French car sales plummet (UK)

Production of French cars has fallen sharply according to a report. This provides proof that Europe's car makers are facing an increasingly tough business climate.

Citroen has done better than Peugeot and Renault, helped by its aggressive pricing strategy and a recently refreshed model line-up, with output slipping my just 1% last month compared to the same period last year.

Peugeot has suffered the worse sales, posting a 5% fall in year-on-year volume, while Renault's production has fallen by more than a fifth.

Renault has been hit by disappointing sales for the new Laguna along with slow demand for the Espace and Vel Satis (latter is still sold in Europe and not in UK). The current Megane is also running out to replacement, further depressing the figures. The company is considering reducing production at the Sandouville plant, which produces the Laguna, Espace and Vel Satis, to just one shift.

Despite the sliding sales, Renault boss Carlos Ghosn has said he is confident that the manufacturer will meet its operating profit target for this year.

car-evolutioncars-MTM Audi RS6 R Avant

The new Audi RS6 innately impresses discerning customers thanks to its high-powered twin turbo V10 engine with 5.0 l displacement. Only a short while after the car�s market launch, MTM, the Audi specialist from Wettstetten near Ingolstadt, Germany, already has performance kits in its program, which boost the performance of this super-fast station wagon.


For instance, the MTM engineers boost the engine power electronically to 656 bhp at 6,180 rpm. If need be, the MTM-RS6 R will run upon request (MTM regulates the increments electronically) at speeds of either 279, 290 or 310 km/h. The outstanding torque of now 785 Nm (production version 650 Nm) allows it to accelerate like lightning from zero to 100 km/h in an impressive 3.9 seconds. Price: � 3999. An advanced version of the MTM performance kit is in preparation, which, with a massive 702 bhp, even outshines the performance data of most super sports cars. This additional boost in performance is made possible thanks to a stainless steel


exhaust system with throttle control downstream from the catalytic converter and a sports air filter. The 702 bhp kit (plus MTM guarantee) is available for � 9950.

This super-fast behemoth is stopped with the aid of the six-piston braking system MTM fits at the front that features grooved (=not perforated all the way through) brake disks in the dimension 405x36 mm and monoblock brake calipers.

�Reserved appearance obliges�: hence, the only embellishments MTM makes to the sporty design of the RS6 is to add a discreet carbon-fiber front spoiler lip and a carbon-fiber rear diffuser, which serve to accentuate the elegant styling of the Audi RS6.


The exclusive sports suite from MTM for the Audi RS6 is rounded off by the large 21" MTM bimoto wheel rims in 10.5 x 21", which are available in the finishes "shiny" or "diamond-cut", and which MTM also offers in conjunction with size 285/30ZR21 tires. As an alternative, MTM offers its bimoto wheel rim also as the new, forged 20 inch version. Fitting forged alloy wheels, which are lighter in weight compared with cast alloy wheels, enhances both the agility and braking performance of this powerful station wagon.


MTM offers this combination of a power-boosted engine, modified breathing, exhaust system, suspension struts and 21" wheels for a package price starting from � 15,500.
Source:zercustoms


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