Search the Community

Kia's new flagship saloon, the K9, will be called the Quoris in international markets but perhaps with the exception of the European Union (EU). China's car brand, Qoros has filed a lawsuit to prevent Kia from using the name Quoris in the EU. As a result, a preliminary injunction has been imposed on Kia over the usage of the word. A preliminary injunction can be defined as an order by the court requiring the defendant to do or refrain from doing some action while pending a full trial on the merits of the lawsuit. The court determined that consumers could become confused about the 'similar named' car maker and a car model. On the court's judgment, Qoros vice chairman, Volker Steinwascher, commented, "We are pleased with the decision of the court as we succeeded in our first step towards protecting our brand name. We look forward to the first public debut of our vehicles at both the Geneva and the Shanghai auto show in 2013." Qoros was established four years ago from a partnership between Chery and Israel Corporation, a global industrial holding firm. The new brand promises to focus on state-of-the-art technology with high level of user-friendly in-car connectivity and safety standards. It shall target young consumers in Europe and China. The first product from Qoros will be a 4-door compact sedan. Kia has yet to issue a statement regarding the court's decision.

Production of the last Opel Omega ended in 2003 without a direct replacement. However, there is news that the Omega might rise from the ashes. Former Opel CEO, Karl-Friedrich Stracke, revealed the company is working on a flagship model and according to AutoNews.de, Opel is developing a luxurious sedan which could revive the Omega moniker. The new model is rumored to be based on the Cadillac XTS luxury saloon (above) and could be launched in late 2013. Power would likely be provided by the existing 3.6-litre V6 engine that is current found under the hood of the XTS. It produces 304 hp and 358 Nm of torque. However, the magazine speculates that a turbocharged 2.8-litre V6 with 321bhp or a twin-turbo 2.0-litre diesel with 192bhp could also be available. Like the XTS, all-wheel drive system will likely be optional regardless of engine option. In the 1990s, I used to see a few Omega sedans plying along the roads of Singapore. It has a sleek handsome profile and I would admire it for a moment when I see one passes by. These sedans would have probably end up in the scrap yard by now. I look forward to seeing the Omega sedans on our roads again in a few years

The Honda NSX is the only car from the Japanese firm that can be considered as a supercar. A lightweight all-aluminium body, rather healthy V6 engine and great looks that put some of its western rivals to shame. This model alone lasted for almost 15 years, although it received some minor changes along the way. Honda had to cease production of the car when the car could not pass stringent global emission regulations that were to take place in 2006. In 2008, Honda revived the idea of replacing the NSX with a new model which featured a V10 engine, but they had to scrap that idea soon after due to the global financial crisis. But it seems that Honda is keen on reviving the idea again as they have confirmed that a concept (known as the Super Sport) will be showcased at the Detroit Motor Show in January 2012. This time it will not use a V10 engine, instead it will feature a hybrid powertrain. One of the first clues to a NSX successor was spotted recently at a film shoot for the upcoming Avengers movie. Honda refused to comment about the car in the photo but many believe that this could be the car in question. Should this car go into production, then we might get to see it as early as late 2013. Honda recently showed a fleeting image of the model to journalists at their Motegi Twin Ring race track. According to Honda chief of research and design, the car will define the new image of Acura (Honda

Since the end of production of the Mitsubishi Diamante back in 2005, the Japanese automaker lacks a flagship model. But that is about to change soon. The troubled automaker has announced that as a part of cooperation agreement signed with the Nissan Group in December 2010, it will begin selling a rebadged Fuga, which to the rest of the world is known as the Infiniti M, from next summer. According to Mitsubishi, the rebadged luxury sedan will be sold only in Japan and there are no plans to export the car in overseas markets. The Japanese automaker has yet to reveal the flagship sedan's name. The cooperation between the two companies extends beyond the Infiniti M sedan. Mitsubishi has also agreed to sell Nissan