Volkswagen Neeza given green light for production

FAW group and Volkswagen presented the Neeza concept at the last Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (November 2006) and last Tuesday China Car Times reports that VW is ready to put it into production early next year.

The Neeza, named after Ne-Zha a Chinese folklore hero, was designed at Volkswagen's Shanghai design center and draws its core design cues from the Chinese culture. At the Beijing show, we received unofficial word that the Neeza was a preview for the Audi Q5, but with a transverse mounted engine. It is still unclear which engine will be featured. Rumors range from the 1.4 TSI to the new Passat R36 V6.

Measuring in at just over 4,5m (58cm shorter than the Q7), the Neeza may be what Volkswagen is lacking in their line-up in the growing global SUV market. It is easy to conclude that if the Neeza does well in China, we will be seeing a westernized version in Europe and possibly North America in the future.

Mazda CX-7 diesel coming up?

Rumors suggest that the Mazda CX-7 will be getting a diesel engine and it will be sold in Europe only. The current petrol/gasoline engine chucks out 223g of CO2 per kilometre which could put off some European customers buying the SUV. Engine size is not yet known but the new engine should be on the market in 2008.

The CX-7 has been on sale in Japan and the U.S over a year now and has just been released in some European markets. The UK will recieve the new vehicle in September with a price tag of £23k.

Toyota Blade gets 3.5 litre V6

Looks pretty average, doesn't it? Pretty much like any other Toyota Auris. But this is no Auris. This is the Toyota Blade Master G, and while the outlandish name isn't backed up by outlandish looks, it is backed up by an outlandish 3.5-litre V6.

Conceived as a Golf-bashing premium hatch, the Blade is essentially a raunchier version of the Auris with slightly sharper styling and double wishbone rear suspension, which only the Auris D4-D T180 gets in the UK.

The engine is a detuned version of the 3456cc unit from the Lexus IS350, producing 276bhp and 254lb ft. There's also a 2.4-litre four-pot petrol available.

It's not just the engine that's different. The V6 Master G also gets a unique front end with bigger, deeper grille to provide more visual punch and 17-inch alloys with low-profile tyres. The gearbox is a six-speed sequential auto with steering wheel paddle shifters. The kerb weight is just 80kg up on the 2.4's.

Aimed at Golf R32 wannabe buyers at one end and downsizing baby-boomers at the other, the Blade Master G costs the equivalent of £13,650 in Japan. And sadly, that's the only place you can get it. Despite our pleas, there's no plan either to import the Master G to the UK or to start building them alongside the Auris D4-D in Derbyshire. Shame.