The new Subaru Forester was launched in Japan in January and boasts some innovative technology designed to keep its carbon emissions to a minimum. Two catalytic converters have been placed in tandem in the vehicle's 2.0-L DOHC engines, which allows the converters to quickly heat up so as to enable catalytic activation during the engine's startup. This approach also helps to reduce its emissions. Meanwhile, on the Forester's 2.0-L DOHC Turbo engine, a secondary air system has been developed that also aids early activation of catalytic converters.

Toyota has continued to show its strength in the global automotive market, with latest figures demonstrating that the Japanese company continues to take on the top US companies and saw sales rise during 2007 in an overall depressed market. While top car manufacturer General Motors saw its sales drop by six per cent compared to 2006 and Ford suffered a 12 per cent fall, Toyota managed to post a three per cent growth in the number of vehicles it managed to sell. Toyota could now be set to challenge General Motors for the top spot in global vehicle production.

However, the future of the vehicle industry may lie in China and India, rather than Japan. January has seen Tata Motors, India's biggest car firm, launch its €1,700 car, which the firm hopes will prove to be its "Model T moment", by giving it the kind of success that Henry Ford's famous car did for his fledgling company a century ago. The Indian firm is also looking to secure its global position in the market by moving in for Ford-owned Jaguar and Land Rover.

Meanwhile, figures released in January have suggested that diesel cars could become the new major growth area for manufacturers. Figures from the UK's Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) have revealed that new car sales in the UK increased by 2.5 per cent over the course of 2007 and this figure was driven by the demand for diesel vehicles. With fuel prices soaring, a growing number of people opted for diesel vehicles because of their increased fuel efficiency when compared to petrol cars, which also helps them to be more environmentally-friendly. As green issues became an increasingly important issue in 2007, so it seems more people have looked to do their bit by buying a more eco-friendly vehicle.

However, the SMMT warned that sales would be likely to drop slightly over the course of 2008. Although overall car sales last year were the strongest in the UK since 2004, the organisation explained that annual sales in the UK would dip from 2.4 million last year to 2.34 million units by the end of this year.

General Motors, in its efforts to get back on track and keep its position as the top car manufacturer in the world, announced in January plans to roll out a new electrical vehicle. Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner made history by becoming the first head of an automotive company to make a keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show. Mr Wagoner used his speech to unveil the company's new clean vehicle, a fuel cell-powered vehicle that, Mr Wagoner claims, could one day use the electricity it produces to drive itself. The new Cadillac Provoq fuel cell concept crossover vehicle is aiming to garner support from the environmental lobby and demonstrate that it can create competitive eco-friendly vehicles.


Making its debut at the Detroit Auto Show is the new Mitsubishi Concept-RA which includes a new platinum catalytic converter system that utilises diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), NOx trap catalyst (NTC) and diesel particulate filter (DPF) technologies. The catalytic converter has been included in an attempt to comply with US emissions standards. Also included is the Twin Clutch-SST gearbox, which along with the torque-rich diesel engine will deliver sporty driving manners and excellent fuel efficiency.

Ford will spend several years testing the latest plug-in fuel-cell car rather than aiming to be the first to launch production. Speaking at the Detroit motorshow, Derrick Kuzak, Global Product Chief, told Reuters they would go for affordability rather than speed. Meanwhile, Toyota Motor Corp and General Motors Corp are locked in a race to produce the first mass-market plug-in car. Ford Motor Co is also considering producing Volvo vehicles in North America due to the weak dollar, according to Fredrick Arp, Chief Executive of the firm.

SEAT has confirmed that it will switch to diesel power for the 2008 British Touring Car Championship. The move follows a shift in car-buying patterns in the UK, according to Scott Dennis, SEAT UK Motorsport Manager. "More than 40 per cent of new cars sold in the UK last year were diesels, the Leon was the best-selling SEAT model in the UK and the sporty FR TDI derivative was the best-selling Leon, so there are strong marketing and commercial reasons why we are entering a pair of Leon TDIs in the 2008 British Touring Car Championship," he told Reuters.

Only three per cent of light-duty vehicles in the US are run on diesel but carmakers are to bring more diesels to the US this year. Volkswagen is bringing the Jetta TDI which can do over 50mpg while Mercedes, BMW and Audi will all be introducing their own diesel models. Mercedes sold 12,500 diesels in the US last year and is releasing the ML320 Bluetec, R320 Bluetec and GL320 Bluetec in the autumn. BMW are also launching the 3-series saloon and X5 sport utility this autumn.

Ford Motor Cars South Africa has announced plans to expand operations in the production of its next-generation compact pickup truck and Puma diesel engine. A total of over R1.5 billion will be invested in 2009 and split between its plants in Silverton, Pretoria and Port Elizabeth. Production of the engine will begin in 2010. The plans will benefit local suppliers as more local materials will be used by the plants.

BMW will build a second plant in China following two years of investigation. According to reports from 21st Century Business Herald, BMW will join with Brilliance Auto to build the plant that will run at an annual capacity of 10,000 units. The BMW three and five series as well as the BMW one series will be produced at the site. BMW has sold 51,588 vehicles in the Chinese market in 2007.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd