LIZZIE LORDS IT: Highlight of centenary celebrations at Ford's Michigan HQ last week was the arrival of a convoy of 43 Model Ts driven from California by their owners.
The question on everyone's wind-chapped lips: would Bill take the wheel of one of the cars his great-grandfather Henry had invented? Although millions of drivers at the beginning of the past century mastered the tricky combination of gears, pedals and levers that make a Model T move along, it seems that Bill Ford hasn't got the hang of it. Asked if he was going to take a quick spin in a Model T, he said: "Have you tried one of them? I have, and I'm not going to."
Meanwhile, on centenary day Ford announced a production cut of 11,000 Mondeos at its Belgian Genk unit in the second half of the year. Ford Belgium said capacity could be reduced even further, due to a market slump. A union official said there was talk of further production cuts at Ford sites in Southampton in Britain and Valencia, Spain.
SPACEY VECTRA: Opel is launching an estate version of its Vectra range this October, offering 1,850 litres of space. Among the options will be electronically operated tailgate and foldaway-trailer hitch. Opel will be hoping it can overcome capacity shortage for the Vectra range before introducing the new variant.
RENAULT COURSE: Renault Ireland's base at Kylemore Road, Dublin 10, will have an international flavour from next year. English-speaking mechanics from east European countries and Israel, Greece and Iceland will undergo an intensive 12-week course taking in advanced computer technology, bringing them to master technician standards. "This is the first international training centre to be operated by an independent importer so we must be doing things right," says chairman Bill Cullen.
TOYKO GETS TOUGH: Pressure on Japanese manufacturers to increase efforts to create hybrid alternatives has come from Tokyo's governor who is planning to restrict diesel emissions in the city. Toyota and some Japanese makers are putting weight on developing hybrid and low emission vehicles, including the prototype eco car, Fine-S, which is on display at the Fifth Toyota Environment Forum.
ONE MUST KEEP CALM: Britain's Prince of Wales has apologised for his son's part in a row with another motorist. Leaving a polo match, Prince William overtook a Land Rover driven by Lord Bathurst, on whose land the match was played. The Prince, and his police escort, overtook. The Lord "gave chase", tried to overtake the police car but, instead, it pulled him over. A spokesperson said the police officer "had strong words" with Lord Bathurst.