Renault To Expand Its Russia Plant
Renault plans to spend another US$150m at its Moscow plant where Dacia Logans are assembled for sale on the booming Russian market - in Russia the Logan is marketed under Renault brand and is considered a major rival for the local Lada. The investment will increase the Moscow plant output to 160,000 Logans a year from today’s 80,000. Meanwhile Renault experiences major sales decline in Europe in 2006.
Opel Kapitan To Replace Ill Fated Signum
GM Europe plans to revive its once famous Opel Kapitan brand as a 2009 replacement for the failed Signum. Will it help to promote another big Opel/Vauxhall? We seriously doubt. In 2006 in Germany Opel sold 8.040 Signums - compare with 64.643 Audi A6, 56.801 Mercedes E-Klasse and 50.828 BMW 5er.
New Fiat Bravo
The Italians launch another new great hope for success - the all new Bravo. The name was revived after the complete fail of the Stilo. Overall styling of the new Bravo is similar to that of the Grande Punto and it is likely to inherit the Bravo’s smaller brother market success. Although What Car? gives just 3 stars out of 5 for Bravo (it scores less than its main European and Asian rivals in this small family cars cut-throat market segment) we say Forza Italia!
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