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.

PSA group plans re-entry to the USA with the DS Brand.

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen could re-enter the U.S. early in the next decade with its DS upscale brand.

The plan to return to the U.S. is part of a global strategy to sell DS vehicles in 200 large cities worldwide after 2020. Of those, 30 would be in North America including 20 in the U.S., states DS CEO Yves Bonnefont.

“We want to make DS a global premium brand, and you cannot be global without the U.S.,” Bonnefont said in an interview at the Paris auto show.

Peugeot pulled out of the U.S. in 1991.

Bonnefont said a decision to return to the U.S. would come in 2017 at the earliest, and U.S. sales would not begin until after 2020.

“We want to make DS a global premium brand, and you cannot be global without the U.S.,” DS CEO Yves Bonnefont said.

None of the five current DS models is compliant with U.S. federal standards.

Since becoming a subbrand in 2010 with the launch of the DS3 subcompact, DS has sold 500,000 vehicles, mainly in Europe and China.

PSA decided to make DS a stand-alone brand earlier this year. Before that, it was a division of the Citroen brand.

DS models take their name from Citroen's iconic lineup produced from 1955 to 1975. The revived versions compete with premium vehicles such as the Mini and Audi A3.

DS will produce six vehicles by 2022 compared with five this year.

Luca Ciferri

REPORT  HERE

SEPTEMBER SALES - ISUZU - Huge increases for the Pick-up and Truck maker.

Isuzu UK has just posted its biggest ever single-month of sales since it began importing into the UK in 1987. September saw the company record 1065 sales – all the more remarkable as the figure has been achieved with the one model, the award-winning D-Max pick-up. 

The result also represents a 52% uplift on September 2013 and means it sold more vehicles in one month than in the entire year of 2009. For the year so far, D-Max sales are up over 32%.

In the D-Max, Isuzu provides the widest range of pick-ups on the market. Success has also been fuelled by the Blade Special Edition launched in March and the Yukon extended cab which was added to the range in summer. A modified D-Max has also been competing in this year’s British Cross Country Championship, demonstrating its versatility, rugged build and all round capability.

William Brown, General Manager at Isuzu UK, commented: “This is a great result for us and cements our place as the biggest Isuzu market in Europe.

“We continue to rank number one for sales to private buyers in the UK, underlining the appeal of the product’s core strengths – rugged off-road ability paired to car-like levels of spec and equipment. Significantly we also making important inroads into the business and fleet sectors as D-Max’s credentials are now being understood by a wider audience. This will be key as head into 2015 and beyond.”

The D-Max has collected a number of awards over the last 12 months and has benefited from high profile marketing campaigns, including the partnership with the Rugby Super League to increase awareness among non-core audiences.

Every new D-Max sold in the UK is backed by the company’s pioneering, five-year / 125,000-mile warranty.