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New $750 million R&D centre for Nissan
Japanese car-maker Nissan said it will invest some $750 million in a new research and development (R&D) centre to catch up with rivals in environmental and safety technology.
The number-two Japanese car-maker inaugurated the Nissan Advanced Technology Centre in Atsugi, west of Tokyo, with some 2,000 employees and laboratories for advanced vehicles, electric powertrains and other equipment.
The investment will include renovations to a powertrain development centre and a global design studio, both in Atsugi, Nissan Motor said in a statement.
Porsche drops the top
Porsche is sending the new 911 Turbo Cabriolet to the starting line in September, continuing the the 20-year tradition of the 911 Turbo with a classic soft top. As with the 911 Turbo Coupé, the Cabriolet is powered by a 3.6-litre six-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine with biturbo turbocharging and Variable Turbine Geometry (VTG). With the new, optional “Sport Chrono Turbo Package”, which includes an overboost function, up to 680Nm is possible intermittently.
The manual transmission version can accelerate from 0 to 100km/hr in four seconds, and with Tiptronic S the time can be cut to 3.8 seconds. Both versions can reach speeds of up to 310km/h. In spite of the convertible-specific reinforcement of the chassis and the extendable rollover protection behind the rear seats, the open version of the 911 Turbo weighs 70kg more than the Coupé. The light, three-layer soft top, which is automatically opened or closed in roughly 20 seconds, enables a low balance point.
Loan for car-maker
A key Chinese policy bank has extended Nanjing Auto, the Chinese owners of Britain’s iconic MG brand, a two-billion-yuan ($260-million) loan. Nanjing Auto, which two months ago launched production of two MG sports cars after it took control of the line in 2005, signed the agreement with state-run China Exim bank, the China Securities News said. The strategic agreement refills the coffers of Nanjing, a company widely believed to be financially overstretched after it bought the bankrupt MG Rover Group for $72 million.
