Product Plans of European Automakers: Launching More SUV/Crossover and Coupe Models
VW/BMW/DCX/Fiat launching luxury brand entry cars and luxury mini cars

  The following is the outline of product plans (refer to the notes below) of the seven European automakers, VW, Porsche, BMW, DaimlerChrysler (DCX), PSA, Renault, and Fiat.

  The automakers plan to launch more new models of SUV, crossover and luxury coupe (including convertible), all of which are also targeted at the USA market. SUVs and crossovers are planned by VW/Audi, Porsche, DCX, BMW, Renault, and Alfa Romeo, while luxury coupes by VW/Audi, Porsche, Renault, and Alfa Romeo.

  A greater number of luxury brand entry-level cars and expansion of the lineups are also planned. VW will launch an entry-level car for Bentley/Bugatti/Lamborghini, DCX for Maybach, BMW for Rolls-Royce, and Fiat for Maserati/Ferrari. Coupe and convertible models will have more versions.

  VW will release a new luxury minicar for Audi, BMW for Mini, and Fiat for Alfa Romeo.

Note: Renault includes Nissan, because both have become more interdependent for products to be launched in Europe. Saab, whose products are increasingly being integrated with GM, and Ford's PAG (Premier Automotive Group), made up of Volvo, Land Rover, Jaguar, and Aston Martin, are not covered by this report.

■VW: expanding VW brand coupe lineup and Audi brand SUV lineup

  VW will expand its brand's coupe lineup by launching the Golf-based Scirocco and a luxury coupe which will be a sister car with Audi A7, and a coupe based on the C1 concept which shares the platform with the next generation Phaeton.

  For SUVs, the automaker will introduce the Tiguan (Bedouin) which shares the platform with the Golf, and the Touareg Sport which is based on the Touareg.

  The Bentley brand will have an expanded family by the addition of the "baby Bentley" sharing the platform with the next generation Phaeton.

■Audi brand group: expanding the SUV lineup and launching minicars

  The Audi brand will have an expanded lineup of SUV models for the USA market: the new Q7 (based on the VW Touareg) will be followed by the Q5 (based on the A4) and the Q3 (based on the A3). The A7 coupe, which is jointly being developed with Porsche, is going to make its appearance in the market, too. (The Q7 and the A7 each is said to have a hybrid version.)

  For small cars, the A2 hatchback, whose production was discontinued due to the sluggish sales, will be revived as a Polo-based car. The A1 hatchback, smaller than the A2, will be launched as well.

  The SEAT brand will take a new look at the traditional offering of only sporty models and will add practical cars such as the Altea station wagon and a van model based on the VW Caddy.

■Porsche: launching a four door, four seater coupe, the Panamera, which will be jointly developed and produced with VW.

  The automaker will launch a four door, four seater coupe, the Panamera, in 2009. The model is the second to be jointly developed and produced with VW, and shares the platform with the Audi A7 (the VW brand version will be launched as well). The body shells are to be made at VW's Hanover plant for supply to Porsche's Leipzig plant. Porsche plans to sell 20,000 models a year.

■DCX: launching the MLK-Class (SUV) and a M-Class pickup in 2007

  At DaimlerChrysler (DCX), the Mercedes-Benz brand will introduce the MLK-Class (X-Class), a SUV based on the C-Class, and a M-Class pickup in 2007.

  The Maybach brand will launch the baby Maybach which shares the platform with the S-Class in 2009.

  DCX is said to be considering pulling out of the Smart brand (currently in talks with the Piaggio of Italy for its sale) but is still continuing with the development of the next generation ForTwo. The brand added some models but they failed to lift the sales, with the result that the ForFour's production at Mitsubishi Motor's Dutch plant on contract with the brand was discontinued at the end of June in 2006.

■Chrysler Group: developing the Imperial, an R-Class-based luxury car, for launch in 2010.

  DCX will develop the Imperial, a Chrysler brand luxury car which shares the platform with the Mercedes-Benz's R-Class, for launch in 2010.

  The Dodge brand will launch the Hornet, an entry-level car. The model will be produced by VW in a tie-up with Chrysler Group and will be sold by the latter mainly in Central and South America and to a lesser extent in Europe (Chrysler will start supplying its minivans to VW in North America in 2008).

■BMW: launching five SUV and minivan models and expanding the Mini and Rolls-Royce lineups

  The automaker is expanding the lineup for the USA by launching two SUV models of the X4 and X6 and three minivan models of the V3/V5/V7. The Z8, a sports car, whose production was discontinued in 2003, will be revived as a new model and be launched.

  The next generation Mini scheduled for launch in 2006 will have a station wagon and roadster. The Mini Maxi designed like MPV will also be launched. The new Mini will be equipped with engines jointly developed with Peugeot (the current Minis are equipped with Chrysler's engines, which are made by Tritec Motors, a joint venture between DCX and BMW in Brazil. A Chinese company is expected to buy the joint venture).

  The Rolls-Royce brand will add to its lineup a two door, four seater convertible based on the Phantom and its coupe version. They are going to be called the Corniche. The baby Rolls-Royce, a two door, four seater coupe, will be launched in 2009 at the earliest.

■Renault: launching the high-performance Alpine coupe and a luxury coupe based on the Laguna

  The automaker will launch a high-performance coupe based on the Clio in 2007 and a coupe based on the next generation Laguna, the successor to the Vel Satis, in 2008 (the Alpine, the name for sports car, which has not been used for some time, will be revived for the coupe).

  In the area of SUVs, the Megane's SUV model based on the Nissan Qashqai, and the Samsung H45 will be launched in 2007. A large SUV based on a Nissan model will also be introduced by 2010.

■Nissan: launching Infiniti brand in 2008 and importing a Suzuki-based car from India for sale

  Nissan Europe will review the traditional policy of integrating its sales and marketing activities with Renault and start its own, independent of the French automaker. The Japanese automaker will begin to sell Infiniti brand cars in the exclusive sales network in 2008 (which models will be marketed has not been disclosed).

  The Moco, based on the next generation Alto, is going to be produced by Suzuki in India as part of the two automakers' OEM agreement to expand the mutual supply, and will be imported into Europe and sold in the Nissan sales network.

■PSA: likely to develop a new entry-level car which shares the platform with the 107/C1

  Peugeot brand began selling the 207, the successor to the 206, in spring 2006. The model is equipped with 1.6 liter engine (to be installed in the BMW's next generation Mini as well) jointly developed with BMW, and has an annual sales target of 500,000 in the world. Its roadster version will be launched in 2008. The 206 will continue to be sold in parallel with the 207 as a low-priced version.

  A new city-car based on the same platform as the Peugeot 107/Citroen C1 is being developed as an entry-level car and will be launched for Peugeot and Citroen brand in 2010.

■Fiat: expanding the Fiat brand minicar lineup

  Fiat will introduce a cluster of restyled and new models during 2006-2008.The minicar lineup will be strengthened by the 500 which will replace the Seicento in 2007, and the addition of the Microcar and the Settecento in 2008.

  As for larger cars, a crossover model based on the Croma will be launched in 2007.

■Alfa Romeo will launch an entry-level car, and crossover targeted at the USA market.

  The Alfa Romeo brand will introduce the 139 minicar, an entry-level model, in 2009. The Giulietta, which is a coupe model based on the 149 and scheduled for launch in 2008, is also of entry-level. The crossover models based on the 159 and the 169 scheduled for launch in 2008 are targeted at the USA market.

  Maserati brand will introduce the baby Maserati as an entry-level car which shares the platform with the Alfa Romeo 159. The Ferrari brand's Dino with the newly developed V6 engine will also be launched as an entry-level car.

Copyright(C) 2006 MarkLines Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.