Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[ALMS announces 2010 schedule; Laguna Seca moves to May, becomes 6-hour enduro]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/27/alms-announces-2010-schedule-laguna-seca-moves-to-may-becomes/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/27/alms-announces-2010-schedule-laguna-seca-moves-to-may-becomes/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/27/alms-announces-2010-schedule-laguna-seca-moves-to-may-becomes/#commentsFiled under:

2008 ALMS at Laguna Seca - click above for a high res image gallery

On Friday, prior to this weekend's Petit Le Mans, the American Le Mans Series announced its planned 2010 schedule. Tentatively, nine of this year's 10 venues are carried over, with only the St. Petersburg, FL street race going away. There are a couple of date changes for the existing venues, however. The Utah race, which had been run in May in recent years, will move to a July slot after the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The big change for 2010 however, concerns the annual race at Laguna Seca. This California event has long been the season-ender following Petit Le Mans. In 2010, though, it moves to the May 22 slot and the race length grows to six hours (it's currently a four-hour event). Unfortunately for fans in Michigan, the Detroit race won't return in 2010 because of its local sponsors' poor financial situation; organizers still hope to revive the race in 2011. The schedule is after the jump.

Gallery: 2008 ALMS at Laguna Seca


All photos Copyright (C)2008 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: American Le Mans Series]

Continue reading ALMS announces 2010 schedule; Laguna Seca moves to May, becomes 6-hour enduro

ALMS announces 2010 schedule; Laguna Seca moves to May, becomes 6-hour enduro originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>almsamerican le mansamerican le mans ser...american le mans seriesamerican le mans series green challengeamerican lemans seriesAmericanLeMansAmericanLeMansSer...AmericanLeMansSeriesAmericanLeMansSeriesGreenChallengelagunalaguna secaLagunaSecaSun, 27 Sep 2009 17:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Ironic Twist: Renault reportedly banned from selling in China over "serious safety risks"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/11/ironic-twist-renault-reportedly-banned-from-selling-in-china-ov/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/11/ironic-twist-renault-reportedly-banned-from-selling-in-china-ov/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/11/ironic-twist-renault-reportedly-banned-from-selling-in-china-ov/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



The Renault Laguna, Scenic, Megane and Megane Coupe-Cabriolet were designed by Renault, built by Renault factories in France, and have all earned five stars in European NCAP tests. They have also all been banned by China's General Administration of Quality Supervision Inspection and Quarantine for "serious safety risks" and inadherence to technical regulations.

Renault didn't even sell a thousand cars in China last year, and the GAQSIQ didn't specify what could have been so wrong with those four cars that they deserved a ban. It has only said that Renaults "have many times revealed quality problems" and urged the company to check its Chinese-market cars thoroughly. We have no idea what the technical and safety issues could be, but based on some of the Chinese cars being sold... well, you know the one about glass houses, right?

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

Ironic Twist: Renault reportedly banned from selling in China over "serious safety risks" originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinagovernmentlagunalegalmeganerenaultrenault lagunarenault meganerenault scenicRenaultLagunaRenaultMeganeRenaultScenicsafetyscenicThu, 11 Jun 2009 13:29:00 EST<![CDATA[France set to invade Germany]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/14/france-set-to-invade-germany/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/14/france-set-to-invade-germany/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/14/france-set-to-invade-germany/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Renault and Citroen are winding up to launch a frontal assault on the German car market. Germany is Europe's largest automotive market, filled with über-drivers that demand cars that set the performance and luxury standard for the rest of Europe, and arguably the world. The French automakers want a larger piece of the German market, as well as further global expansion, too. Renault is bringing the fight to Germany with their new Laguna. The Laguna was designed specifically to appeal to the tastes of German buyers, with Renault's German marketing department making sure the car met the needs and desires of the Deutschland buyer. Hopes are high that the Laguna will bolster profits for Renault. It's an attempt to crack into the $35,000 price range, where profits are fatter, yet buyers are more demanding.

Citroën is also trying to push into the luxury market. Long known for small and medium-sized cars, the brand's C6 is attempting to mix it up on Mercedes, Audi, and BMW's turf. Citroën has a plan to bolster its credibility as a maker of luxurious cars, such as drawing the line from the DS to the C6, while also improving the dealer and support experience to keep customers smiling. Both brands don't yet have the volume in the German market that they desire, but have pledged that Germany is crucial to their survival plans.

[Source: Reuters]

France set to invade Germany originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Sep 2007 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c6citroenfrancefrenchfrench carsFrenchCarsgerman marketGermanMarketgermanylagunapeugotpsarenaultFri, 14 Sep 2007 08:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Frankfurt Preview: Renault releases official images of new Laguna]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/04/frankfurt-preview-renault-releases-official-images-of-new-lagun/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/04/frankfurt-preview-renault-releases-official-images-of-new-lagun/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/04/frankfurt-preview-renault-releases-official-images-of-new-lagun/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


click the photo of the new Laguna sedan for a gallery of high-res images

Renault won't be showing off their new third generation Laguna until the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, but they let out some photos and lots of details on the new car early. The Laguna is Renault's entry in the D-Class going up against the likes of the Mondeo, Passat and Vectra.

With diesel engines claiming over seventy percent of the market in Renault's home market in France, it's should come as no surprise that a full range of oil burners are offered in addition to the gas engines. The least thirsty variant is the 1.5L 110 HP diesel that get over 46 MPG and has 136g/km of CO2. The smooth exterior styling is attractive and more conventional looking than some of Renault's recent efforts that might charitably be described as funky and, at times, fugly. More details are in the Renault press release after the jump.

[Source: Renault]

Gallery: 2008 Renault Laguna

Continue reading Frankfurt Preview: Renault releases official images of new Laguna

Frankfurt Preview: Renault releases official images of new Laguna originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Jun 2007 10:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lagunaMon, 04 Jun 2007 10:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Spy Shots: Renault ooh-la-Laguna]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/13/spy-shots-renault-ooh-la-laguna/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/13/spy-shots-renault-ooh-la-laguna/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/13/spy-shots-renault-ooh-la-laguna/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Renault Laguna was a handsome car in its day, but after over six years on the market, its day seems to have passed long ago. Especially when many of its chief German rivals (Mercedes C-Class, Volkswagen Passat et al) have been updated and facelifted several times since. That's why the folks at Renault are prepping the third-generation Laguna, set to hit the markets overseas next fall.

Codenamed X91, the all-new Laguna will be offered in sedan, wagon and coupe bodystyles. It's expected to grow ten centimeters longer (about four inches), with a range-topping 3.5-liter 245-hp Nissan V6 that should give it enough kick to keep up with the competition.

The real test will be to see how much Renault has managed to improve the quality on the new Laguna, one of the chief factors that kept the French sports sedan from posing any serious threat to its rivals. Look for a debut at Frankfurt.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Spy Shots: Renault ooh-la-Laguna originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Dec 2006 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2007frankfurtlagunanewphotorenaultshotspyWed, 13 Dec 2006 18:34:00 EST