Currently reading: Autocar confidential: Mercedes, Ferrari, Vauxhall, PSA
Our reporters empty their notebooks to round up this week's gossip from across the automotive industry

This week's gossip from the automotive industry has news of the online purchasing of Mercedes, the end of the VXR8, Ferrari's thoughts on concept cars and PSA's 'launch and leave' plan.

Buying a Merc online

Mercedes customers are not ready to undertake the entire process of buying a car online, according to Britta Seeger, sales and marketing boss. However, the firm is offering online sales in certain markets – including its Smart brand in the UK – as one option for customers. “It is not a key strategy for us to push sales online, but we want to offer diversity,” Seeger said.

Read more: Mercedes-AMG | Used Car Buying GuideMercedes-Benz X-Class pickup truck sheds disguise ahead of launch

The end of the VXR8

The sale of Vauxhall from General Motors will mean the end of its Aussie-sourced VXR8 models – but not before one last one arrives. Vauxhall has bought one of the 295 HSV GTSR W1s, driven last week in Autocar and built to mark the end of vehicle production for Holden in Australia. The 636bhp super-saloon will arrive in the UK in the autumn.

Read more: Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport 1.6 Turbo D 110 2017 reviewVauxhall Crossland X 1.6T D 99 Ecotech Blueinjection Elite review

Ferrari's thoughts on concept cars

Don't expect a Ferrari concept car any time soon. Speaking about its 2007 Millechili concept, Ferrari technical director Michael Leiters said: “I don’t like it. Well, I do because you can go to the limit, but what do you bring home? You don’t have to homologate the car. You don’t have to make money. I like internal innovation and I prefer to make cars for the street.”

Read more: Ferrari to stick with naturally aspirated V12sHardcore Ferrari 488 GTO to rival Porsche 911 GT2

PSA's 'launch and leave' plan

PSA boss Carlos Tavares believes strongly in launching only one model per year per region for each of its brands (Peugeot, Citroën and DS) because it allows the respective car makers to focus properly on a model’s roll-out. Tavares coined the phrase ‘launch and leave’ – the practice of not executing a vehicle’s launch properly – which he said is “not successful”.

Read more: PSA confirms Vauxhall and Opel dealDS 7 Crossback makes public debut - with French president on board

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WallMeerkat 23 May 2017

The end of the VXR8 is no

The end of the VXR8 is no surprise, given that the next commodore is going to be an Insignia, it's successor will actually be an Insignia VXR!

PSA 'launch and leave' like the much ignored 508?