CONFIDENTIAL

GOSSIP RUMOURS TRENDS

HYBRIDS AND ELECTRIC vehicles would be too expensive for Dacia owners, despite the cheaper running costs and tax incentives, according to the car firm’s UK boss, Louise O’sullivan. Such models, which are more costly to produce than models powered by internal combustion engines, could not fit in Dacia’s line-up until the cars’ cost-per-unit dramatically decreased.

THE LAMBORGHINI HURACÁN Performante’s Nürburgring lap record of 6min 52.01sec played a crucial role in proving to potential customers that the firm is about more than rapid straight-line performance from its V10 and V12 engines. “It allowed us to prove we can deliver the complete package, especially dynamically,” said commercial director Federico Foschini. “The engine alone doesn’t set a time like that.” SKODA IS TARGETING Tesla-style over-the-air updates in its push for connectivity innovations. “We would like to decouple hardware and software,” said connectivity specialist Kai Scheffs. The aim is to implement software tweaks remotely, rather than physically, and also to allow optional extras to be retrofitted over the air.

MCLAREN IS SET to open a dealership in Brazil as it looks to expand its presence across the world. Sales boss Jolyon Nash said it is also considering Russia and India. However, he said the expansion will not make a noticeable difference to Mclaren’s stated goal of hitting 5000 sales per year. Last year, it sold 3286 units.