Our reporters empty their notebooks to round up this week’s gossip from across the automotive industry
This week’s gossip from the automotive industry includes news of Jeep’s 75th birthday plans, the future of Skoda’s vRS badge, and why Mustang buyers are likely to hold on to their cars.
Top-end Sorento success
Despite initial suggestions that a £40,000 Sorento would be a step too far for Kia, the firm says 55% of buyers of the latest version have gone for higher-end KX-3 and KX-4 trims.
Read more: Kia Sorento review; Kia C’eed review
Smaller Q20 unlikely
Infiniti has played down talk of a smaller Q20 model. New president Roland Kruger said: ”We are monitoring the downsizing trend in the premium segment, but that is more towards drivetrains and engines. We are monitoring it, but Q30 is something we are launching first.”
Read more: Q30 revealed; QX30 crossover – spy shots
vRS only for Octavia
Skoda is to keep the vRS badge exclusively on the Octavia for the foreseeable future, insiders have revealed. Other models in the line-up will get Sportline variants with performance-focused styling tweaks but no chassis or engine modifications. The vRS hot hatch model accounts for 10% of this Octavia’s sales – around double the figure of the previous generation.
Read more: Skoda Octavia vRS review; Ford Focus ST review
Mustang buyers won’t sell
Ford reckons early buyers of the latest Mustang will keep their cars for a long time. The boss of Ford in the UK, Andy Barratt, said “They have promised themselves one and they are going to hold onto them”. He thinks the enthusiast nature of these early buyers is one reason behind the 70/30 split in favour of the V8.
Read more: 2015 Ford Mustang 5.0 V8 video review; 2015 Ford Mustang right-hand drive pictures
Jeep’s big birthday bash
Jeep’s 75th anniversary in 2016 will be “a year-long celebration with different events”, according to Steve Zanlunghi, the boss of the Jeep brand in Europe. He refused to reveal if it would involve new models but said: “You’ll seen soon. It starts on 1 January.”
Read more: Jeep’s new Qashqai rival on test; Jeep Renegade review
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Source: Autocar Online