This week's gossip from the automotive industry has news of bespoke Insignias, options in the Focus RS, electric BMWs and the trend-setting Range Rover Velar.
Creating bespoke Insignias
The latest Vauxhall Insignia will be offered in a new Exclusive spec that allows customers to customise it to any colour or trim finish they want. “If you see a cabinet and like its colour, send us a picture and we will match it,” said Andreas Marx, Vauxhall-Opel’s head of product marketing. “This is bespoke design that is only normally associated with the very top marques and shows that we really can do anything.”
Read more: Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport - 1500-mile Norwegian road-trip, Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport 1.6 Turbo D 110 2017 review
No dual-clutch Focus RS on the way
Ford won't offer a dual-clutch automatic gearbox option in the current Focus RS, despite earlier reports that it was under consideration. RS chief engineer Tyrone Johnson confi rmed there will be no major powertrain changes before the end of production. Nor does Ford have any plans to do a run-out version with more power, as with the previous Focus RS500.
Read more: Ford Focus RS long-term test review: how does it drive in the wet?, Ford Focus RS review
BMW's electric future
Future BMW platforms – both front and rear-wheel drive – will be engineered to take electric powertrains, according to development boss Klaus Frolich. Currently, most of its platforms support only plug-in hybrid drivetrains in addition to internal combustion engines.
Read more: All-electric BMW i8 in the works, BMW i3 review
Trend-setter
The premium textiles used in the new Range Rover Velar will kick-start a trend, according to Amy Frascella, Land Rover colours and materials designer. “This will create a new era for the automotive industry for materials in the future. This is the first time that we have positioned premium textiles on the same level as top-spec leather.”
Read more: Range Rover Velar returns to spotlight at Geneva, Why the Range Rover line-up needs the Velar
Add your comment