Nissan and Fiat marketing heads trade insults over 'visual pollution'

A war of words has erupted between Fiat and Nissan's marketing departments over their electric vehicle designs, the Leaf and the 500e. Matt Davis, head of Fiat product marketing, told Bloomberg News before the launch of its all-electric 500e at the Los Angeles show last week that "ugliness is probably one of the worst forms of pollution," seen as an indirect attack on Nissan's electric offering. The then 500e came under attack with Nissan criticizing the fact that it was created only to meet Californian emissions requirements.

New Subaru WRX STI heading for 2014 Detroit Auto Show

New Subaru WRX STI heading for 2014 Detroit Auto Show After a concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September – which looked edgy – to a production reveal at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November – which didn’t – plans for the 2014 Subaru WRX are well on track. And now we’re getting the STI version. The Subaru WRX STI will debut next week at the Detroit Auto Show and is expected to go on sale in the US by mid 2014.

Suzuki delays U.S. launch of the Swift

Suzuki has delayed the relaunch of its Swift small car in the United States until next year while it works on a global product strategy with Volkswagen AG and ponders the growing strength of the yen against the dollar. The rise of Japan's currency already has forced Suzuki to slash its overall U.S. marketing budget.