News - Page 2157

RENAULT executives are already thinking about turning their far-reaching alliance with Nissan into a merger. But the result of the move would be a bi-national company rather than a single entity, Renault Group executive vice-president Francois Hinfray revealed at the show.

SAAB has unveiled a completely new engine concept that promises to deliver fuel savings of 30%.Saab Variable Compression (SVC) consumes fuel far more efficiently than traditional engines. It does this via reduced engine displacement, high supercharging pressure and a system that allows varying compression ratios.

VOLVO will tighten its grip on sales in the business sector by offering a newcomer which adds up to a better deal in the 4x4 market place, it was claimed at the Geneva Motor Show. 'I think we can say with confidence that our new V70 XC model makes a strong case for itself with fleet managers with better running costs and stronger residual values than traditional all-drive cars,' said a spokesman.

FIAT is poised to usher in the bold new era of the plastic car before the end of the decade. Fiat featured a plastic-bodied concept as star attraction and the rustproof and damage-resisting bodywork of the Ecobasic sub-compact has potential for large-scale production, claimed exterior design chief Roberto Giolito.

SAAB chief Bob Hendry has dampened speculation that the Swedish manufacturer, now 100% owned by General Motors, would expand its line-up from the present two models - 9-3 and 9-5. He told Fleet NewsNet: 'One of the opportunities for Saab is not to expand its line-up but to offer more body styles within those line-ups.

VOLKSWAGEN revealed its new Sharan MPV - built in the same factory as Ford's new Galaxy which also received its world premiere in Geneva - and will go on sale in the UK in May about two months ahead of its rival. The two new vehicles - SEAT's new Alhambra MPV which also rolls off production lines at Volkswagen's AutoEuropa factory in Portugal has yet to be revealed - will be the final collaboration between the two manufacturing rivals.

TWO Toyota models made their world debuts at the Geneva Motor Show - the Previa MPV and RAV4 4x4 - as the manufacturer continues its programme of introducing seven new models in 2000. And with its luxury stablemate - Lexus - set to launch four new models in the next 12 months, the Japanese car company says that by the end of this year the average age of its product line-up will be 18 months compared to 42 months at present.

TOYOTA is to extend its range of common rail diesel engines as company chiefs admit the manufacturer is playing 'catch-up' in the diesel market. As the diesel boom in the UK and Europe took off in the early 1990s, Toyota backed lean-burn petrol engines as the fuel-efficient alternative to diesel.

THE long-awaited introduction of the micro smart car to the UK will take place in the second half of this year, with corporate customers high on the manufacturer's wanted list. MCC smart (Micro Compact Car smart) is part of the DaimlerChrysler group and has had a chequered history including an on-off arrival in the UK.

SKODA revealed a 'hotshot' version at Geneva of its all-new Fabia supermini which has just gone on sale in the UK. Although at the show to gauge reaction, the concept was a precursor to the 2001 launch of the 2.0-litre 120bhp RSi Fabia which will become the range's sporting flagship.

Eighty per cent of cars made by PSA Peugeot Citroen could boast dashboard access to the internet in the next two years. Motorists driving anywhere in 14 European countries are to be offered 24-hour access to route guidance, traffic jam avoidance, breakdown assistance and tourist information.

AUDI'S famous four-wheel drive system is to be put to the test off the road with the launch of the new Allroad quattro. Powered by a 2.7-litre V6 250bhp bi-turbo or a 2.5-litre V6 TDi high pressure diesel offering 180bhp, the Allroad is based on the A6 and will arrive in the UK in May.

A REVAMP at Audi's fleet sales department will improve relations between the firm and key business customers. Led by Ian Holmes, the new head of corporate sales who was previously responsible for sales to the dealer network, the changes were implemented at the start of this year.

'WHO will buy whom' speculation among manufacturers is always rife at international motor shows, but it was significantly absent from this year's Geneva gathering. And General Motor's president and chief operating officer Rick Wagoner did his best to further dampen speculation - despite in-depth questioning from journalists - claiming that the buoyancy of both the North American and European car markets meant manufacturers were not putting up 'for sale' signs.

CADILLAC unveiled its 10th concept car of the year at Geneva, promising that the hi-tech Imaj would offer driver and passengers the same comforts as first class air travellers. The stunning executive car was conceived in the UK by GM's Concept Design studio in Birmingham, although at 5.1 metres in length and with a colossal supercharged Northstar 4.2-litre V8 425bhp engine, its target market would clearly be North America.

Alfa Romeo is confident that an attractive new estate model will boost sales of the sporting Italian marque to British business motorists. 'Particularly difficult trading conditions at present mean we have no fixed plans on volume, but our feeling is that this car should account for 10% of total 156 model registrations,' said an Alfa Romeo GB spokesman when the Sportwagon was unveiled at Geneva.

HONDA claims to be leading the race to produce a marketable fuel cell car with a model based on the FCX prototype shown at Geneva and on sale in 2003. With other manufacturers - including General Motors, Ford and DaimlerChrysler predicting 2004 as the earliest date for a viable fuel cell car, a Honda UK spokesman said: 'The race is on and as the world's leading engine manufacturer we have a point to prove.

MAZDA is planning to return to its 'sexy sporting' heritage with the unveiling of a high performance 626 and a four-door four-seat sports car. The Geneva Motor Show was also the venue for the unveiling of the restyled Demio MPV and all-new Tribute 4x4 which was first seen at the Los Angeles Auto Show and is similar to Ford's new Maverick also launched at Geneva.

BOSSES of Chrysler Jeep in right-hand drive countries have held a summit meeting in Japan with the vehicle manufacturer's American chiefs pleading for more models. The manufacturer's UK director Simon Elliott admitted he was frustrated at the company's inability to expand its model line-up in the UK with right-hand drive product.

BACK from the brink Korean manufacturer Kia will be bringing two new cars to the UK, both of which were on show in Geneva. Debuting in Europe was the Rio saloon and five-door hatchback, although only the latter will enter UK showrooms before September.

FORD has established a task force to look at every aspect of its European operations in a bid to solve the key problems of over capacity and a lack of profitability. It will report back to Ford of Europe chief Nick Scheele in eight to ten weeks with its blueprint for Ford's future on the continent.

MITSUBISHI Motors hosted the European unveiling of the all-new Shogun at the Geneva Motor Show, the third generation of the popular off-roader, and continued its pledge to keep prices similar to the current model for UK buyers. The new face of the car was shown in the three and five-door formats and claims to have shunned what it sees as the craze for another 'bloated on-road car'.

A FACE of the future was seen on SEAT's Geneva Motor Show stand with the unveiling of the Salsa concept. The new car is claimed to be a three-in-one concept of nimble town car, advanced sports car and tourer. Powered by a 150bhp 2.8-litre V6 from the Volkswagen stable, the car can reach 152mph and 62mph in 7.5 seconds.

MITSUBISHI'S presence in fleet was 'practically non-existent' towards the end of last year while the firm completely rethought its approach to the market. Speaking at the Geneva Motor Show, acting managing director Dennis Murphy revealed that an overhaul of the fleet department which started half-way through last year came out of necessity after Mitsubishi made a loss in the UK for the first time in its history in 1998.

ANOTHER sumptuous new Rolls-Royce made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show, even though the company producing it is soon to lose the manufacturing rights. To further confuse circumstances, a decision has still to be made on the future of the models after BMW takes ownership of Rolls-Royce at the end of 2002, chief executive Tony Gott revealed.

BMW reasserted its commitment to Rover and the troubled Longbridge plant at the Geneva Motor Show but warned that time was running out for vital Government grants which would keep the factory open. In a forceful speech, Joachim Milberg, chairman of the board of BMW, admitted that Rover was a 'burden on profits'.

BMW Group has reported an 'excellent' start to the New Year and plans to build on the success with a host of 2000 launches. Total year-on-year sales were up in the first two months of this year, with an increase of 8% to 170,000 vehicles.

ROVER will be offering fleets an estate version of the 75 in the new year, the manufacturer has confirmed. Details of the car are not being released but BMW Group chairman Joachim Milberg at the Geneva Motor Show confirmed that a model would be produced.

THE Government has delivered a massive kick in the teeth to green fleets by including them in proposals for annual workplace parking charges of £200 per space and exposing them to unlimited levels of road-user charging. In a key response to consultation on its proposals for charges laid out in its 'Breaking the Logjam' document in 1998, the Government has set out a nightmare scenario facing all fleets.

THE Government's long-awaited road safety strategy has been blasted as 'gutless' for not forcing 'irresponsible' fleets into compulsory advanced driver training. After continued setbacks and promises to get tough on fleets with poor accident records, the strategy was published on Wednesday, prompting an angry reaction from industry experts who were counting on the Government to put in place new measures, backed up with legislative clout, which finally recognised the importance of training to company culture.