Autoblog

Russia has just passed Germany as Europe's largest market for new car sales -- for the first half of the year, at least. In fact, Russian consumers managed to snatch up 41% more cars for the first half of this year as compared to the previous year. Not only that, but the vehicles being sold in Russia are more profitable than before as well, with the record $33.8 billion in sales so far an increase of 64%. Top marques are General Motors and Hyundai, which replace last year's first and second place finishers, Ford and Toyota. Russian brands? Not so much.

Don't expect the sales figures to cool down any time soon, as the economy in Russia is still booming and it's the middle-class that is seeing the biggest benefit. Older cars will continue to be taken off the road as consumers purchase new replacements which will allow automakers to find an estimated 20-percent of the entire industry's growth in the Russian market over the next several years.

[Source: Inside Line]

click above for gallery of hot, hot heat

Since last Thursday, more than 20 cars and trucks in the Russian capital of Moscow have been torched by an elusive car arsonist. Each of the fires is started the same way: flammable materials are pulled from a dumpster, stacked under the vehicle's wheel, doused with lighter fluid and then set ablaze. While the arsonist has hit vehicles in five different towns, all are thought to be the work of one individual. According to police, the culprit seems to be drawn towards gray cars (yes, the color), and has completely avoided Russian Ladas, perhaps as a demonstration of national pride. Instead, more expensive luxury imports are the hot targets. Authorities believe the misfit may be a schizophrenic registered at a psychiatric hospital. It sure sounds like a good place to start looking. Thanks for the tip, Andrew V!

[Source: RAI Novosti, Photos from English Russia]

Growing up in Canada, my mother had a Dodge Caravan with fake wood siding. Then she replaced it with... another Dodge Caravan with fake wood siding. The wisdom of plastic made to look like wood notwithstanding, the van hardly felt rock-solid. Meanwhile, someone in Russia – that bastion of good taste that brought us, among other abominations, that hideous Cayenne/Touareg monstrosity – thought it would be a good idea to cover his brand new Audi S5 with a film that makes it look made of marble. Our first reaction: he was probably stoned when he decided this was a good idea.

[Source: German Car Zone via CarScoop]

It's a brilliant marketing come-on, really. Who wants to climb into a GAZ-24, however appealing it might be to obscure-car guys, when you could sink into the all-enveloping sumptuousness of a Maybach 62? Need to get to Gorky Park quickly? A Porsche Cayenne outfitted with a meter and checkerboard detailing awaits at the curb. It's not just a fancied-up VW, still carrying the VR6 behind the Porsche crest, either. No, this Cayenne is a TechArt Magnum, packing enough horsepower to light Long Island. Shaking that covey of shifty-eyed men in the shiny black Zil won't be a problem. It's not known if the fare is commensurate with the price of the vehicle, however.

[Source: englishrussia.com]

Click above to watch video

We are inundated with safety reminders every time we get into our cars and turn the key. Your car reminds you to fasten your safety belt with incessant beeps and warning lights fill your dashboard when brake or airbag sensors think something is wrong. But, as the video pasted after the break proves, even standing next to your car can be dangerous under the right circumstances. Dynamometers, or dynos, can be awfully dangerous and are usually surrounded by some sort of guard rail, but not this one in Russia Serbia. While it's hard to ignore the guy in the red pants, keep your eyes on the older gentleman at the rear of the room.

While our first inclination was to laugh, the reality is that this face-plant could have been much worse. We're glad that the man in the video appears to be alright. Papa!

[Source: Dragtimes.com]

In terms of sheer size, Russia is the largest country in the world. That must have something to do with this gargantuan advertisement found in Russia... According to the caption, the surface area measures more than 1.5 acres (billboard haters should stop complaining right about now, as it appears we have it pretty good over here).

More interesting than the sheer massiveness of the super-colossal ad are the full-sized BMWs, lights ablaze, mounted sideways as if zooming across the surface. Those aren't base model Bimmers, either -- sharp eyed readers will recognize them as the Z4 M Coupe, M3, M5, and M6. Now, that is what we call an advertising budget! Thanks for the tip, Hank!

[Source: English Russia]

Click to see more pictures of the Wickerbike

We can't actually remember ever meeting the elusive crack band of Russian bikers known as Hell's Weavers, but we now have definitive proof that the group does indeed exist. Eschewing the dangerous rough-and-tumble lifestyle of drinking and running amok, the Weavers are rumored to have a much kinder, gentler side. With this in mind, we'd like to present the result of their latest weekend basket-weaving get-together, the Wickerbike.

The Wickerbike appears to be a nearly 1:1 replica of Harley-Davidson's new FLSTSB Cross Bones, including the mini-ape-hangers, solo saddle and springer fork. We have little additional commentary to offer, other than pointing out the fact that the work done, such as it is, appears to be of a very high quality.


[Source: Snegopad via Winding Road]

According to Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault-Nissan, the Franco-Japanese carmaker is not interested in adding additional alliances with Chrysler at this time. While Chrysler recently inked a deal to have Nissan manufacture subcompacts to sell in South America, that is as far as it goes. "We have an OE deal. Period," Ghosn said during an interview at the Geneva Motor Show.

It seems Nissan's eyes are elsewhere. Watching GM sales in Russia double from 2006 to 2007, and believing the Russian car market may surpass Germany this year, Renault-Nissan wants its share of the pie, too. The first move was taken when Renault purchased a 25% stake in Avtovaz in December 2007. Avtovaz is Russia's largest automaker and the manufacturer of Lada, its best-selling brand. Now, the company needs to quickly transfer Nissan and Renault platforms and engines to Lada in order to modernize its lineup and compete with an increasing number of imported brands. Once that job is complete, Renault-Nissan will move towards assembling vehicles in Russia, as well.

Don't bet that Ghosn isn't still eyeing Chrysler, as he was quick to add, "We are going to continue to do deals with everybody when they make sense." Of course he will.

[Source: Freep]

Relentless deal maker Carlos Ghosn has never stopped looking for any partnership that would give Renault a plum position in a profitable market. Already close to a Nissan deal with Chrysler working on Renault and Nissan deals in the Middle East, his latest paramour is in Russia. Ghosn has secured himself and four Renault managers seats on the board of AvtoVaz -- the company which, as you're all aware, is more popularly known for the name of its signature vehicle: the Lada.

Ghosn's idea is that Russia will be the hottest thing going in two years, so he needs to book his place now. Renault will take a 25-percent stake in AvtoVaz, and the board members from Renault will be focused on technology and cost-cutting issues. AvtoVaz will still be led by its Russian majority shareholders -- one of which is the State -- but will benefit from the expertise of one of the most efficient men in the business. To boot, they are also in talks with Renault about assembling Logans and Meganes. Who knows -- if Russia really does become that important and AvtoVaz proves itself with the hatchbacks, perhaps it'll get a shot at a Lada GT-R?

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Click the image above for a gallery... if you dare.

Like driving skills, the unfortunate reality is that good taste doesn't always accompany wealth. There are just too many people out there looking to make the flashiest splash, and it is now confirmed that one more of those yahoos is living in Moscow, Russia. We don't know much about this frightening conversion of a Porsche Cayenne, and we're not sure we really want to. To paraphrase Fiddler on the Roof, we hope and pray the czar keeps this one far away from us.

Thanks (we think) to Graham for the unfortunate tip. If you're a real glutton for punishment, you can hit the gallery below to see the monstrosity from all angles. Just be careful if the driver's backing up while you're checking out the tail and standing in the enormous blind spot, which shouldn't be too big a hindrance on Moscow's busy streets.

[Source: CarsGuru.ru via English Russia]