MutantSushi

Skoda plans crossover/SUV assault When the photo caption says ?2011 Volkswagen Tiguan design sketch with modified Skoda emblem? that?s exactly what you get. Cars never look like design sketches anyways. It?s a oedipal thing, car designers would break down if they realize that 99% of cars aren?t sold with ultra-low profile tires, etc.

Skoda plans crossover/SUV assault All Hail the Skiguan!

Aston Martin - building luxury on the cheap Agreed. If Daimler keeps Maybach, I think putting Aston Martin in charge of it makes the most sense... Given Aston?s ability to produce with not much funding / being sucked for all it?s worth by it?s private owners, I think Daimler would have pretty good confidence in giving them a chunk of change for future developments, and letting them dictate platform decisions that Maybach or even AMG may depend on... Which could help Daimler?s own marques :-)

Mercedes hints at C and E-Class fuel-cell vehicles ?hydrogen is the simplest choice for transportation and for producing the energy of the future (and replace the all so dangerous - see russia and japan accidents - uranium based nuclear facilities) How do you think we get Hydrogen? Dig it up out of the ground? It takes electricity to produce, and nuclear power is one of the methods conceived of to create it. Now, any electricity generation method can produce it, but switching cars to hydrogen doesn`t shift electricity production away from nuclear, or even coal, it`s just another demand for electricity. Unless ALL new power plants are wind, solar, wave, geothermal, etc, than nuclear and CO2 emitting fuels are the ultimate source of Hydrogen fuel.

Mercedes hints at C and E-Class fuel-cell vehicles ?I have no interest in driving around with a tank full of compressed hydrogen.? Right... But molecularly bonded hydrogen storage in metallic sponges is a completely different beast than compressed gas storage... There is an actual electro-chemical reaction involved in releasing each molecule of gas, it doesn`t just need an escape route.

VW still eying Alfa, promises Porsche engines for the Italian brand SEAT is more like the Spanish Suzuki, at least that is what they can realistically aim for. And I say that focusing on Suzuki?s latest products which really are quite well executed for their niche. SEAT-Suzuki cooperation really makes 110% logic imho.

VW still eying Alfa, promises Porsche engines for the Italian brand The only deal I see as remotely likely is if VW allows Fiat to maintain share-holding, whether 50/50, 49/51 or whatever. I don`t see why that would be fundamentally unacceptable to VW, or to Fiat. SEAT... Honestly, VW need to let them engage directly with Suzuki...

Suzuki launches U.S. ads claiming Kizashi sedan can outdo Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class All the comments miss the point: Suzuki ISN?T trying to compete against Audi or Mercedes with the Kizashi. (And given that Suzuki is looking more and more like another VW brand - it uses the same VW standard DSG as Audi, that?s silly). What they?re doing is presenting the qualities of their car (which seems pretty great for the price and segment) is the most exciting way possible. Comparing it favorably against luxury brand cars isn?t about displacing sales of those brands, it?s about re-enforcing that the Kizashi is a great deal for the market segment it plays in, i.e. against Toyotas, Peugots, Fords, and VWs. I highly doubt Suzuki is going to establish a luxury division, they don?t reall havy the resources like Toyota to divert from their ?lower status? main line.... They look prime for further integration with VW BECAUSE they occupy a ?lower status? quality for price/ good value niche.

Fiat says Alfa Romeo not for sale amid VW interest @Greg: VW purchased SEAT from the Spanish Government after it ended it`s close relationship with FIAT. So your first comment just doesn`t make any sense. VW should probably look into deepening their stake in Suzuki, possibly via synergy with SEAT and/or Skoda. If they want to extend their US market share, that would allow them to target a market below their more expensive VW line-up on offer there. For Fiat, they should realistically partner with either BMW or Mercedes if they are serious about rehabilitating Alfa... A big new promotion campaign, including in the US market, will fall flat if people aren?t convinced it is really a premium product.

Daimler, Renault Form Global Car Alliance Sounds like you're comparing old MB V6's. As you recognize, they're moving that tier of engine to turbo'd 4 cylinders. Logically, their future 6 cylinders will not be the ho-hum ones you remember, but will be the larger equivalent of the turbo'd 4 cylinders, replacing conventional 8 cylinders. Just like nearly every other manufacturer is doing.