Ratchet Block on 2040-parts.com

Renault Koleos

By Ben Barry Motor Shows 28 September 2006 01:37 The lowdown Renault boss Carlos Ghosn today unveiled the latest fruits of the Renault/Nissan alliance at the Paris Motor Show: the Renault Koleos concept, the French firm’s first steps into soft-roader territory. Despite being a concept, the Koleos closely mirrors the production car. The Koleos is an incredibly important vehicle for Renault, taking it into the crossover 4x4 market, and being a key player in La Regie’s bid to release 26 cars by 2009 – ‘to rejuvenate, extend and revitalize our product range,’ according to Ghosn.

Hyundai moving beyond 'value' brand reputation

Hyundai's U.S. boss says the brand is changing from a "value" brand into a "valuable" brand. John Krafcik, CEO of Hyundai Motor America, said the brand is quickly shedding its roots as a purveyor of new cars for used-car prices and becoming a major player in the global industry.

Italian firm buys stake in Aston Martin

The former owner of Italian motorcycle maker Ducati has bought a 37.5-percent stake in financially strapped British car maker Aston Martin. The move means future Astons could use modern drivelines and electric architectures from Mercedes-Benz's AMG division, insiders with knowledge of the deal suggest. Private equity fund Investindustrial has signed a memorandum of understanding with current Aston Martin owner Investment Dar of Kuwait that will see it pay $240 million (150 million pounds) for the ownership stake.