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UK car production slumps, state help sought

By Digby Fullam Motor Industry 21 November 2008 14:30 The full effect of the downturn in the global economy is being felt by the UK motor industry, new figures out today reveal. Car production at British factories fell by 29.5% from October 2007's figure.  That makes it the worst October production figures since 1991 which, if you’ll cast your mind back, was the last recession. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders blamed the slump on 'a rapid reduction in demand for motor vehicles.' It’s not just us Brits that aren’t buying cars, either.

Peter Schreyer introduces Kia's new Sportage

It's a sign of just how significant the new Sportage is for Kia that rather than flying UK journalists to an international launch location the company instead rented a boutique hotel in London's Notting Hill, created a sketch gallery in the basement and flew in key members of the car's development team to meet the press — who were then lent some the first new Sportage's in the UK to test for a month. One executive present at the event was Kia's Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer. Car Design News was invited to meet with Peter to talk about his role at Kia and for him to talk us through a vehicle Kia is billing as the first to be designed entirely under his tenure.

Lexus IS F ends production to make way for the new Lexus RC F

The Lexus IS F is no more The Lexus IS F was the car Lexus hoped would take the fight to cars like the BMW M3. But in the 7 years the IS F has been on sale it’s only managed to shift around 11,000 units, partly because it just didn’t have the dynamics or power of the M3, but also because few yet consider Lexus a ‘Performance’ brand. So the Lexus IS F has now ended production after a less than stellar sales showing, and Lexus are instead pinning their hopes for a credible M3 beater in the new RC F.