“if only Ford had launched the X-Type first, then sold the Mondeo as a Jaguar in disguise” BARCELONA, Spain – The new F-Type coupe might well raise Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) profile as it tries to assault luxury markets dominated by the Germans, but it won’t do anything to help the company solve its most […]
Archive | March, 2014
VW Battery-Only Golf A Stop-Gap Before Plug-In Hybrid Arrives
“anyone who buys one will be entitled to 30 days of free car rental” BERLIN, Germany – Volkswagen showed its commitment to the electric car revolution when it unveiled its battery-only powered Golf, but experts reckon this is really a stop gap for Europe’s biggest car company which plans to make its biggest play in […]
Does Tesla Technology Promise Long-term Victory Over Rivals?
Current Success Is Down To Marketing, Not Technology, Report Says. “consumers are not doing any cost/benefit calculations – but rather just saying ‘I want one’” Tesla’s success so far has been down to rich buyers making irrational choices, a report says, but its cost claims are forcing sceptics to wonder if long-term, the upstart Californian […]
F-Type Coupe Will Lead Jaguar Land Rover Premium Car Assault
Latest Version Has Room For Golf Clubs Too. LLEIDA, Spain – Jaguar’s F-Type coupe, set to spearhead the advance of the ambitious British-based and Indian owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) maker of premium sports cars, sedans and SUVs, will go on sale in the U.S. and around the world next month. The two-seater sports car […]
Russia Sales Rocked By Crimea Troubles, Support Withdrawal
Sales Could Fall By Up To Eight Per Cent In 2014. 20 Per Cent Plunge On Cards If Sanctions Ramped Up. Political troubles in Crimea lopped between two and four per cent from likely Russian car sales estimates for 2014, but recent action by the government to scrap support for car loans will mean sales […]
Could Security Issue Derail U.S., Europe Trade Talks?
German Anger Over Security Issues Could Be Hidden Torpedo. There don’t seem to any serious obstacles to the U.S. and the European Union (E.U.) concluding a plan for free trade in the automotive industry, but German anger over security issues could yet torpedo the talks. Plans to free trade in the automotive industry are part […]
Ford Tourneo Connect review
If You Want Utility Come And Get It. Tough Competition For Berlingo, Kangoo, Partner, Doblo. For – practical, versatile, rugged. Against – if you like the above, ugliness is not a negative. rating *** out of 5 £16,395 If unpretentious practicality and utility are your car-buying watchwords, the Ford Tourneo people mover could be your […]
Stagnant European Recovery Forecasts Might Be Too Modest
Car Use Said To Be Rising, Used Car Supply Declining. But Prices Threatened By Continued Oversupply. The recovery in West Europe’s car sales might turn into something more impressive than the expected stagnating recovery from six years of weakness. LMC Automotive raised its forecast for 2014 to an increase of three per cent, compared with […]
VW Sales Boom, But Profits Will Fail To Keep Pace
Porsche, Audi Make Huge Contributions. 10 Million Sales Target Arrives Four Years Early. Volkswagen has an impressive record of accelerating sales as it pushes towards its ambition of number one in the world and 10 million sales a year, but investors are worrying because VW brand profits are stagnating and aren’t likely to gather pace […]
Ford Europe Hopes Russia Spat Won’t Hamper Business.
At Least Ford Doesn’t Export Cars From Former Soviet Union. GENEVA, Switzerland – Ford of Europe, which has factories in Russia, hopes business there won’t be jeopardized by the spat between Russia and Ukraine. In an interview at the Geneva car show, Ford of Europe’s chief operating officer Barb Samardzich said its factory in St […]