A motoring news roundup
Spyker to make final Saab bid
DUTCH CAR maker Spyker Cars is working on its final offer for General Motors’ Saab assets and will file its bid by tomorrow, according to Spyker’s chief executive.
Swedish daily Dagens Industri said earlier this week that Spyker cars would revise its bid for GM’s loss-making Swedish carmaker Saab for a third time to address GM’s criticism of its current offer. “We have time for a final offer. Nothing has been rejected,” Spyker chief executive Victor Muller said.
Muller said he would file an offer after GM introduced a new deadline of tomorrow for revised proposals. – Reuters
Kia pulls out all the stops with new warranty
Kia has introduced a seven- year/150,000km warranty offer on all new Kia’s reigstered from January 1st.
The deal is one of the most extensive warranty offers on the Irish market and also extends to all models sold across Europe. The new warranty covers all major parts, apart from paintwork, which is covered for five years, audio equipment, which is covered for three years and service replacement parts, accessories and batteries, which have two years’ cover.
Paul Philpott, chief operating officer of Kia Motors Europe said: “We have already declared our intention to become the world’s number one car maker for customer satisfaction and this is a major step towards achieving that goal.”
Kia Motors Ireland managing director James Brooks said: “This will appeal to all Irish motorists but will, we think, appeal especially to scrappage customers who may be planning to hold on their new cars for another 10 years, seven of which can be worry-free if they chose Kia,” he said.
The Korean brand’s Irish operation finished last year with a 2.64 per cent market share, after selling 1,518 new cars.
Car demand takes a dip in Germany
Demand for new cars in Germany fell for the first time in 11 months in December, setting the trend for the current year, which is expected to be the sectors weakest since Germany reunified in 1990.
But car production in the country should still rise on an anticipated recovery in export markets, where three-quarters of German-made cars end up.
Demand in Europe’s largest market has slumped sharply since a €5 billion euro federal vehicle scrapping scheme ran out of funds at the start of September, and declining orders are now starting to feed through to new car registration statistics.
Official data is expected to show new car purchases declined 4.7 per cent year-on-year to 215,400 vehicles in December, the German foreign auto manufacturers association VDIK said yesterday.
“Many people, who had always purchased a used car until (the scrappage scheme), could afford a new one for the first time,” VDIK said. “The Environment Bonus did its job.”
Renault keeps Megane under wraps
Underneath all that padding is the next generation Renault Megane CC (pictured), due to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor show in March. Looking like a car that was gift-wrapped by a middle-aged bachelor, the vehicle appears to either still be in development, or to have a well-crafted marketing plan for its release.
Based on the coupe, the Renault Megane Coupe Convertible will have a new back-end inspired by the current line-up. With the roof receiving some camouflage, its still difficult to confirm if it will also feature significant glass panels, but this feature is expected. Many of the same engines, including bio-fuel versions, should be available on the CC.
