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Nissan GT-R import fears

By Motor Industry 03 December 2007 09:43 Bargain hunters rejoice! Nissan's new GT-R costs just £34,400 in Japan - spelling out juicy savings for grey importers in the UK, where the super-coupe is tipped to cost £60,000. Even after the cost of shipping and import duties, that means you could land a Japanese-spec car for around £42-£45k.

BMW set to go front-wheel drive

BMW chairman Norbert Reithofer has confirmed that the German carmaker will introduce a new front-wheel-drive entry-level model positioned and priced below the existing 1-series as part of plans to help increase part sharing and to bolster the potential for production savings between the BMW and Mini brands, thus bringing an end to the era of rear- and four-wheel-drive-only BMW models. Speaking to AutoWeek at the Geneva motor show, Reithofer said internal BMW studies revealed that despite the downturn in the world's economy, there was continued demand for what he described as "premium vehicles" in the small-car class, before officially acknowledging plans that will see BMW produce a rival to the recently unveiled Audi A1 and a new Smart Forfour presently under development at Mercedes-Benz. "We will be extending the BMW and Mini brands into the small-car segment with new models and variants," he said.

Volkswagen buys stake in Suzuki

Volkswagen will buy nearly 20 percent of Suzuki for $2.5 billion in a deal poised to continue VW's ambitious growth plans and bolster its global product offerings. The companies announced the agreement on Wednesday, and it could close in January. The deal allows VW to draw on Suzuki's small-car capabilities and strong position in India.