2012 Honda Fit

Small but roomy oh well, the Honda Fit is still a need in the shopping list of any subcompact buyer. But despite its undeniable qualities, only 1953 units sold in July, up 55% last year. Facing fierce competition from the likes of the Ford Fiesta and the Hyundai Accent, the Japanese automaker has decided to modify the model for 2012. By the way, the basic version inherits mirrors, color-coordinated and new wheel covers, while the sport will have a new front bumper, a redesigned grille, headlights and wheels sleek new black.


Inside, all options will benefit from more sound insulation, engineers have worked to reduce the intrusion of noise to the cabin noise below the waterproof floor, in front of the arches and columns. You will also find new winter tires, new lighting and two original colors (blue and metallic orange), which will replace the two similar shades of the old version.

Fit Sport once had a little 'extra attention. Dash, will boast a dark metal parts and chrome accents around the gauges. It comes standard with steering wheel audio. The same 1.5-liter 4-cylinder will be in service in 2012, producing 117 horsepower and 106 lb-ft of torque mated to a 5-speed manual or automatic transmission.

2012 Ford Fiesta

2012 Ford Fiesta small car really is not beneficial, but when you take into account, Fiesta, stylish looks and a surprisingly robust list of features, is one of the best ways to fall without feeling as you move downscale, ie.Last year, Ford has made a version of its successful European festival in the U.S. market, and we believe this model is on target, taking into account how Americans are increasingly willing to enter small efficient vehicles without sacrificing the features and amenities.

In some ways, what you see is what you get with the Fiesta. This little Ford elegant and a bit of democracy, with an urban runabout, which had been absent from the Ford range in the United States. In the following runs Fiesta as beautiful as it looks with impressive control and handling and agility, agile feel it is better than most soft, numb defines its size. On the other hand, with 120 hp and 1.6 liter to about 2.600 pounds Fiesta is reactive, but not fast.

Despite the high level of internal moves first glance, the first date of the test with flying colors, try to pack a few friend Fiesta, and you should be aware of some of the typical small car sacrifices. Her slim body and a tight back seat to cut its usefulness long road trips, but we want to increase the versatility of the hatchback models. We are also not so enthusiastic about the tools available to the Fiesta panel, which clusters of audio controls as part of a series of odd diagonal buttons.

Return to the starting point, Ford held the line on pricing for 2012, based on Fiesta S starts at just $ 13 995 and includes a decent set of audio with auxiliary input, a folding rear seats, heating vents again , A / C, power locks, tilt steering wheel / telescopic - none of them are taken for granted in this vehicle class. The degree of security was impressive, and the knee airbag for the driver even included in all versions. A fully loaded top back of the line SES and could reach about $ 23k, but have a small car with leather seats, high-quality audio, voice control and Bluetooth USB synchronization interface, and an interior that is a trace of econobox.

But this raises a question: at this price, why not have some 'broader, more attention, or a basic (but is considered the highest level), the Mini Cooper? The answer is to force that Ford is almost - but not quite - this bag clean cars and very small door sedan. Keep it simple and inexpensive, and does a lot of (very elegant) way.

A Quick Look at the Most Anticipated Cars of 2012

2012 is a very interesting year for the automotive industry as it tries to deal with various environmental problems (gas consumption) while wooing car enthusiasts with intricate design and power road vehicles. Although most cars focus either on efficient gas consumption or power, some vehicles of 2012 will have both features.



The New VW Golf

Volkswagen will once again revive its hatchback signature vehicle with its seventh iteration of the Golf-line of vehicles. The three-door vehicle will be much sleeker and have a coupe form factor. As a classic Volkswagen vehicle, it’s also fuel efficient with enough power to haul a family with its luggage.

Mercedes CLC

The beautiful two-door vehicle is one of the most anticipated cars of the year but not just because of its aesthetic looks. The upcoming vehicle has received rave reviews during its stint in various auto shows and a four-door version with the same hatchback look makes the design even more interesting.

Ford Focus Electric

Another highly anticipated vehicle of 2012 is the zero-CO2 emission car from Ford. It’s a beautiful hatchback five door vehicle perfect for the whole family. The vehicle will be 100% electric which means it doesn’t require any type of gasoline.

Alfa Romeo 4C

Alfa Romeo’s most anticipated car of 2012 is a concept vehicle that the manufacture will put into production. With more than 200hp from a turbo, twin clutch engine, it’s a vehicle that pushes the boundary in style and capability. It’s also very light and its two-door design focuses on speed to ensure that it will be one of the fastest vehicles of the year.

Unusual Car Colours

The colour of a car can change the way people perceive its driver and can increase or decrease the vehicles resale value. Some cars are famous for being in a certain colour, such as a red Ferrari or a black cab others famous cars are popular in a multitude of shades and tones including minis and VW golfs. The colour is usually the first thing a person will notice when they see a vehicle, especially if they are not aware of the different car manufactures.

Some luxury car manufacturers have understood this concept and created special edition versions of their cars with unusual paint jobs. We have included three of the latest trends below;

The Matte Black Rolls Royce

One of the latest trends in the automobile world is the colour matte black. The shade of black is not reflective and makes the vehicle look like a car on a frosty day. The Rolls Royce Phantom was one of the first cars to be coated in the shade and created a lot of discussion.

Following the popularity of the matte black phantom, other companies have started producing their cars in the colour, garages have offered matt black vinyl coverings to make your car matte black and even make up companies have adopted the colour in their products.

Chrome Bugatti
If the Matte Black Rolls Royce doesn’t make you stand out enough, the all chrome Bugatti may just be your car of choice. The Bugatti Veyron is already one of the most stand-out and expensive vehicles a person could purchase. The chromed Bugatti turns your looks comes with a black stripe in the center which perfectly complements the colour. The best thing about it is that the colour is applied to a Bugatti Veyron which is one of the most powerful sports vehicles in the world.


Mercedes Benz with Diamonds

To celebrate the Diamond Anniversary of the Mercedes SL Class the company released a limited edition, Diamond Encrusted Mercedes SL Class. Only 50 vehicles were produced and each is expected to sell for approximately $4.8 million, making the cars one of the most expensive in the world

The Evolution of McLaren Road Cars

McLaren is one of the leaders in the car manufacturing industry because of their ability to push the boundaries in making the fasters road vehicles. Although they are known to be expensive, they always ensure that their buyers get what they pay for through quality and power of the McLaren vehicle.

The McLaren Mustang and F1

The McLaren Mustang is one of the first road vehicles and became available to the public during the late 80s. It’s practically a road vehicle with technology that can rival the McLaren F1 racing cars. These are powerful but highly maneuverable. Many do not regard the McLaren Mustang as its first road vehicle because it’s practically a concept (only ten were made).

The F1 is the first road vehicle from McLaren with the capacity to the speed of 60mph in just three seconds. It’s the fastest car during the early 90s and its successors became leaders in racing circuits such as Le Mans 24 Hours.

McLaren Mercedes MP4/98T

Another popular vehicle from McLaren road cars is the McLaren Mercedes MP4/98T which provides additional seating at the back for passengers. This became a very popular vehicle because it allows a passenger to experience the speed of a McLaren car without driving.

McLaren MP4-12C HS

The latest iteration from McLaren is currently its most popular vehicle. The McLaren MP4-12C HS (High Sport) is a gorgeous vehicle specifically built for speed. The vehicle will feature carbon fiber in most of its parts to ensure it’s lightweight but strong enough to handle the unspecified horsepower of the vehicle.

Light Vehicle Tire Aftermarket

Light Vehicle Tire Aftermarket 2011-2015
TechNavio's analysts forecast the Light Vehicle Tire Aftermarket in the US to grow at a CAGR of 4.9 percent over the period 2011-2015. One of the key factors contributing to this market growth is the increasing demand for high-performance tires. The Light Vehicle Tire Aftermarket in the US has also been witnessing the demand for lower cost tires. However, the emerging threat from stringent environment regulations could pose a challenge to the growth of this market.

TechNavio's report, the Light Vehicle Tire Aftermarket 2011-2015, has been prepared based on an in-depth analysis of the market with inputs from industry experts. The report focuses on the US regions; it also covers the Light Vehicle Tire Aftermarket landscape and its growth prospects in the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.

China Vehicle Solid Tire Industry Report

China Vehicle Solid Tire Industry Report, 2011-2012
Solid tire, as the name implies, is totally solid except for a hollow section in the middle to keep the center of gravity and is mainly produced by a special kind of rubber material. It is a kind of industrial tire adapted to low-speed and high-load operation under harsh conditions, which outperforms pneumatic tire in safety, durability and economy, and finds wide application in industrial vehicles, military vehicles, construction machinery and articulated vehicles in ports and airports.

In the world, Europe and Southeast Asia serve as the major producers of solid tires. In particular, Vietnam and Sri Lanka in Southeast Asia which enjoy large rubber output develop rapidly in solid tire manufacturing field in recent years by virtue of their advantages in resources.

In China, Shandong and Guizhou are the major production regions of solid tire. In recent years, the rapid development of engineering transportation industry, especially the boom in output and sales volume of forklifts, boosts the demand for solid tire. In 2007, the output of and the demand for vehicle solid tires in China broke 3 million pieces, with growth rate registering 24.1% and 22.4% respectively. In 2008, along with the steady progression of the forklift industry, the output of vehicle solid tires in China refreshed the record and hit 3.86 million pieces.

Amid the financial crisis, the slump of the export market slackened the demand, and vehicle solid tires suffered an apparent decline both in output and demand.

Following the pickup of forklift industry in 2010, the output of vehicle solid tires in China presented a significant growth rate of around 30%. As the output and sales volume of industrial vehicles kept stable and rising, the output of vehicle solid tires in China also maintained steady growth.

With respect to the applications in downstream sectors, the demand for solid tires from forklifts constitutes around 50% of the total demand. The market demand for forklifts, the most widely applied material handling tool, has been surging driven by urbanization and industrialization in China since 2000, and the sales volume soars at a CAGR of 23.5%

China Electric Vehicle Industry Report

China Electric Vehicle Industry Report, 2012
Since 2009, China has staged electric vehicle promotion activities in 25 pilot cities. Seen from the completion of promotion schedule and the utilization of charging stations in major pilot cities in 2011, the market promotion for electric vehicle was still in its infancy in China. In 2011, China only sold 8,000 electric vehicles, accounting for less than 1% of the total global sales volume.

In April 2012, China issued the electric vehicle plan, which stipulated that pure EV would play a key role; the output and sales goal in 2015 is to reach 500,000 and the goal in 2020 is to hit 5 million, which will accelerate the development pace of manufacturers of electric vehicles and related parts.

Heavy Truck Market

Global Heavy Truck Market 2011-2015
TechNavio's analysts forecast the Global Heavy Truck market to grow at a CAGR of 4.87 percent in terms of units sold over the period 2011-2015. One of the key factors for this growth is the increasing growth of the Global Transportation market, which is the largest user of the trucks globally. The Global Heavy Truck market has also been witnessing the rising demand of heavy trucks from the BRIC countries because of steady economic growth in these countries. However, the increasing total cost of ownership is acting as a barrier to the market growth.
TechNavio's report, the Global Heavy Truck Market 2011-2015, has been prepared based on an in-depth analysis of the market with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the Americas, and the EMEA and APAC regions; it also covers the Global Heavy Truck market landscape and its growth prospects in the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market. The scope of this report includes the market for heavy trucks that have a gross vehicle weight of over six tones including trucks, buses, and coaches.
Key vendors dominating this market space include China First Automobile Works Group Corp., Dongfeng Motor Corp., China National Heavy Duty Truck Group Co. Ltd., and Daimler AG

Other vendors mentioned in the report: Tata Motors Ltd., Volvo AB, Beijing Auto Industry Corp., MAN Truck & Bus AG, Ashok Leyland Ltd., Paccar Inc., Toyota Motor Corp., Navistar International Corp., and Isuzu Motors Ltd.

Automotive Coating Market

In 2011, the global automotive coating market size surged by 10.2% to USD14.881 billion from USD13.501 billion in 2010; the OEM automotive coating market size increased by 10.5% to USD7.989 billion from USD7.231 billion; the automotive refinishing coating market size climbed by 13.5% to USD6.892 billion from USD6.070 billion in 2010. The market of automotive refinishing coating was driven by the increase in car ownership.

Automotive coating mainly refers to cationic electrocoat and primer surface, both of which are included in the OEM automotive coating, while automotive refinishing coating only refers to primer surface. As cationic electrocoat requires high technological threshold, less than 10 manufacturers worldwide are capable of the manufacture, let alone mass-production. The major players cover BASF, Dupont, PPG, Kansai Paints, Nippon Paints and KCC.
            Global and China Automotive Coating Industry Report, 2011-2012
BASF is a Germany-based enterprise. Although DuPont is an American business, the automotive coating business of DuPont was sourced from Germany-based Herberts Group. PPG is the largest coating corporation in the United States. Both Kansai Paints and Nippon Paints are Japan-based companies, while KCC is from South Korea.

As there is a quite low threshold for access into the automotive refinish coating industry, a host of manufacturers tap into the business which features a very high degree of market concentration. And the combined market occupancy of the top 5 industrial players, including BASF, Dupont, PPG, Kansai Paints and Akzo-Nobel, hit 90%. Although the shipment of these manufacturers is not fairly huge, but the unite price is rather high. Akzo-Nobel boasts the world’s largest coating corporation, but it is not so powerful in automotive coating sector. PPG is the world’s largest manufacturer of both automotive refinish coating and automotive coating. But for KCC and Nippon Paints, both are only engaged in producing OEM automotive coating which is also the hit product of BASF./

The automotive market of China has seen revival in recent months, with the vehicle sales volume during Jan.-May up by 1.7% year-on-year to 8.0235 million units, reversing the year-on-year downward trend during the past four months. With the launch of economic stimulus policies by Chinese government, the automobile industry of China is expected to turn better in the second half of the year.?

China’s OEM automotive coating market, especially the sedan market, is dominated by foreign companies by and large. In terms of the primer surface for commercial vehicle, domestic manufacturers hold a certain market share, with the representatives including Shanghai Kinlita Chemical, Zhongshan Bridge Chemical, Zhongshan Bridge Chemical, WuHan Twin Tigers Coatings, Hubei Tiane Coating, V.ABC Paints Manufacturing (Shenzhen), Tianjin Colouroad Coatings & Chemicals and Fujian Xinzhanwang Chemical Industry. In particular, Shanghai Kinlita Chemical is one among a few in the world that masters the cationic eletrocoat technology.

China Refueling Station Market

China Refueling Station Industry Report, 2011-2012

In 2011, there are more than 1,400 natural gas vehicle refueling stations in over 80 cities throughout 30 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of China. LNG refueling stations have attracted the greatest attention, of which skid-mounted ones have achieved the rapidest development. In 2011, the number of skid-mounted LNG refueling stations reached 330 in China.

Since 2010, most regions in Chinese mainland have sped up the construction of natural gas refueling stations. For instance, Xinjiang will build up 464 refueling stations, 1 reserve depot, 1 peak-shaving station, 8 LNG plants and 10 CNG primary fueling stations in 2010-2015.

When it comes to refueling station operators, CNPC, Sinopec and CNOOC, China’s three oil giants, are accelerating their expansion. CNPC plans to set up 126 LNG refueling stations in Henan Province, 122 LNG refueling stations along the “five vertical and three horizontal” national and provincial highways and 720 LNG refueling stations in Shandong Province by the end of 2015. CNOOC plans to complete the construction of 1,000 LNG refueling stations in 2011-2015.

In terms of refueling station constructors, domestic enterprises have developed rapidly in the past two years. Presently, Zhangjiagang Furui Special Equipment, Chengdu Huaqi Houpu Machine Electricity Technology and Yantai Jereh Oilfield Services Group have witnessed significant growth in the market share of their products, but they still rely on imports for some key equipment. Foreign-funded companies such as Chart Industries have boosted their layout in Chinese mainland since 2005, and by virtue of high product quality and strong after-sales support, their product prices are higher than those of domestic enterprises.

Global and China Tire Mold Industry Report 2011-2012

Influenced by the financial crisis in 2008-2009, the overall demand of global tire mold industry showed decline. However, following the rapid development of global automotive industry, especially in developing nations, the industry prosperity is now in a gradual pick-up, with market size approximating RMB15 billion in 2011.

Based on the introduction to global tire mold industry, Global and China Tire Mold Industry Report, 2011-2012 primarily focuses on the development of Chinese tire mold industry as well as the competition among major players.

Currently, Chinese tire mold market is mainly characterized as follows:


    Insufficient Production of Top-grade Products. It is an inevitable trend for radial tire to largely substitute for bias tire in the progression of tire market in the future, while Chinese high-end products, especially top-grade passenger radial tire active mold lacks of production capacity. Compared with European and American veteran mold companies, there still lies a gap for Chinese peers in manufacturing precision, surface roughness, processing complexity, service life, etc..
    Obvious Procurement Trend of Tire Giants in China. With the expediting transfer of the world’s tire manufacturing to China, international tire giants have successively set up their plants in China to attempt tire mold procurement. Meanwhile, professional tire mold manufacturers worldwide also have entered the Chinese market via joint venture, sole proprietorship, etc..
    Concentration Ratio of Tire Mold Industry Continues to Rise. Due to cut-throat competition, Chinese tire mold enterprises have shown evident differentiation, with market share going to the ones with large scale, wide variety, good quality and leading technology.



At present, there are merely three enterprises with annual output of more than 1,000 sets of radial tire molds and output value outnumbering RMB100 million, namely, Himile Mechanical Science & Technology Co., Ltd., Guangdong Greatoo Molds Inc. and Tianyang Mold Co.,Ltd, of which, Shandong Himile Mechanical Science & Technology occupies nearly 5% of the global market share, while China’s stabilized at 30-35%.