Škoda targets executive expansion with new A+ Sports Utility Vehicle.

• VisionS concept car takes ŠKODA into a larger SUV segment for first time
• Director-level company car drivers fuel SUV growth
• ŠKODA looks to build on fleet successes of Octavia and Superb

ŠKODA will further strengthen its appeal among senior level company car drivers when its first A+ SUV is introduced, new research confirms.

Unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show, the VisionS concept car gave the world a strong steer on ŠKODA’s hotly-anticipated new large SUV and was met with rave reviews, particularly for its “sleek, chiselled and elegant”* styling.

When the production version is revealed later in 2016, it will excite company bosses across the UK, afteran in-depth study of the fleet market** by ŠKODA revealed that director-level company car drivers (39%) are more than twice as likely to choose SUVs than their more junior counterparts (19%).

With SUVs now the biggest-selling model of car in Europe, growing by around 25%*** last year in the UK, ŠKODA’s next major line-up addition looks set to draw in even more customers.

Henry Williams, Head of Fleet for ŠKODA UK, commented:“We had a record year of fleet sales in 2015, with the all-new Superb proving a major hit for its outstanding design, technology, practicality and value for money. This complemented the existing popularity of our other models such as the Octavia.

“However, the new A+ SUV – which will take cues from the VisionS concept car – sees ŠKODA enter an entirely different vehicle category. We can’t say much more about its pricing or specification, but I can promise that it will give fleet decision makers and company car drivers a great product with 1st class whole life costs.”

Infiniti to give Europe a number of Debut's including the premium Active Crossover, QX30.

• Infiniti continues to refresh and grow its product line-up
• Q60 and QX30 have been "designed to perform," inspired by daring concepts
• New models broaden Infiniti's product portfolio at a time of record sales growth

With the European debut of the Q60 sports coupe and the QX30 premium active crossover, Infiniti presents two all-new expressive models at the Geneva Motor Show on March 1, 2016. Joining them will be the further upgraded Q50. All three share Infiniti's iconic design language, innovative technologies and precise driving characteristics.

All-new are the Q60 sports coupe, promising a powerful drive from a highly advanced new V6 twin-turbo engine and the QX30 premium active crossover, with its highly sculpted concept-like exterior, elevated stance and asymmetric cabin design. They will be joined by the refreshed Q50 sports sedan, which features significant performance and dynamic upgrades that deliver a more empowering and rewarding drive experience.

"This is an exciting time for Infiniti, as we have transformed our product line-up and established sales records across the globe and in our region in particular," said Francois Goupil de Bouille, Infiniti vice president, Europe, Middle East and Africa. 

"The new models set for their European debuts in Geneva highlight our commitment to expanding our product portfolio in new and thrilling directions, based on daring concept cars. This is the Infiniti way, and one that will help us achieve further success in 2016 and beyond."

The bold exterior of the Q60 exemplifies Infiniti's "Powerful Elegance" design language, with distinctive proportions and taut, muscular lines. Innovative drivetrain technologies and power channeled through the rear wheels deliver an exhilarating drive.

The high performance 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo engine from the new and exclusive VR powertrain family continues the brand's longstanding heritage of advanced six-cylinder powertrains production. The Q60 to be shown in Geneva features the higher-powered V6 engine, providing one of the best power-to-efficiency ratings in the sports coupe class.

Created for a new generation of premium buyers, the all-new QX30 boasts a purposeful, elevated appearance that makes a bold visual statement. Remaining true to the "Powerful Elegance" design approach that guided the original QX30 concept, the car demonstrates Infiniti's design-led approach to product development.

Alongside the Q60 and QX30, Infiniti will also reveal an upgraded version of the Q50, which has played a key role in the brand's sustained global growth in recent years. 

As well as the powerful all-new V6 engine found in the Q60 sports coupe, making its debut in the Q50 is the company's second-generation Direct Adaptive Steering – comprehensively updated from the ground-breaking first-generation system, and Infiniti's new Dynamic Digital Suspension, which gives the new sports sedan an optimal blend of ride comfort and class-leading response and agility.

The launch of these new and upgraded models in Europe comes at a time of rapid growth for Infiniti, and in the midst of an intense global product launch period. Infiniti globally sold a record 215,250 new vehicles in 2015, representing a year-on-year rise of 16 percent. In Western Europe, 7,000 customers bought a new Infiniti last year, an increase of 45 percent over 2014.

Aston denying the use of any Mercedes platform for the new DBX, instead will modify its own.

Aston Martin may modify its new sports car platform for its DBX crossover rather than use SUV underpinnings from industrial partner Daimler, CEO Andy Palmer said. Media reports have said that the DBX could use the same platform as the GLC SUV from Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz brand.

However, Palmer said that the DBX would be more crossover than SUV so Daimler’s SUV architecture likely would not be not suitable. Mercedes SUVs “clearly sit in a very different space to the one we want to go to. 

They are very much an SUV and we don't want an SUV,” he told Automotive News Europe on the sidelines of a conference here organized by the Financial Times newspaper in London this week.

Palmer said the DBX needs to reflect the brand’s sports heritage rather than be an SUV. He said buyers should feel like they are sitting in the car rather than “on the car,” referring to SUVs’ high front seat position.

Aston Martin is developing a new architecture to replace the current platform that underpins its luxury sports car range. The first car built on the platform is likely to be the successor to the DB9 2+2 coupe. The car is likely to go on sale next year.

The company is investigating whether the platform can be adapted to fit the DBX. “It just depends how high off the ground it could go,” Palmer said. “I don't exclude the possibility of using some [Mercedes’] parts, but I would say very much the primary route is our platform.”

The new architecture will use extruded and cast aluminum to reduce weight, Palmer said.

Aston Martin said on April 30 that it has raised $315 million for the development of a crossover based on the DBX concept unveiled at the Geneva auto show in March, as well as other vehicles that fall outside its traditional lineup of luxury sports cars.

The DBX is expected to go on sale around 2019 and is aimed at attracting more women and younger buyers to the brand, which has traditionally relied on a small, male audience.

Aston Martin showed a Lagonda-badged SUV concept based on the Mercedes GL in 2009.

Daimler has a 5 percent stake in Aston Martin as part of an agreement for Daimler to supply electrical architectures and V-8 engines for the next generation of Aston Martin cars.