Archive | August, 2012
Mazda 6
GM Europe Loss Estimate Raised Again
Stock Buildup Boosted Second Quarter Bottom Line “Opel must cut 30,000 to 40,000 units of inventory, taking third quarter production down 15 per cent year on year” General Motors Europe’s Opel-Vauxhall subsidiary managed a less horrendous than expected loss of $361 million in the second quarter, but one investment bank now expects red ink for […]
Mercedes Profit Falls In Quarter, But Expects Flat 2012
Satisfactory, But Not As Good As BMW, Audi Mercedes is the least favoured of the big three German premium car manufacturers by investors, perhaps unfairly, and its latest results didn’t change that, as the company reiterated its projection that earnings will be flat for all of 2012. Mercedes earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) in […]
BMW Fails To Match Record Profit Pace, But Sees Strong Year
Bankers See Pressure Ahead As Markets Weaken “We believe that overall trends in the industry point to further underlying weakening in profitability despite growing volumes” BMW was unable to maintain its record breaking earnings performance but reaffirmed high profit expectations for the whole year. Investment banks though see trouble ahead. In the second quarter, BMW’s […]
Even The Germans Are Succumbing To Europe’s Problems
LMC Now Forecasts 2012 West Europe Sales Will Dive 7.3 Per Cent “how will manufacturers respond in coming months – heavy discounting and self-registering are, after all, short-term solutions to what are clearly longer-term problems” German luxury car manufacturers have been sailing serenely past the wreckage of Europe’s mainstream industry, but even the likes of […]
Electric Cars Face Bleak Prospects As Europe Sales Stumble
Current Models Not Selling; What Happens When New Ones Appear? “sales pace so slow as to be barely measurable” Every self-respecting automobile manufacturer in Europe is planning to launch an all-electric vehicle soon, but the fact that sales are dying on the vine points to an expensive and embarrassing debacle when the next wave appears. […]
Renault Twizy video
Skoda Yeti Elegance review
4×4 2.0 TDI CR 170 PS Another example of Skoda high quality, practicality Stunning performance from one of Volkswagen Group’s most powerful diesels. For – A refreshing take on the small SUV. Against – No automatic available on the 170 PS engine The Yeti that is reputed to roam the Himalayan region of Tibet may be a legend […]
SEAT Mii review
Back to Basics On our camera infested, congested roads do we need transport any better than this? For – Remarkable performance and refinement for a city car Against – Looks too much like a VW Up! and a Skoda Citigo I can’t believe that even in its present badge engineering mood, Volkswagen could spin Bugatti, Lamborghini, Bentley […]