Suzuki Launches New Solio Small Wagon in Japan, will Also be Available by Mitsubishi

Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp. on Friday unveiled its new domestic market Solio, a tall mini wagon that will go on sale in the country in early January. The Solio measures 3,710mm in length and will be available exclusively with a 1.2-liter gasoline engine producing 91HP, linked to a CVT and either front- or optionally, four-wheel drive. The Japanese automaker said it targets domestic yearly sales of around 12,000 units.

Soon after the Solio's press reveal, Suzuki and Mitsubishi released a joint statement announcing that the two firms have mutually agreed on the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) supply of the vehicle to Mitsubishi. Under the agreement, Suzuki will offer 800 Solios to Mitsubishi per month beginning from spring 2011.

"The OEM supply is expected to generate new customers for MMC, as it will make possible response to a wide variety of customer needs by adding a new genre to MMC's existing lineup – a compact height wagon," said Mitsubishi in the statement.

With this deal, Suzuki said it "aims to improve its productivity and lower production and development costs through further increasing economies of scale."

The deal comes only a few weeks after Mitsubishi and Nissan announced a similar but far more comprehensive OEM partnership.

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Aston Martin Adds Three New Special Edition Models to DB9 Line-Up

A new trio of new DB9 offerings are joining the Aston Martin line-up, in what can only be described as a tailor-fit sports car bonanza. The three models are named “Carbon Black”, “Quantum Silver” and “Morning Frost”, and can be had in coupe or convertible flavor.

The Morning Frost is more luxury-oriented and boasts a pearl-white paintjob, silver grille and brake calipers. Inside, a Piano Black center console, silver stitching and real polished glass switchgear complement the bronze leather trim. The Carbon Black and Quantum Silver lean towards the sports side, featuring more aggressive accents, including a blacked out grille and a sportier exhaust system with graphite tail pipes.

Aston Martin offers two sets of 10-spoke 19-inch alloys for the three models, with slightly different designs and black or silver finishes.

All cars are fitted with the Touchtronic II six-speed automatic transaxle transmission, mounted on the transaxle, which -according to the company- gives the car perfect 50:50 weight balance.

The special edition DB9s are available to order through Aston Martin’s dealership network.

By Csaba Daradics

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New Kia KV7 Crossover Concept Heading to Detroit Motor Show

Kia is giving us our first glimpse of its all-new KV7 concept model, which will have its world premiere at next month's 2011 Detroit Motor Show. Aside from the teaser rendering you see pictured above, the Korean firm didn't really reveal any details on the funky crossover model that features a set of Gullwing-style rear doors, but if you insist, we've added the press release after the jump.

KIA Press Release:

"For the past several years Kia Motors' design-led transformation has been delivering production vehicles – such as the Soul, Forte Koup and Sportage – that bear a very close resemblance to the original concept designs that preceded them. At the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Kia will make another dramatic design statement with the world debut of an all-new, convention-challenging concept vehicle named "KV7."