BMW unveiled the fourth generation of the Mini
 
The Premium urban car market (part of B segment) was revived in 2001 with the launch of the new BMW Mini. Since then, the market has expanded with the launch of the Fiat 500, Lancia Ypsilon, Audi A1 , Citroen DS3 and Adam Opel.

The BMW Group has unveiled the fourth generation of the Mini. This fourth version (code F56 ) which replaces the Mini launched in 2006 (code R56) keeps its very well-known silhouette. However, the model is lengthened by 10 cm from the previous model (its length has now reached 3.82 m) and widened by 3 cm (width reaches 1.72 m).

While the outside does not change much, a whole new platform has been used for the Mini F56. This platform should also be used in the BMW brand for a  small front wheel drive car to come soon.

The new Mini also introduces the new generation of BMW modular engine (500 cc per cylinder). This new BMW engine family will be available in various versions:  gasoline and diesel -  three, four and six cylinders.

Mini F56 should be available in many variations over months. Thus, Clubman and Convertible should be renewed next year before the arrival of a novel five-door version. All three versions will be produced in Oxford (Cowley) in England. AWD versions ( Countryman, Paceman ) that are manufactured in Graz, Austria, do not change and keep their own platform.

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First signs of improvement in the French, Spanish and Italian markets
 

The European market has significantly improved during the second half-year of 2013 in comparison with the first half-year of the same year (+3.3% in the July-October period against -6 , 5%  in the January-June period). It is mainly the South countries - who had experienced a sharp drop in registrations in the first half of the year (mainly France , Italy and Spain ) – which have improved their performance in the second half-year.


In France for example, three recent months (July, September, October) turned positive compared to 2012, while the first six months were strongly negative (-11 %).


In Italy , the improvement is less noticeable even though the last four months show a decrease of 4 %, while the first six months fell by 10%.


In Spain, the improvement in the second half-year is very clear ( +28.5 % in September and +34.4 % in October ), while the first six months were negative (-5 %). The Faconauto (Association of Spanish dealers ) expects 715,000 registrations in 2013 against 700,000 in 2012, the first annual increase since 2010.


Southern markets - which weighed heavily on  the Europe-as-a-whole performance - are now on the road to recovery. These three countries represent a third of registrations of Western Europe and 30% of those of the European Union.


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Why are Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi working together?
 

In the U.S. market Mitsubishi sales have declined substantially over the past decade, tothe extent that its presence seems unsure in the medium term. The marketing of Mitsubishi models using a Samsung base (segment C and segment D), should replace the Lancer (segment C) and Galant (segment D) that are no longer popular models. The Japanese manufacturer could thus relaunch it's sales on this market without investing in the development of new models. As far as Renault-Nissan are concerned, the Samsung SM3 and SM5 are only sold in South Korea and Europe (under the Renault brand) and this would therefore increase the groups' sales.


Mitsubishi is a step ahead in the field of Kei Cars, historically marketed in Japan, but has not successfully developed sales of its electric vehicle (I-Miev). Renault-Nissan for its part is not present in the field of Kei Cars but has a mastery of the technology of electric vehicles thanks to the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe. This cooperation is thus complementary in order to market an electric Kei Car.


Renault-Samsung has underexploited production capacity in Korea (Pusan) which could be optimised with the exporting of the SM3 and SM5 models to America. Mitsubishi on the other hand, has underexploited production capacity in Japan that could be used for the manufacturing of small models for the Renault-Nissan group (including electric Kei Cars).


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The evolution of global production of the first 12 carmakers
 
From the evolution of the global production of the twelve first leading carmakers, it appears that Volkswagen, GM and Toyota groups should complete the 2013 year side by side (according to the Inovev forecast, calculated from the first 10 months) . Volkswagen Group could become the first carmaker in the world, very close to GM and Toyota, and five years ahead of its objectives. This performance is mainly due to the strong increase in sales in the Chinese market.

The fourth and fifth global automakers Renault-Nissan and Hyundai-Kia will also end the year side by side, even if the Franco- Japanese group appears in better position to beat the Korean group.

The Ford group, after a sharp drop between 2002 and 2009 (like the GM group) due in part to the sale of Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin and the removal of the Mercury brand,  has grown again since 2009 and consolidated its sixth place globally (it was formerly second).

The Fiat -Chrysler group is in seventh position.  Although the creation of this group  dates from 2011, Inovev  has summed up production of Fiat and Chrysler between 2002 and 2011 for a better reading of the history. Chrysler was before 2008 integrated into Daimler group.

PSA is the only carmaker in the top 12 global manufacturers to decline since 2010.


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The Ford Ka could have offspring
 
Up until today, there are just two Ford Ka: A model produced and sold in Europe and an other produced and sold in Brazil. Both models have seen their sales fall by 50%  between 2009 and 2013. Ford was thinking of discontinuing them, but finally the manufacturer said that it might reconsider its decision due to the launch of the Ka Concept in Brazil.

The concept comes as a five-door hatchback car, smaller and cheaper than the Fiesta, this implies that the sale price would be close to that of low price models.

The first production will be launched in Brazil by 2014 and marketed throughout South America, the future Ka could then be produced in India and sold throughout Southeast Asia. If Ford estimates there is a market for this type of model in Europe, it could also be produced and marketed there. The plant that would be engaged in the manufacturing of the future Ka would be the Ford factory of Craiova (Romania), where production costs are low.

In Europe, it would replace the current Ford Ka, based on the platform of the Fiat 500, which has only three doors and is manufactured at the Fiat plant in Tychy (Poland). This model is reaching the end of its life after a quiet sales period (less than 400 000 units sold since 2008). The first generation model was produced in Valencia (Spain). 1.5 million units were sold between 1996 and 2008.


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