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BMW AG has officially announced that the next generation BMW X3 SUV will be manufactured at its plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. This will be built when its present contract of agreement is already used up in 2010 to 2011.

The move, though not entirely unexpected, is a surprising a blow for Magna International which currently assembles the X3 for BMW at its Magna Steyr factory in Graz, Austria.

First introduced in January 2004, the next generation BMW X3 will be released soon with added innovative features. In connection with this, Magna acquired its adjoining neighbor, Chrysler’s Euro star plant. The said plant was building minivans and PT Cruisers. Minivan production will be moved to Magna’s original plant once Magna owned the whole complex. At the plant in Toluca, Mexico, PT Cruisers were merged. And the space vacated by Euro star was prepared to set up Magna as the only source for the new BMW.

The X3 had an estimated 45 percent of Graz’s total automobile output in 2006. But the speculations began after BMW executives started suggesting that the next generation X3 could share underpinnings with the Z4 and both could end up having the new 3-series architecture and design.

To expand plant capacity in Spartanburg, BMW is spending $3 billion. The new plant capacity is expected to convert 140,000 units to 200,000 annually. It already fixed operations, substituting two separate assembly lines with a single flexible one that builds the Z4 and the midsize X5 SUV. Also to be sourced out next year from South Carolina is the new coupe-shaped X6 (based on the X5). BMW pointed several reasons for manufacturing more of the BMW lineup in the U.S, and one of the main reasons is the continued strength of the euro versus the dollar.

Magna, on the other hand, a manufacturer that is more focused in producing niche-vehicle, said that it is appealing to customers to fill the excess capacity that seems dismal in a couple of years. The said appeal or talking includes conference with BMW. This discussion will comprise an analytic study on whether to source a different automobile from Graz or not. At the Shanghai Auto show last month, the German auto maker was said to be mulling over something along the lines of the Concept CS and based on the 7-series. The smaller luxury sports tourer that is based on the 5-series could be considered.

Magna, a Canadian auto parts maker, also learned that it lost out on its bid to acquire Chrysler Group. Expected to close sometime in July to September this year, Cerberus Capital Management is acquiring an 80.1 percent stake in the automaker in a deal.

About BMW X3

A compact luxury crossover SUV, the BMW X3 is produced by the German auto maker BMW. The company, though, is advertising the vehicle as an SAV or Sport Activity Vehicle. The X3 is based on the auto mobile platform of BMW 3-Series. The X3 3.0i won the 2005 Canadian Car of the Year Best New Sport Utility Vehicle.

While the BMW X5 was being produced and doing a great job in the automobile market, the Bavarian car maker decided during the early period of the year 2000 that it would compete with vehicles like the Free Lander and other small luxury SUVs (like what the X5 had previously done in its respective classes). As a result of this decision, the X3, which is also known as E83 when talking about the interior, was delivered in the auto mobile market.

Resembles like an “X activity”, BMW, for the first time at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show, revealed to the public what a smaller SAV that is based on a 3 Series platform would look like. Though is has no windows, the car concept showed no roof for most part so that natural air can be experienced while driving. It also featured a sleek futuristic interior. However, only the primary shape of the vehicle would exist as the BMW X3.

The vehicle is a front engine, four-wheel drive with 3.0L 260 hp I6 engine. It has 6-speed automatic and manual transitions and a top of the line BMW header. In the entry level class, the BMW X3 is similar to Audi Q5, Land Rover LR2, and Volvo XC60.

BMW has always had reasons to gloat, it is undoubtedly, one of the leading carmakers when it comes to producing great, and we mean, great, cars.

In fact the latest consumer satisfaction survey has once again revealed that BMW is a winner. And a big one.

The company’s X5 sports activity vehicle — built at BMW Manufacturing Co.’s Greer plant — the BMW 3 series and the BMW 6 series all topped their categories in the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 APEAL survey.

The BMW 5 series and 7 series were runners up in their categories.

The BMW X5 topped the midsize premium multi-activity vehicle segment. That segment includes SUVs and trucks.

A second-generation SUV, the redesigned X5 was launched last November. The first X5 sold successfully through its last days of production and the new X5, says BMW officials, is also now very popular. The plant produced 3,583 X5s during the week of June 18. The X5 will be joined at the plant by the X6 sports activity coupe, on which production will begin next year, and the X3, which is expected to move production to the Greer location around 2010.

“The APEAL study is important because it’s a vote of total confidence in the car,” said Bobby Hitt, public relations manager of BMW Manufacturing. “It is very positive for us, for our customer.”

BMW routinely does well in the APEAL competition, Hitt added. And its especially a pleasure for BMW employees when that vehicle is validated by customers through sales and awards, he said.

Honda led the pack when it came to vehicles topping the list of customer satisfaction, with four cars – the most of any car brand. Honda’s four segment leaders were the Fit (in a tie), CR-V, Ridgeline and Odyssey. Honda was followed by rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz with three each at the top of their categories.

J.D. Power conducts the Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study annually. The company surveys consumers who have purchased a new model-year vehicle after 90 days of ownership to measure satisfaction in 100 different attributes, including ride and handling, engine and transmission and comfort and convenience. This year it surveyed about 92,000 new-car owners.

About BMW

BMW, or Bavarian Motor Works, is an independent German company and manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles. BMW is the parent company of the MINI and Rolls-Royce car brands, as well as maker of top of the line auto parts like BMW 1600 parts. It is also one of the leading German engineering car manufacturers in the world.

Serving up something for all the sports cars nuts today. If you remember we released a short trends alert back in June (download PDF above)

Basically our report makes reference to a big SHAKE-UP coming for some of the big auto companies and how with skyrocketing prices at the pump we will see some big changes to cars manufacturers, and their modifications soon. Well how about news reports today that …

Lamborghini is jumping on the hybrid wagon by announcing that the Gallardo would be available in Hybrid form in 2015. It will work in the same way that a Prius does: at slow speed, the electric engine will take over (traffic, city…) and the gas engine will be used in more demanding situations. Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann confirmed that his company would not produce an all-electric car at the moment without saying why. Interestingly, Ferrari has already announced a Hybrid model, schedule to appear in 2015 as well.

I am guessing this is going to make these sexy machines a whole lot more affordable too. Who knows? But I am sure there are car nuts, big kids and all those middle aged men experiencing a mid life crisis foaming at the mouth right now.

Maybe the chances of owning a brand new Lamborghini is one step closer but it is interesting that even the top European cars are rethinking the designs and modifications of their cars (as we have previously forecast) This is a clear indication that many of the cheaper car manufacturers will come in and do the same.

We could even go one step further and say hello again to companies like Gm motors that collapsed. If they are able to join forces with someone and make a much lighter and affordable car, then I see no reason why they can’t rise back from the dead so to speak.

Even thought 2015 is a while away, I am sure we are going to see evidence of big BIG changes such as this come into the real economy much sooner. It’s all part of the new world we will live in when the credit crisis can finally be laid to rest.

Some of the facts about Porsche: -

Manufacturing the speed runners worldwide, the Porsche is the leading car manufacturer which is dealing with the new and latest models of the car. The latest models of Porsche are the streamlined models which are speeding on the roads. The high performance of the cars is due to the latest technology that had been introduced by the company. V10 engine is used in the vehicles which is delivering 600 hp. Besides this a layout of the brakes and clutch which is made up of the latest technology also supporting the car models in gaining the popularity.

Car models of Porsche: -

The models which are manufactured by the company are not just the simple racing car but these cars are as fast as the speed of light. According to the reviews from the company the car can go 0-62 mph in just a time of 3.9 seconds. And as the number of gears in the car the speed of the car goes on rising. The maximum speed when the car is switched to the 4th gear is above 143 mph and there are some models of Porsche which are providing the speed of 170 mph on 5th gear. And the most dashing fact is that the car is in the air on the 6th gear as its can provide race up to 700 rpm.

The most expensive and the quickest model that had been manufactured by Porsche are around 484,000$. The main reasons behind the strong appeal of the car are some of the unparalleled features of these car models. These vehicles from Porsche are containing an engine of 5.7 liter which can generate 605 hp and is categorized in V10 engine. The engine of these car models is so strong because they are Porsche-patented engine and also the transmissions of these engines are made carbon reinforced plastic.

Designing of the car models of Porsche: -

In order to make the car a perfect racing car, the center of gravity of the car is lowered by belittling the diameter of the clutch. The aerodynamic package and race-bred suspension are secure and remain unchanged till the speed of 33 km/h is achieved. Also company is also following the strategy of using the light weight materials in the car. For example, magnesium is used for developing the significant wheels and the some of the sport seats which are exception are also developed.

Porsche is known for producing the perfect racing sports cars which are spectacular is design and all the features of the transversally mounted transmission are added. Full care of the interiors as well as exteriors of the car is taken along with the air conditioning in these light weight car models.