In 2008, Romanian customer preferences for cars seem to change in favor non-European marks, the Asian, to be exact. While Renault, Volkswagen and Peugeot have lost this year, significant percentages of market share, brands such as Mazda, Kia and Mitsubishi models sold in Romania , better than ever. Mazda managed the most spectacular increase in sales of the year, according to APIA (Association of Automotive Manufacturers and Importers).

Japanese brand sold with 436 percent more units over the period from January to July 2007. The record was reached last month, when 207 Romanian opted for Mazda, three times more, compared to July 2007. The greatest success in Romania has the model of the Mazda3 small class (66 units delivered). Next is Mazda2 (55 units), Mazda6 (40) and CX-7 (32). The objective of the importer of Mazda in Romania is that by 2010, to reach a market share of 2 percent.

Kia is another brand that aims to Romanians, this year Koreans have an increase of 369 percent on the Romanian market. Performance of Kia Cee’d, a car that launched the brand image in Romania, is impressive: sales growth Kia Cee’da with 943 percent (4,504 units delivered), which places this model on an unexpected place 4 top of the import cars sold in Romania, where Renault Clio (down 21 percent compared to last year), Skoda Octavia (down 50 percent) and Ford Focus, which has recorded an increase of one hundred percent.

The Japanese success model is due to an excellent strategy of Asians to provide rich equipment (including RDS radio / CD compatible MP3 player, according to increase the volume with speed, 4 speakers, USB connection, AUX and iPod etc.), which are ready compete in segments dominated (until now) by the Germans and French.

Other brands with success in Romania, recently, are Dodge (increase of 182 percent), Maserati (155 percent), Jaguar (141 percent), Cadillac (130 percent), Subaru (106 percent), Mitsubishi (74 percent), Honda (72 percent) and Smart (67 percent), who managed to win the market share of Daewoo marks (which recorded a decrease of 32 percent), Citroen (-25 percent), Renault (-24 Percent), Lada (-22 percent), Alfa Romeo (-19 percent) and Dacia (-17 percent).

Subaru Impreza WRX STI has now 20 years of existence and with this occasion the Japanese manufacturer has launched a limited edition of 300 copies on the market in Japan.

Subaru Impreza WRX STI 20th Anniversary

Subaru Impreza WRX STI 20th anniversary comes with a new set of dampers, while the external model has received an extension for front spoiler, aileron, 18-inch alloy rims and special logos. On the inside, anniversary edition has Recaro seats with red seam and pommel engraved with the logo TSI. Price for Subaru Impreza WRX STI 20th Anniversary is of 4,126,500 yen, or about 35,500 Euros.

The Geely car parade was at Beijing. One of the good-looking renderings was the CE concept, a small hatchback that looked like it could just as easily be an Acura that’s slumming in the entry-level class. This car looks pretty much exactly like a well-styled little Acura 5-door hatch; only that’s the Geely badge on that shield-shaped grille.

Geely CE Concept

It is better-looking than any of Geely’s current market offerings, and that’s about all there is to say, because we have neither interior shots nor technical details to flesh things out any further. I think it is a styling exercise that’s likely got Honda/Acura designers grumbling under their breath and Chinese potential car-buyers.

Nissan explains this is a ‘new view’ of the firm’s vision for future city-based transport. Electrically powered, the Nuvu previews technology due to be shown in production form next year.
That much rumored electric vehicle will be bigger than the 2+1 Nuvu, which is designed as a city runabout. There’s a whole organic theme running through the car too, just in case you hadn’t picked up the message that its zero tailpipe emissions make it very much on-message in environmental terms.

Nissan has brought a pair of GTRs, obviously, 25th anniversary Micras, 350Z, and the new Qashqai+2 seven-seater. It is also introducing a new label for its most economical models: “Pure Drive”. Don’t expect to see it attached to the latest Murano.

Daewoo (Korean for “Great Universe”) was a major South Korean conglomerate. It was founded in March 22, 1967 as Daewoo Industrial and was dismantled by the Korean government in 1999.

5. 1997 Daewoo Nexia

Daewoo Nexia

Standard Engine- 1.5 GLI (saloon 4-dr manual)
Engine- 1.5 L in-line4 (1)
cc- 1,498

4. 1999 Daewoo Korando

Daewoo Korando

Standard Engine- 2.9 TDi (sports utility vehicle 3-dr manual)
Engine- 2.9 L in-line5
cc- 2,874
Fuel type- diesel

3. 1999 Daewoo Musso

Daewoo Musso

Standard Engine- 2.9 TDI AUTO (sports utility vehicle 5-dr automatic)
Engine- 2.9 L in-line5
cc- 2,874
Fuel type- diesel

2. 2001 Daewoo Lanos

Daewoo Lanos

Standard Engine- 1.6 SX (hatchback 5-dr manual)
Engine- 1.6 L in-line4
cc- 1,598

1. 2004 Daewoo Nubira

Daewoo Nubira

Standard Engine- 1.8 CDX Auto (saloon 4-dr automatic)
Engine- 1.8 L in-line4
cc- 1,799

Ssangyong Wz wants to be first sporty sedan of the mark, being apart from the 4×4, as a company brand.
The body line is very nice, the front size has a nice aggressively look, but the back is not that impressive. Maybe this is the reason why they have wanted a partnership with SAIC, the Chinese producer which has the rights over Rover mark. From it, Ssangyong wants to buy 5 engines and also 5 platforms and after these another 30 new models. We don’t know if after Rodius and Actyon we want more than 20 model, possible similar to these 2. But, we have to admit that they have a big plan.

Ssangyong Wz Concept

The prototype is 5 m long and the weight is around 2 tones. So, the V6 bi-turbo propeller, of 3,600 cmc and 360 hp is too small. But, the Koreans show any other impressive accessories for comfort and safety, as: pneumatic suspension, integral traction, etc.
Although I see the Ssangyong that they are too optimistic, I will not disagree with them, because, let’s face it, 10 years ago, Hyundai and KIA were nobody, and now they are big sellers. So, good luck Ssangyong!

Ssangyong Wz Concept

One of the most interesting projects presented by Nissan is the Intimate model, a concept that can integrate into the category of luxury limousines. This is remarked by opening wide doors and the rotation of 80 degrees of seats to facilitate passengers boarding.
I have attached a set of photos with it.

Manufacturers rely at this point on front airbags, side and curtain type to protect the knee. Toyota also said however that there is room for one, so will this offer this type of IQ on a new type of air bag.
This is an airbag that protects heads of rear passengers in the event of a rear impact. The airbag is positioned in the upper edge of rear and covers the whole area when it is triggered (behind the head restraints).

The Japanese said that the airbag is very useful in the event of a rear impact, although it seems that head restraints help more in this situation than the airbag. Toyota said that the airbag minimizes the risk that certain parts of the car get in contact with the heads of passengers.

1. Yellow Honda Fit
The Honda Fit it’s without limits and joins the line-up with the premiere of tuning firm Mugen Motorsport’s version of Honda’s 2008 model Fit.

Yellow Honda Fit

2. Kia KEE 2+2

From the outside to inside, the KEE is unlike anything in the current Kia range. A squat stance and low roof-line give it the appearance of a sports car, while distinctive LED lights up front and the luminous paintjob desire for attention. At the back is a great windscreen and a pair of cen­trally mounted exhaust pipes. The shape of the front grille is echoed beneath the powered tailgate and highlighted by contrasting rear light clusters.

Kia KEE 2+2

3. Yellow Proton Savvy

Class: Supermini (EU) Subcompact (US)
Body style(s): 5-door hatchback
Engine(s): 1.2 L Renault D4F I4
Length: 3710 mm (146.1 in)
Width: 1643 mm (64.7 in)
Height: 1480 mm (58.3 in)
Curb weight: 957 kg (2110 lb)

Proton Savvy

4. Yellow Mazda Furai

It seems that Mazda Furai is built up on a Courage chassis that Mazda ran in the American Le Mans Series a few seasons back. But wait, it gets better. How about a three rotor Wankel punching out around 450 HP. And it runs on 100% ethanol.

Mazda Furai

Yellow Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution cars were limited by a gentleman’s agreement to advertise no more than 286 hp (210 kW), a mark already reached by Evolution IV. And each subsequent version has unofficially evolved above the advertised power figures, with the Japanese-spec Evolution IX reaching a real power output of around 321 PS (317 hp/236 kW).

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Even if the Auto Salon in Paris draws all eyes on you, we need to do and we changed cars. And in this case, we present the Nissan GT-R “shaved”. As you can see from these pictures, the owner dropped the aileron and logo with Nissan on the trunk. But it does not just quit at anything, but he added something else: an exhaust and BBS rims. Looks good, huh?