Brooks On OEM Product Trends
By: Glenn Brooks
Analyst Glenn Brooks looks at OEM new product developments in the context of company strategies and market trends
COMMENT: GM and PSA's plans to share plants and architectures
14 May 2012
The past few days have seen all sorts of rumours and supposed leaks from plant managers, union officials and senior executives at Opel and PSA. What should we believe?
COMMENT: Audi hints at production plans for flywheel tech
4 May 2012
Audi's revolutionary R18 e-tron quattro takes to the track this weekend in round two of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) at Spa this weekend. This marks the first time that a Le Mans sportscar with diesel hybrid drive and two driven axles will compete in a race.
BEIJING PREVIEW: Global debut for BMW 3 Series LWB
13 April 2012
BMW has revealed images and initial details of the first long wheelbase bodystyle for a 3 Series sedan. The new Li, to be built exclusively in China, will have its world premiere at the Beijing motor show on 23 April.
BEIJING PREVIEW: V12 turbo and facelift for Mercedes-Benz G-Class
12 April 2012
It might be 33 years young, but there's still a lot of life left in the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. The company has just announced plans to launch yet another update for the rugged off-roader at this month's Beijing motor show.
INTERVIEW: Rita Forst, vice president of Engineering, Opel-Vauxhall
10 April 2012
In this exclusive interview with just-auto's Glenn Brooks, Rita Forst, head of Engineering for Opel-Vauxhall, speaks about future powertrains, platforms and why GM's forthcoming Fiat 500 rival has not been engineered for the US market.
INTERVIEW: Karl-Friedrich Stracke, president of GM Europe
4 April 2012
Following three years as head of global vehicle engineering for General Motors, Karl Stracke returned to his native Germany in January to become president of Opel and Vauxhall. As he explains to Glenn Brooks, future products are key to making the company profitable again.
INTERVIEW: Susan Docherty, president and managing director of Chevrolet Europe
22 March 2012
just-auto interviews Susan Docherty, president and managing director of Chevrolet Europe
EXCLUSIVE: GENEVA: Volvo axes C30, second 40 series model on the way
7 March 2012
The start of V40 production at Volvo Cars' Ghent plant in Belgium also means the end of the line for the C30. Meanwhile, another new model is on the way, to be based on the V40.
GENEVA INTERVIEW: Vauxhall chairman and MD Duncan Aldred
6 March 2012
Over dinner on the eve of the Geneva motor show, Vauxhall's managing director Duncan Aldred talks profits, branding, sales and future products.
(EXCLUSIVE) CZECH REPUBLIC: Skoda to build next SEAT Toledo
2 March 2012
A spokesman for SEAT has told just-auto that Skoda Auto will build the next SEAT Toledo. The car will have its global debut in concept form at the Geneva show on 6 March.
ANALYSIS: Acura and Infiniti lose in Japan as Lexus surges
1 March 2012
How thrilled Toyota must be that it continues to have no competition in the Japanese domestic market from Honda and Nissan's luxury brands - Acura and Infiniti.
GENEVA PREVIEW: Range Rover Evoque loses its roof
27 February 2012
A convertible version of the Range Rover Evoque Coupe (two-door bodyshell) will be exhibited at the Geneva motor show. Land Rover's management says it will make a decision regarding a possible production version of the concept later in 2012.
PRODUCT EYE: Insignia 1.4 ecoFLEX - the big Vauxhall with the tiny engine
24 February 2012
Europe's CO2-based car taxation system is causing all sorts of odd car and engine combinations. One of the more unusual matches is the large, D-segment Vauxhall Insignia and GM's little 1.4-litre petrol turbo. Does it work?
PRODUCT EYE: Kia Optima 1.7
18 January 2012
How's this for a summary of the old-shape Optima: "the last time Kia had a vehicle in the D segment it was one that, pragmatically, had no credibility whatsoever". So says the company's head of UK media relations.
ANALYSIS: Hyundai goes after Lexus
5 January 2012
Laugh no longer at Hyundai's ambition to tackle Lexus: a car that was never designed for the US market, the glitzy Equus sedan, has turned in some strong sales numbers for 2011.
ANALYSIS: VW of America's silent diesel surge
4 January 2012
VW's diesel models are now outselling the Ford Fiesta and most other US market sub-compacts. What's more, Volkswagen of America has just had its best year since 1972 thanks in no small part to TDI engines.
ANALYSIS: Why the Bajaj RE60 is not a car
3 January 2012
Bajaj Auto's MD claims that his firm's new RE60 micro-vehicle is a four-wheeler, not a car.
PRODUCT EYE: Toyota manufacturing chief on updated Avensis
19 December 2011
So you're the world's most famously sensible car company. You've also had one hell of an annus horriblus, a year in fact that could have dealt a killer blow to car companies with a lesser cash pile than Toyota's. Your president has publicly shed tears over the deaths of people for whom a supposedly faulty throttle design was blamed. Now you just want 2011 to be over.
ANALYSIS: Mercedes' Magic Vision
15 December 2011
It's been a long time since the windscreen wipers on a new Mercedes-Benz were fabulously, expensively over-engineered things of wonder. Tellingly, those days have just returned.
TOKYO SHOW: Toyota to phase out its V12?
6 December 2011
A replacement for the 14-year old Toyota Century appears to be finally on the way but that also seems to mean the end of the line for the whisper-quiet 5.0-litre V12.
