Neon 2005 Fuel Filler Door 1980605 on 2040-parts.com

The fall and rise of the budget car

Twenty years ago, the classic bargain brands like Lada seemed to be going the same way as the Soviet empire that spawned them. Woefully dated and badly made, only a weirdo would have bought a new Lada rather than a second-hand model from Ford, Vauxhall or VW. However, one of the big trends in the car industry today is the re-emergence of bargain cars.

Jaguar C-XF concept car (2007) teaser image

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 15 December 2006 04:12 Jaguar has issued this tantalising teaser of its new XF - the car that will replace the S-type exec next year. The covers will be whisked off this concept car at the Detroit Motor Show in January 2007 proving that, finally, Jaguar is throwing off its stuffy image after years of safe, retro-styled saloons. Although this tightly cropped teaser shot doesn't reveal the whole car, it's plain to see that the new S-type will look forwards, not over its shoulder at the famous saloons in Jag's potted history.

Saab on brink of closing after GM rejects rescue plan

Saab Automobile filed for bankruptcy on Monday and is on the brink of shutting for good after former owner General Motors rejected a rescue plan. The move sets the scene for the end of Saab's struggle to survive after months of hastily drawn-up deals for a company that hasn't made a vehicle in months. The latest plan involved Chinese automaker Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile, but this was vetoed by GM, still a key Saab supplier, over the weekend "After having received the recent position of GM on the contemplated transaction with Saab Automobile, Youngman informed Saab Automobile that the funding to continue and complete the reorganization of Saab Automobile could not be concluded," Saab's Dutch owner, Swedish Automobile, said in a statement.