SUZUKI'S NEW CITY CAR:Suzuki is to launch a new 1-litre city car, due for sale at the start of 2009.
The new car is based on the Japanese firm's latest concept car, the Concept A-Star, which will get its official public unveiling in India at next month's New Delhi Motor Show. The production version will be built in India. The new five-door city car will be powered by a 1-litre petrol engine with emissions below 109g/km and will enter the market below the current Swift model, from which it takes several styling cues. It's the latest in a major product offensive by Suzuki, taking advantage of positive media and customer reaction to the Swift.
AUSTRIAN CONTRACT FOR MINI RANGE:The next addition to the Mini range - a small off-road version - will be built under contract by Austrian car firm Magna International at its plant in Austria. The firm already builds the X3 under contract for BMW.
RENAULT GETS A RUSSIAN FOOTHOLD:Russia's largest carmaker Avtovaz, maker of Lada cars, has chosen Renault as a strategic partner, and will offer it a blocking stake in the company. The deal will give Renault a foothold in one of the world's fastest growing car markets, as wages rise on the back of Russia's oil-fuelled economic boom.
COST-CUTTING PAYS AT TOYOTA:Toyota expects to save more than €1.8 billion annually, due to cost-cutting measures, according to its president. "We would expect to exceed what we've done under the previous plan," said Katsuaki Watanabe (pictured above) in an interview yesterday.
That amount should grow every year along with rising sales, he said, as cost reductions would be made on a per-vehicle basis.