HARD SHOULDER:After two years of teasing us with concept models, Toyota will this week officially unveil its much-anticipated new sports car, the GT86. Power comes to the rear wheels from a 2-litre 197bhp, and it's promised to be the most fun-to-drive Toyota in more than a decade.
The car is expected to arrive in Ireland in June next year with prices starting at less than €40,000. Toyota is also reported to be nearing a deal with BMW that would give it access to the German’s four- and six-cylinder diesel engines. In return BMW will get the benefit of Toyota’s hybrid technology.
Ampera delayed
General Motors is to delay the introduction of the Opel Ampera to Europe as it works with US safety regulators to reduce the risk of fires breaking out days after crashes involving the electric car, which is already on sale in the US as the Chevrolet Volt. GM has offered more than 5,000 owners replacement cars while it looks into the potential problem.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last week launched an investigation into the safety of the battery pack on the Volt after a pack that had been through a crash test in May caught fire three weeks later. A second Volt pack began to throw off sparks; a third caught fire a week after a simulated crash.
Maybach axed
Daimler, owner of the Mercedes brand, has confirmed it will axe its Maybach super-luxury brand after years of losses and moribund sales, replacing the car with more expensive versions of its S-Class flagship saloon from 2013.
Originally aiming for volumes of 1,000 cars a year when launched in late 2002, Daimler has seen Maybach’s annual sales slump to about 200 cars.
“We held extensive discussions internally about which way would promise the greatest success in the luxury segment, and we came to the conclusion that the sales chances for the Mercedes brand were better than that of Maybach,” said chief executive Dieter Zetsche.
Fiat five-year warranty on all vehicles
Fiat is introducing a five-year, 100,000km warranty, complete with five years of roadside assistance, on all its vehicles sold in Ireland from January 1st.
The new warranty will also apply to the Alfa Romeo range.
The five-year warranty can also be transferred to subsequent owners provided that the vehicles are maintained according to the service schedule by authorised service agents.
The move comes as Fiat prepares for the arrival next year of its new Panda supermini. It is also set to open a new flagship dealership alongside its headquarters on Naas Road in Dublin.