Top 80 cars launched in crisis

Alfa Romeo

The car manufacturer’s solution to the auto crisis was low-power, budget-friendly engine types, and in some cases the shift of some standard features as optional, in an effort to reduce the end-price of the car.

To keep sales and drivers’ interest up, car importers chopped prices for cars in stock or rolled out new models for which they put a similar price tag as for the old ones.

Autoitalia Group, importer of Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Ssang Yong, Maserati and Segway in Romania, launched in May 2009 the new Alfa Romeo MiTo at a price ranging between €13,990 and 19,490.

Currently, the car maker cut price for the model by €200 to €13,790.

*All prices include VAT

Audi

The German camaker shipped several models over the last 12 months, the new Audi A3 lineup coming out in September 2008, at a starting price of €19,800, A3 Sportback priced at €20,485, S3 from €37,842.

In October 2008, the car maker unveiled in Romania its new Audi A6 facelift priced at €35,700 and A6 Avant priced at €38,270. The sedan model is available at €34,500 and the break version at €37,700.

Porsche Romania launched in November 2008 the Q5 SUV, at prices ranging between €38,853 and €46,398. Q5 got a smaller-volume engine, of 2.0liters that puts out 143 HP and its standard version costs €36,270.

Audi didn’t stop there, however. In April this year, the automotive company unveiled its A5 Convertible, available at €33,586.

The new Audi A5 Sportback is available for orders in Romania as of August, at a price starting from €34,841, for the 2.0liters 180HP version.

Bentley

Bentley Bucharest, owned by Porsche Romania rolled out in November 2008 its convertible model Bentley Azure I, at a price of €280,000.

Azure T gets a V8 6.75liter under the hood, that develops 500 HP and 1000Nm of torque. The model has rear wheel drive. The performances are impressive for a car that weighs in at 2,695Kg, accelerating from 0 to 100km/h in 5.5 seconds. The car reaches 160Km/h in only 12 seconds, but the speedometer will stop at 288km/h.

BMW

BMW Group Romania shipped in September 2008 its new 3Series lineup, at prices ranging from €22,150 (VAT not included) and €68,400 (VAT not included) for M3. In mid November, the car manufacturer unveiled its fifth generation of 7Series, starting from €62,200 up to €78,800 (VAT not included).

The company launched earlier this year the new Mini Cabrio, and in early October it is expected to deliver two new models: BMW 5 GT series and BMW X1.

The new generation of Mini launched in Romania is priced at €27,600 (VAT included) for Cooper Convertible and €32,430 for Cooper S Convertible.

Citroen

The new generation of Citroen C5 sedan was launched in September 2008, now available at €19,190 – 43,300. In October 2008, the car maker deliver the Tourer version of C5, priced at €21,800 -29,100.

This year, Citroen Romania, importer of the French car brand brought its C3 Picasso, priced at €11,990 and its C1 facelift available at €8,190.

Citroen offers a discount of €1,470 for C1, the new price being €6,720.

Dacia

The local car manufacturer launched in October 2008 the new version of Logan MCV , prices starting from €8,400.

In June, Romanian car maker unveiled Sandero Stepway, an upgraded version of Sandero, with prices starting from €9,200.

Ferrari

Forza Rossa, importer of Ferrari in Romania, launched in Romania the new Ferrari California, at a price of €180,000.

The model with a retractable metal hard-top is powered by a new 4.3-liter V8 engine that develops 460 HP and accelerates to 100Km/h within 4 seconds and has a top speed of 307km.

Fiat

Autoitalia added the new Fiat Croma model in its Fiat offer, in three power output options, for which prices start from €19,210.

The new Fiat is powered by a 1.8-liter petrol engine that puts out 140HP. The diesel options are: 1.9liters 120HP and 150HP.

Ford

Romcar, importer of Ford brought the new Focus CC convertible in October 2008, available at €20,999 and €24,690 (VAT not included).

Romcar delivered three new models this year, the new Fiesta and Ka. Ford Fiesta is available at a starting price of €10,930 (with VAT) and Ka at €10,350 (with VAT).

Hyundai

The South-Korean car maker deemed crisis as the best moment to launch the priciest version of its Veracruz. Prices start from €40,000 and reach €45,000 for the Luxury version. Veracruz is currently priced at €32,000.

Hyundai Auto Romania unveiled this year its new i20 and preps the launch of the new ix35 and new Santa Fe.

Lancia

Autoitalia launched in November 2008 the new Lancia Delta, from prices ranging between €18,885 and €26,670.

The current price starts from €17,690, subtracting the €1,200 discount.

Lexus

Toyota added two new models this year to its premium lineup: the new generation of RX450H hybrid SUV and the new convertible IS250C.

The second generation of RX model is powered by a 3-5liter 249HP engine and two electric engines. With a maximum power output of 299HP, the Lexus Hybrid Drive gives RX 450h a top speed of 200km/h. The car reaches 100km/h within 7.8 seconds.

Maserati

AutoItalia Group, official dealer of Maserati in Romania, launched in December 2008 the new Maserati Quattroporte.

The 4.2liter 400HP model is priced at €99,500 (without VAT) while the 4.7-liter (430 HP)starts from €107,000 (without VAT).

Mazda

Mazda shipped in October 2008 the facelift version of its BT-50 pick-up, at prices ranging from €17,490 and €28,790.

The new Mazda3 generation costs €14,890, 5% less than at its launch in Romanian market (€15,690) for the 1.6-liter 105 HP variant. The hatchback and sedan versions have the same price tag.

The Mazda CX-7 crossover SUV facelift is expected to come off by yearend in Romania.

Mercedes-Benz

In October 2008, Mercedes launched its GLK model, priced at €43,410 - €45,810. Currently, the car costs €3,540 less.

Mercedes-Benz Romania rolled out this year the new E Class limousine, available in power output versions ranging from 136HP and 388HP, and costs €39,270, while the new E Class Coupe is priced between €44,685 and €66,045.

The carmaker said it would launch the break version of its new generation E Class, currently available for order, from €42,483.

Nissan

The new Nissan Qashqai+2 crossover, the seven-seats model, assembled at Nissan’s plant in Sunderland came out in February 2009 in Romania, available at a starting price of €21,250. Qashqai+2 2WD has a discount of €3,300 while Qashqai+2 4WD has a discount of €4,498.

Nissan will soon launch the convertible version of 370Z.

Opel

General Motors Southeast Europe, official dealer of Opel in Romania launched in September 2008 the second generation of Opel Agila. Prices start from €9,850.

Opel Insignia, the successor of the medium-class Vectra is available in the dealer’s showrooms as of December. The car comes in nine power output versions for which prices range between €19,159 and €33,500 for the sedan and hatchback versions. Prices for Insignia start from €15,700, €3.500 less than in 2008.

Chevrolet Cruze is also available in Romania since April at a price starting from €13,200.

Peugeot

Trust Motors, Peugeot’s representative in Romania launched this year three models. The 3008 Crossover, available since September is priced at €17,710 and comes in four power output options: 1.6 petrol 120 HP, 156 HP and 1.6 diesel 110HP, 2.0 diesel 150HP.

The 308CC convertible costs €22,689, and comes in four power-output versions: 1.6 petrol 120 HP, 156 HP and 1.6 diesel 136 HP.

The 206+ is available since October in Romania and is priced at €9,916 in two versions: 1.4 petrol 75 HP and 1.4 diesel 70 HP.

Porsche

Porsche Romania launched in Romania in September 2008 four new models, 911 Carrera and 911 Carrera S (Coupe and Convertible). Prices start from €71,981 (without VAT) for 911 Carrera Coupe and €80,836 (without VAT) for 911 Carrera S Coupe.

Porsche rolled out four new cars this year: Cayenne Diesel, Cayman facelift, Boxer facelift and the first limousine of the car maker, Panamera.

Renault

The new Renault Symbol is available in Romania since September 2008 at a price of €7,990, and Koleos SUV, priced between €21,100 and €30,351.

Earlier this year, the French-based car maker launched the new Megane, the new Megane Coupe, Lauga Coupe, and the new Clio lineup (Clio, Clio Estate and Clio RS). Megane Sport Tourer, Fluence, the new Scenic and Grand Scenic are underway.

Prices for the new Renault Clio start from €10,700 the car coming in four power output versions. Renault Clio Estate is priced at €11,250.

Renault delivered in April 2009 the new Laguna Coupe, available at €27,700.

Seat

Porsche Romania began to market the new generation of the small-sized Seat Ibiza SC (SportCoupe) at the end of November. Ibiza SportCoupe, the three-door version of Ibiza was launched at a starting price of €12,218.

Ibiza has a discount of €2,000, pushing the end-price to only €10,228.

In 2009 Seat also brought Exeo and facelift versions of Leon and Altea. Seat Exeo, a new medium-class sport limousine is available since June at a starting price of €18,837 for the 1.6 liter 102HP version.

Porsche Romania will bring in September the new models Seat Ibiza Cupra, FR and Bocanegra, as well as a new power-output version of 1.6TDI 90HP.

Skoda

Skoda Octavia facelift came off in November 2008 at prices ranging between €13,737 and €27,132. The new price tag for Octavia is €11,460, €2,270 less than a year earlier.

Skoda rolled out in 2009 the new generation of Superb, priced at €18,980 and €34,200 (without VAT).

Toyota

The local subsidiary of the world’s largest car maker, Toyota launched this year the new IQ and Urban Cruiser, the new generations of Avensis, Prius and Verso. In October, the manufacturer will release the new Land Cruiser.

Toyota Urban Cruiser SUV launched in June is priced at €15,725, the 4WD model while Toyota IQ, the smallest car in the Japan-based producer’s range in Europe costs €13,301.

The third generation of Avensis shipped in January in Romania is priced at €19,220. Throughout this year, Toyota has unveiled and started to market the facelift versions of Aygo, Yaris, Auris, Corolla, Rav4 and Hilux.

Launched in February, Aygo has a starting price of €8,600.

Volvo

EIT-Forum Auto, official dealer of Volvo in Romania launched in November 2008 the XC60 crossover, at prices ranging between €33,558 and €46,564.

The XC60 price has a discount of €1,428. The cheapest model costs €32,130.

Volkswagen

VW Scirocco was unveiled in October 2008 and is priced between €21,603 - €24,808 This month, the car has a promotional price of €20,458.

Porsche Romania rolled out in November 2008 the new VW Golf VI, at a price ranging between €13,668 and €23,084. The new Golf Variant is available in three power output versions for which the prices start from €13,685.