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Crunch watch Jan 09: the auto industry in crisis

By Tim Pollard, Ben Pulman and Gareth Evans Motor Industry 30 January 2009 12:39 Friday 30 January 2009• Honda is about to close the Swindon factory for four months when Friday's shifts are finished; the shutdown will affect 2500 of the 3700 staff, who will receive full pay for two months and then 60% pay for the next eight weeks (BBC News)• Porsche has announced a sharp drop in sales and likely profits. It forecasts a 27% drop in 911, Boxster, Cayman and Cayenne sales to around 34,000 units in the six months to the end of January 2009 (Financial Times, subscription required)• Ford wants Washington to do more to stimulate car sales, after posting a record loss of nearly $14.6 billion earlier this week (Detroit News)• Honda's quarterly profit has crashed by 90% – forcing the Japanese car maker to halve its annual profit target (Detroit Free Press)Thursday 29 January 2009• Ford of Europe is a bright spot in the Blue Oval's quarterly results today, making $1.06 billion pre-tax profit in 2008 (up from $997m in 2007). It's the first profit of more than $1bn since 1989 (Automotive News Europe, subscription required)• Volvo suffered a 'disastrous 2008' with a pre-tax loss of $1.46bn.

Tesla Model X SUV will ONLY be available with four wheel drive

The Tesla Model X (pictured) will only be available with 4WD The Tesla Model X does promise to be a very appealing SUV, even if its main USP for business users – zero BIK – will have been scrapped by the time it arrives in the UK. When it does arrive, prices are expected to be similar to the Model S Saloon and, just as with the Model S, Tesla are planning a variety of battery capacity options and, we thought, an entry-level rear wheel drive model. But Green Car Reports, in response to a reader enquiry, has got confirmation from Tesla that they have now decided that all Model Xs will come only with the 4WD powertrain fitted.

Ford Focus 1.0 litre Ecoboost arrives

The 1.0 litre Ecoboost engine arrives in the 2012 Ford Focus Ford has announced that the new Focus is now available with the 1.0 litre Ecoboost 3-cylinder engine in 100 PS and 125 PS options. Back in September, Ford revealed that it planned to install its new pocket-sized engine – the new 3-cylinder 1.0 litre Ecoboost – in to the new Ford Focus, giving the Focus the power of a naturally aspirated 1.6 litre petrol, but with improved economy and lower emissions. And now it’s arrived.