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Our reporters empty their notebooks to round up this week's gossip from across the automotive industry

In this week's round-up of automotive spilled beans, we find out why Land Rover's latest isn't the best four-by-four by far, what's stopping Peugeot from putting one of 2018's best concept cars into production, why Volkswagen is optimistic about the T-Roc Cabriolet and more. 

BMW’s already on cloud nine 

A BMW 9 Series is not on the cards, according to R&D boss Klaus Fröhlich. “I don’t think you need a 9 Series. In this segment, you need three cars – an X car, a saloon and an emotional sporty car – and we have them: the X7, 7 Series and 8 Series. Some competitors are already reducing the number of cars in this segment because volumes are so low.” 

Pug concept 610

Concept is not a legend in the making

Peugeot “cannot commit” to launching a production version of last year’s e-Legend concept in the near future, according to CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato. He claims the coupé “would cost 250 million euros to make and I cannot commit 250 million euros to that segment at this stage.” Late last year, Imparato said he would “love” for the car to go into production, sharing on social media an independent petition for it to be built. 

Volkswagen gets emotional over drop-top

The forthcoming Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet will be the “emotional highlight” of the firm’s European SUV range, according to COO Ralf Brandstätter. The two-door soft-top is due to be launched next year. It will be the only cabriolet in Volkswagen’s current range and one of just two drop-top SUVs on sale in the UK. 

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Mikey C 5 February 2019

A nice looking PSA concept

A nice looking PSA concept car which doesn't make production, now there's a change...

michael knight 5 February 2019

Mikey C wrote:

Mikey C wrote:

A nice looking PSA concept car which doesn't make production, now there's a change...

unfortunately this is too damn true. An archive of stunning stuff, with only the latest 3 or 4 production models being getting interesting.

jonboy4969 5 February 2019

The Evoque was a master

The Evoque was a master stroke on the MK 1, i can see why they did not want to "fiddle" with the ingredients for MK 2, in the same way the Golf has looked roughly the same since MK 3 or 4, the new Defender will be another master stoke, i had a longgggggggggggg conversation with a LR Employee yesterday, and wow, he let some info slip.

 

FREELANDER - the car will be back in a brand new smaller cheaper car to play off the...NEW SMALL RANGE ROVER - again this will be brand new, and Will be equally as capable off road, but with a more on road bias.

DC100 - The concept IS coming to the new Defender family, which will spawn a minimum 15 model range, over 3 lengths, two heights and 2 & 4 door, included in this is a Pick Up and this will be built in Slovakia with the Disco 5, to keep costs low.THe all new All Electric RR, will be road biased, but will be capable off road, in the same vein as all the other models, and heavily based on the underpinnings of the I-Pace, which will not remain as the only Electric Jag in the range - The JLR range's future is looking great, with some all new cars, and some heavily revised cars all coming on stream over the next 5 years.

Takeitslowly 15 March 2019

jonboy4969 wrote:

jonboy4969 wrote:

The Evoque was a master stroke on the MK 1, i can see why they did not want to "fiddle" with the ingredients for MK 2, in the same way the Golf has looked roughly the same since MK 3 or 4, the new Defender will be another master stoke, i had a longgggggggggggg conversation with a LR Employee yesterday, and wow, he let some info slip.

 

FREELANDER - the car will be back in a brand new smaller cheaper car to play off the...NEW SMALL RANGE ROVER - again this will be brand new, and Will be equally as capable off road, but with a more on road bias.

DC100 - The concept IS coming to the new Defender family, which will spawn a minimum 15 model range, over 3 lengths, two heights and 2 & 4 door, included in this is a Pick Up and this will be built in Slovakia with the Disco 5, to keep costs low.THe all new All Electric RR, will be road biased, but will be capable off road, in the same vein as all the other models, and heavily based on the underpinnings of the I-Pace, which will not remain as the only Electric Jag in the range - The JLR range's future is looking great, with some all new cars, and some heavily revised cars all coming on stream over the next 5 years.

 

Corroboration or speculation, take your pick, without the first, it is only the last.

289 5 February 2019

Peugeot Coupe concept

Great looking car from Peugeot....shame it wont be built - although I understand the financials.

Design looks to be heavily inspired by the De Tomaso Longchamp GTS....great to see a Coupe designed with some decent glass area....I for one would like to see this as a trend. I am fed-up with the current 'pill-box' window slot look.

macaroni 5 February 2019

289 wrote:

289 wrote:

Design looks to be heavily inspired by the De Tomaso Longchamp GTS....

Or the original Peugeot 504 coupe...?

 

289 5 February 2019

@ macaroni

....yes, definitely.

Tom Chet 5 February 2019

289 wrote:

289 wrote:

Great looking car from Peugeot....shame it wont be built - although I understand the financials.

...I am fed-up with the current 'pill-box' window slot look.

Agree on both points.