Italian Superminis 2006 Top 5
In Italy Fiat Group’s Fiat and Lancia brands still beat everyone in supermini range - the new Punto, Panda and Ypsilon are the cars of choice for italian city driving. Surprisingly the Japaneese Yaris found a way to an italian motoring heart, and the old Fiesta still keeps a beat. The French with Renault Clio and Citroen C3 can’t even come close to top 5.
- Fiat Punto 229.623
- Fiat Panda 148.877
- Ford Fiesta 77.190
- Toyota Yaris 65.163
- Lancia Ypsilon 64.602
German Market Small SUV 2006 Trends: Tucson beats X-Trail
Analyzing German small economy 4×4 sales figures in 2006
| 2006 | 2005 | |
| Toyota RAV 4 | 20.429 | 17.475 |
| Hyundai Tucson | 13.645 | 8.202 |
| Nissan X-Trail | 7.894 | 10.179 |
| Suzuki Grand Vitara | 7.843 | 4.813 |
| Honda CR-V | 6.704 | 6.529 |
3 fast conclusions came to mind:
- Toyota RAV4 still reigns in the world of small SUVs
- Hyundai Tucson greatly outperformed the ailing Nissan X-Trail which is now showing its age
- Suzuki made a good push with the new Grand Vitara while neither it nor Honda CR-V could come close to leaders
Ford Focus Feels Good In Spain
Spanish auto manufacturing output in 2007 will stay more or less flat for the second consecutive year with 2.8 million units while Ford Spain spokesman says he expects their local unit production to rise 13% to 420 thousand cars a year due to strong sales of the Focus, the Ford’s best selling model in Span where it tops the C-segment. Although it is not so good for the the ailing Fiesta which now becomes showing its age.