch in late 2010 in Japan, the United States, and Europe, Nissan LEAF ushers in a new era of mobility – the zero-emission era. The car is the embodiment of Nissan’s radical, transformative vision for the future and the culmination of decades of investment and research.

Key characteristics of the LEAF include:

1. Zero-emission power train and platform
2. Affordable pricing
3. Distinctive design
4. Real-world range autonomy – 160km (100 miles)
5. Connected Mobility: Advanced intelligent transportation (IT) system

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