SSANGYONG UK SOLD:Ssangyong UK, which shared common ownership with the brand's Irish distributor, went into administration over the Christmas period.
Certain assets have since been purchased by Koelliker UK, a subsidiary of a large Italian motor group, which will now distribute Ssangyong in Britain. It has appointed Paul Williams, formerly of Landwind and Kia, as managing director.
Ssangyong Ireland is owned by Chevssan Ireland, which also distributes the Chevrolet brand in Ireland. Among the directors of Ssanyong UK was Gerard O'Toole, who is a director of Chevssan and executive chairman of Nissan Ireland.
GREEN SUV ON SHOW:Ford will reveal a new "greener" full-size SUV concept at this weekend's Detroit motor show. The Explorer America concept is as big as the other enormous utility SUVs on the US market, but has 30 per cent better fuel economy thanks to a lighter body and the use of a four-cylinder 2-litre engine. Such a small engine is relatively unheard of in the utility market in the US.
INDUSTRY FOCUSES ON LOW COST AND HYBRIDS:Motor industry executives are focused on producing low cost cars and hybrids to meet consumer demand, according to an annual global survey by financial advisers KPMG.
The survey, based on interviews with 113 senior executives at vehicle manufacturers and suppliers worldwide, found executives listed quality (86 per cent) and fuel efficiency (84 per cent) as the two key factors when consumers in making a purchase in the next five years.
The industry leaders also believe that car buyers will want vehicles using alternative fuel sources, which have jumped considerably in importance from KPMG's survey a year ago (65 per cent versus 53 per cent).
Asked to rate the importance of product innovations over the next five years, 79 per cent cited hybrid systems and 78 per cent fuel cell technology, with safety innovations at 67 per cent.
Investment in China has been so strong that the number of cars sold there could equal that of the United States in the next five years, the executives predicted.
In addition, they stated that China will sell a significant number of cars in the US in the next six to 10 years. However 45 per cent of the executives said that overcapacity in China will become an issue in the next five years.
NEW MAZDA CONCEPT:Mazda will add to its collection of recent concept cars with the Furai (pictured below), which is due for launch at Detroit.
Of more interest to forecourt buyers in the near future will be the facelifted RX-8, which will also feature at the show.
HYBRID PANAMERA FOR PORSCHE:Porsche has confirmed it will build a hybrid version of its Panamera four-door GT.
It will use components that have already featured in the Cayenne Hybrid Prototype, with intentions to enter the market around 2010. In the Cayenne, the hybrid-drive currently offers around 9.1 L/100km (31mpg).
The Panamera will debut in 2009, with the hybrid version following a year later.