News out of Japan this week suggested that some automakers were planning to fight back against the hybrid with a slew of new, uber efficient combustion engines. Mazda was mentioned but hybrid supremo Toyota got there first, announcing a new Vitz – Yaris to most of the world – with some pretty amazing fuel stats. I see a battle line forming.
Also speaking of economy cars, came news that the Tata Nano’s not selling so well. Internal combustion is one thing, self-combustion another, and, though a fix is claimed, news of Nano fires has apparently scared off buyers. Who, apparently, are also having difficulty accessing finance.
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As the Volt and Leaf poise for launch, US buyers guide Edmunds had some interesting thoughts on the Chevy, suggesting the car’s technology might overwhelm some buyers.
While GM’s Belgian assembly plant in Antwerp seems doomed, Ford’s Genk plant and a proving ground in Lommel got at least a four-year boost this week. That’s from where come our Mondeo, S-Max and Galaxy at the rate of up to 225,000 a year.
Fiat already has form in commercial vehicle partnerships with PSA Peugeot Citroen so this week’s announcement of a deal to replace Opel/Vauxhall’s Combo with a Turkish Doblo spin-off makes sense. Nice vans, and lots of permutations to be adapted to the GM brands. However, GM Europe already partners with Renault on LCVs and Renault’s rival Kangoo would have made just as nice a Combo replacement. Why not, we wonder?
And it was European Car of the Year time. Again. Already. Juries past have made some strange choices but this year’s Nissan Leaf pick was right on the money, for once. A brave, pioneering car, about to be unleashed on real world buyers, through a hand-picked dealer network.
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By GlobalDataThose infamous WikiLeaks didn’t miss out the auto business. Apparently a certain German leader had a few words to say about a certain American car company.
Have a nice weekend.
Graeme Roberts
Deputy/News Editor
just-auto.com
