The UK car industry
The UK car industry
By looking at new cars offered in UK now compared to say 10+ years ago, it seemed to changed in terms of whats out there, not really alot interests me, all thats out there are either small engined cars, small suv's or diesels, say like the new c-class, c180 thats a 1.6 or the c250 thats a 1.8 rest are diesel or the AMG, that be bit too expensive to consider anytime soon !! what happened to big engined petrol models ? this is just example, its not only mercedes, and BMW x3 no petrol models at all in UK !! and new hyundai i40, 1.6 petrol and 1.7 diesel, what happened to the 2.0, 2.4 and V6 they had in the Sonata ?? the list goes on !! Is the UK government killing off these cars that can no longer be bought new ??
A short answer would be yes the UK and EU economies have just about killed large petrol engined cars - in the "affordable" sector.
BUT engine builders are concentrating on turbo technology on small engines, VW's 1.4 GT DSG is a prime example and Peugeot also have had success with the RCZ both very capable vehicles.
Toyota missed this turboing a small engine trick by putting a stupid low output Subaru unit in the woefully slow GT86 (0.6 seconds faster then an automatic Golf 1.4 is pathetic Mr Toyota).
There are plenty of German cars with super powerful engines sadly the Japs have very few offerings in this sector any more.
Looking further strangely in parts of europe outside of UK you still get likes of say BMW x1 with 3 or 4 petrol engines, as with certain mercedes, c300 cgi, c350 cgi etc... and mazda 6 2.5, its kind of like UK always miss out on something....and despite more choice of petrol engine german cars elsewhere in europe, same time they sell and have a 'bigger' market for diesel cars, be interesting to see what impact this euro 6 emssions have for diesels at end of 2014 ?? i read they are getting very strict on them, i cant see myself buying a mondeo 1.0 3 cylinder however when its released, cant judge as i never driven it obviosly but cant imagine liking it imo....
I think you have to look at what people are buying, the likes of big petrol cars 2.0 and 3.0 aren't selling no one has the money to fill them insure and run them.
I lived in germany and spent a lot of time with german modders, a lot of them bought autobahn runners like the big 5series deisels or mercs and those who couldn't afford them had small opels or VW.
Its a case of knowing the market and the buyers just aren't after big motorway cruisers or powerful cars as all they do is go to the shops
Meh suckers!!! V8 ute thanks has a whole lot of ner ner ner ner ner ( that's actually Holden ad campaign for the v8 Holden thunder )
That Toyota 86 isn't that bad actually ill get a few stats for you but your be surprised just how well it stakes up against a porka on the ring.
But a turbo version that has already been in a concept mind you would have killed it. Watch this space