This week's snippets of automotive news include news on Kia Soul sales, an upcoming limited-run Lamborghini, a new Skoda factory and Mazda MX-5 sales.
KIA SOUL SALES:
The Kia Soul will continue to be sold in the UK for the foreseeable future despite occupying a similar market position to the new Kia Stonic SUV. Kia UK boss Paul Philpott said the Soul was a more polarising car than the Stonic but noted that around 2000 are sold in the UK each year despite the current model having been on sale since 2014.
Kia Stonic review
LIMITED-RUN LAMBORGHINI:
Lamborghini boss Stefano Domenicali has confirmed that Sant’Agata is currently considering an “extreme aero” limited-production car to rival the McLaren Senna and Aston Martin Valkyrie. Such a car would be “in the vein of Centenario and Veneno”, two multi-million-pound hypercars with seven-digit price tags and strictly capped build runs. However, Domenicali also admitted that series production cars are “the main priority [for Lamborghini] right now”.
SKODA FACTORY:
Skoda could invest in a new factory as it struggles to meet growing production demands, according to sales boss Alain Favey. He said the new factory would need to have a “similar cost base to the Czech Republic” and be in Europe. He confirmed that the UK is on the list but warned he wasn’t sure it “would fit with parameters”, suggesting the outcome of Brexit could be a factor.
MAZDA MX-5 SALES:
Despite worldwide best-seller status across its 29-year lifespan, the Mazda MX-5 is only Europe’s second-best-selling sports car so far this year, with 8545 sold in the EU to the end of June. The best seller is the Porsche 911, with 12,734 finding owners so far in 2018.
2018's most popular cars in Europe by market segment
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Mazda MX-5 review
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8.5k cars in 6 months?
Wonder if the near extinction of the small, low sports car market is correlated to the explosion of the automotive cod-piece (SUV).
I do get bored of some t*** in a X5, RRS or Q7 trying to intimidate me on the motorway, or blindly pull out infront of me on a roundabout when I'm driving my ancient Smart Roadster or Crossfire convertible.
Lamborghini mambo!
Rest assured if Lamborghini do a Car like the ones mentioned it’ll look spectacular, may not be as good as good to drive as the other two but it will definitely be Car Eye Candy!