NEWS

TOYOTA is making a concerted effort to reduce its delivery times with the UK taking a leading role. The firm has been running a ‘Speed Project’ for the past 2 years, with Toyota UK chief Miguel Fonseca playing a leading role in the plan. Toyota introduced the programme in response to customer feedback over its [...]

KIA is launching its new Sportage here in Geneva but doesn’t have a firm idea of when UK dealers will see it! Left-hand drive production is underway right now – but, such has been the reception of the car, right-hand drive production risks being impacted. ‘We’re currently quoting a delivery ‘range’ of between June and [...]

LOTUS is showing a hi-tech new Evora hybrid concept at Geneva to showcase its technical expertise. The Evora 414e Hybrid is a 414bhp Lotus performance car that just so happens to be a plug-in hybrid too! What’s more, says the firm, while production has not been confirmed, it IS a concept that we’ll be driving. [...]

NISSAN is making the next Micra a genuine world car, building it in 4 plants and selling it in 160 countries. This is why the replacement for the current-shape Micra has not set any new design standards. Nissan is instead seeking dependability, low running costs and cost-effective manufacture for the new Micra. This will keep [...]

CORVETTE is coming to the UK Chevrolet car dealer network Car Dealer Magazine has just been told. GM chief Bob Lutz made the announcement here at the show – catching everyone by surprise! A UK Chevrolet spokesman admitted it was the first they had heard of it. Previously, Corvettes were distributed by Dutch importer Kroymans. [...]

HONDA is planning to sell around 3000 CR-Zs a year in the UK and use it to up the sporting cool of hybrid. By next year, the firm will be offering 4 hybrid models, with the CR-Z being the racy coupe figurehead of the line-up. This is why handling has been prioritised during the design [...]

VAUXHALL is taking the Meriva people carrier upmarket and turning it into a genuine compact MPV. With the new range, Vauxhall’s Meriva is growing in profile, performance and, inevitably, price: the range now starts at £15,495. Key draw are the ‘Flexspace’ rear-hinged rear doors. Revealing the car to us here at Geneva, a spokesman told [...]

FORD is showing one of the most important new car ranges here at Geneva with the new Focus. It was unveiled at Detroit, to underline its world car status. Here at Geneva, it is making its European debut. Alongside the 5-door hatchback we’ve already seen, Ford is also revealing a new 5-door estate Focus. It [...]

GTI fans will have another potential icon to devour at Volkswagen dealers with the new Polo GTI. Debuting here at Geneva, the 180bhp pocket rocket really is a mini-Golf GTI! It packs a 1.4-litre TSI turbo, mated to a 7-speed DSG gearbox. Car Dealer Magazine is well impressed with the stats already: 0-60mph in 6.9 [...]

RENAULT’S hit Geneva news concerns drop tops and the launch of the sporting Gordini hot hatch sub-brand. The new Gordini range is headed by a lavishly equipped Renaultsport Clio 200 finished in the famed blue paintwork of Gordini. There’s also a Renaultsport Twingo Gordini 133 – and both are offered with the retro stripes of [...]

HONDA is showing the CR-Z production car here at Geneva prior to dealers opening order books this week. The firm has also announced UK prices for the 2+2 petrol-electric hybrid coupe. It will cost from £16,999 in standard S form, going up to £19,999 for the GT model. First deliveries will start in June, and [...]

TOYOTA is launching the first step in its future marketing strategy with the full hybrid Auris HSD. Within a decade, it plans to offer a hybrid version of every single car it has on sale. The launch of the Ford Focus-rivaling Auris is the first step in that plan. It is proof that Toyota believes [...]

FERRARI is going green with a dramatic looking version of the 599 V12 supercar here at Geneva. The Italian brand has shown off a concept HY-KERS version of its 599 GTB Fiorano. As the name suggests, it incorporates a petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain that sounds a bit like the setup in a Toyota Prius. Ferrari won’t [...]

LEXUS is setting its sights on 30 year old professionals as key targets its all new hybrid CT 200h. Chief engineer Osuma Sadakata revealed to Car Dealer Magazine that development studies have specifically targeted such buyers. The are younger than the Lexus norm. This will mean a much wider customer pool for the brand’s car [...]

LEXUS has revealed full production images of its new premium compact hatch due later in 2010. The Lexus CT 200h will be the sector’s first full hybrid model and is already hinting at ‘class leading CO2 emissions’. Using a 1.8-litre petrol engine mated to an electric motor, the 5-door hatch can even run in full [...]

VOLKSWAGEN is launching a new version of the Polo GTI in the summer that can hit 60mph in 6.9secs! The 180bhp turbocharged motor is the fastest Polo GTI yet. Using a 1.4-litre TSI turbo engine, the 142mph car will come as standard with a 7-speed DSG paddle-shift gearbox. This will be mated to an electronic [...]

NISSAN will launch its all new supermini Micra replacement at the Geneva Motor Show next month. The firm has confirmed the covers will be pulled off the new ‘global compact car’ at the show. Designed to be sold across the globe, the all-new car has been designed to offer maximum value for money. Production in [...]

JAGUAR is raising the top speed limiter of the XKR coupe to 174mph in a bold change for the new model year. The 2011 XK range will debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month. 174mph – where legal, of course – will be offered to Jaguar buyers as part of an optional Speed Pack. [...]

LEXUS has confirmed the production version of the Lexus CT 200h will receive its world debut at the Geneva Show. The Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series rival will be the only full hybrid in the posh hatch sector. Not that we’re hearing much more on the car at this stage – other than it [...]

NISSAN has revealed the new car it hopes will shake up the small car sector – the British-built Juke. The firm intends to continue big Qashqai success by taking the concept down a size. Following the crossover theme, it is part-SUV, part conventional hatchback and part sporty roadster. This mash-up will be coming to car [...]