KIA’S SECOND GENERATION Sorento SUV is set for its European debut at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

Although full specifications are yet to be announced, the 2010 Kia Sorento will join the updated Kia cee’d on the show floor. The all new Sorento promises to deliver better handling and lower weight then its body-on-frame predecessor.

Kia expects the [...]

• 
• Comment
• Read More

SALES FIGURES RELEASED by automotive data group JATO Dynamics for June 2009 show that the European market is continuing its slow recovery in vehicle sales.

While the market is down 10.3 percent at the mid-point of 2009, there has been a 15.7 percent improvement in monthly sales (June 2009 compared to January 2009), a trend that [...]

• 
• Comment
• Read More

TOYOTA HAS ANNOUNCED plans to manufacture a full hybrid version of its Auris small car (known as the Corolla hatch in Australia) at its Derbyshire plant in the United Kingdom.

While there are no solid plans to bring it here, Toyota Australia has told TMR that the petrol-electric hatchback hasn’t been entirely ruled out for our [...]

• 
• Comment
• Read More

HONDA’S FRESH NEW Insight has been going gangbusters in Europe, where the hump-backed hybrid has been flying out of showrooms.

According to figures from industry data analysts JATO Dynamics, the Insight comprehensively outsold every other vehicle in the hybrid and alternative fuel segment in its first month of European sales.

The news isn’t entirely surprising however, as [...]

• 
• Comment
• Read More

As a result of falling sales for the brand, Mitsubishi Motors is looking at making changes to the way it conducts its business in the European market.

Mitsubishi will move about 45 percent of its white-collar roles such as Sales, Marketing, Business Planning and Product Management to Japan. Remaining functions of the company will be overseen [...]

• 
• Comment
• Read More

Following the announcement from its auditors that the future of General Motors is in substantial doubt, the European Commission has called a crisis meeting of European Union states that are home to GM plants.

GM has already announced an operating loss of USD $30.9 billion (AUD $48.1 billion) for 2008. The car maker has asked for [...]

• 
• Comment
• Read More

Alongside the Tata Nano Europa at Geneva was another intriguing debut for the Indian company.

By teaming up with renowned design house Pininfarina, Tata Motors has produced the stylishly-understated Prima sedan; a model that Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata says will mark the automaker’s coming-of-age as a world-class car company.

Officially a concept, the Prima is virtually [...]

• 
• Comment
• Read More

Germany has proved to be largely immune to the falling automotive sales epidemic that’s presently sweeping the world, recording its best February sales figure for ten years.

Sales of new vehicles rose 22 percent over 2008’s results, thanks to a €2500 (AUD $4900) cash incentive designed to encourage vehicle owners to scrap their old car and [...]

• 
• Comment
• Read More

The stringent Euro NCAP crash-test assesment program has recently revised its testing procedure, and Honda’s showroom success the Accord Euro has passed with full marks.

It’s not the first time the Accord Euro has done it either, with the car scoring a full five-star rating under the old testing regime. This time around the rules are [...]

• 
• Comment
• Read More

It appears that Saab will become the first of GM’s European subsidiaries to divorce itself from its beleagured parent. The Swedish automaker has filed for bankruptcy and is initiating procedures to re-establish itself as an independent company.

The announcement comes shortly after GM’s last-ditch failed bid to secure aid from the Swedish Government to prop up [...]

• 
• Comment
• Read More

It seems that if GM is to survive, it’s not going to be given an easy run. Especially in Europe where the UK, Swedish and German governments have all reacted cautiously to requests for £4.2 billion (AUD $9 billion) in government aid.

The UK government is considering a loan upon presentation of a plan for the [...]

• 
• Comment
• Read More

As Honda’s Japanese plants wind down production of the S2000 roadster, Honda Europe is gearing up to release the Ultimate Edition S2000 as a final swansong for the venerable high-revvin’ ragtop.

The Ultimate Edition doesn’t bring any major mechanical improvements with it, but thanks to its eye-grabbingly bright Grand Prix White paintwork and contrasting graphite-coloured alloy [...]

• 
• Comment
• Read More