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PSA CEO Philippe Varin called for the French government to take action to reduce labor costs, a day after the automaker said it would cut 14,000 job cuts and close its Aulnay plant near Paris as part of wide-reaching restructuring plans.

PSA Peugeot-Citroen executive union, CFE-CGC, has stopped short of declaring 'war' on the automaker - in apparent contrast to other French labour bodies -following the announcement of huge redundancies that will see an initial 6,500 jobs axed.

The week was looking routine until Thursday. Then it all kicked off.

Volkswagen Group said global vehicle sales rose 11 percent in June and 8.9 percent in the first six months, but warned of ''challenging'' times ahead in the second half.

Koito Manufacturing has decided to build a production site in Mexico where Japanese automakers are opening new plants one after another.

Faurecia is optimistic that the closure of the Aulnay Citroen factory in France by its large shareholder PSA Peugeot Citroen will not have a considerable impact on its business.

Mercedes won't sell the Shooting Brake version of the CLS coupe in the U.S. due to "the continued aversion to wagons by U.S. car buyers."

Honda Motor said on Friday its Argentina unit had started exporting flex-fuel City models to Brazil, marking the first time that Argentinian-made Hondas had been shipped outside the local market.

Renault unions are nervously eyeing yesterday's (12 July) PSA Peugeot-Citroen news it would axe an initial 6,500 jobs and shut its Aulnay plant.

Suzuki Motor Corporation has developed polypropylene (PP) resin material which is approximately 10% lighter than the current PP and said to be excellent in material colouring.

A frustrating moment confronted musician John and#8220;Jayand#8221; Geils in 1997: He just bought a house in rural Massachusetts with a basement studio, den and garage, and he wanted to unpack his cars and bikes.

PSA claims to be the world's oldest carmaker thanks to a wealthy, close-knit family that has steered the business since the late 19th century. The Peugeots maintain a firm grip on the automaker via a holding company which has 25.

Cutting-edge technology in greener cars like General Motors' Chevy Volt and PSA's 3008 HYbrid4 is unlikely to be shared in the alliance between the two firms, an executive from GM's Opel unit said.

Analysts said General Motors would find it difficult to find a new head for its struggling European Opel/Vauxhall unit after CEO Karl-Friedrich Stracke stepped down from the position.

Turkish vehicle production fell 13 percent year-on-year to 95,351 units in June, the Automotive Manufacturers Association (OSD) said on Friday.

Ford's new three-cylinder gasoline engine is proving a hit with European buyers of the Focus compact car. Ford says a quarter of all Focus sales across Europe are for the model with the downsized engine.

Ross Brawn has answered "why not?" when asked if he can imagine Michael Schumacher staying at Mercedes in 2013.

The seven time world champion's three-year contract is set to expire, and the German marque's former DTM protege Paul di Resta has been linked with the race cockpit alongside Nico Rosberg.

It is believed, however, that 43-year-old Schumacher has the power to trigger a unilateral 'option' for 2013, which would explain Mercedes' apparent attempts to speed up the great German's decision.

Will we see Michael Schumacher, with Mercedes AMG, again in Montreal? (Photo: WRi2)

Team boss Brawn admitted: "We are focused on Michael for as long as it takes and whatever it takes. Then we will see where we are elsewhere.

"We haven't discussed it but he enjoys himself and if he enjoys himself, why not?" he is quoted by the Independent newspaper.

"Inevitably you come to a point where you say 'Let's have the discussions', because these things can sometimes take some time."

This very nice video runs chronologically through S1T's time in the World Rally Championship, starting with 2002 and some stunning Safari Rally action and ending with footage of Volkswagen Motorsport - the latest manufacturer to embark on a World Rally Car programme earlier this season.

See Sebastien Loeb, Richard Burns, Carlos Sainz, Colin McRae, Marcus Gronholm, Petter Solberg and others in action!

Simon de Banke, the man behind safety tracking and timing firm Stage One Technology is also the man behind the video. And a lifelong rally fan.



"We wanted to remind everyone what we're all involved in," he said.

"Rallying is a very special sport, full of emotion, grit and determination and the WRC is a very special championship. I wanted to pay tribute to my incredible team of guys and girls who make the critical WRC timing and tracking systems happen on every event without fuss or glory - and the best way to do this was to show the highs and lows that have been our lives since 2002.

"I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out. I really wanted a film which reflected our feelings on the last 10 years of WRC, rather than a corporate video about S1T. We spent way too much time on it, but it was worth it in the end. It came out exactly as I hoped, and like most people who have watched it, it brought a small tear to my eye."

Any journalist coming from within the industry is sure to be carrying some baggage connected to a particular manufacturer. For me, that would be Land Rover. I served my mechanical apprenticeship with them back in the 70s, I've been President of the local Land Rover club, and prior to swapping wrench for pen, I owned and operated my own independent Land Rover/Jaguar workshop.

Because of this, over the decade or so in which I've been writing automotive reviews, I've purposely steered clear of reviewing Land Rover products for fear of being labelled a tainted enthusiast.

Of course, growing up on a farm in the UK, on what other possible brand of vehicle would I choose to serve my apprenticeship? After all, that's where the world's first SUV was born, down on the farm.

Yes, when the Range Rover first appeared in the late 60s, it was aimed at the wealthy farmers and land owners who, while content to let their farm hands drive around in the trusty LR Series workhorse, wished for something a tad more comfortable themselves.

Over the years, the Range Rover evolved from this to the point where it is now perhaps more of a status symbol than anything else. It's still one of the most capable vehicles in its class but, as is often pointed out, owners today rarely venture off-pavement with them. Of course, as unlikely as they are to charge into the darkest depths of Africa or scramble across a furrowed field, like the Ferrari owner who never pilots his car at 300 km/h, he or she does own the distinct pleasure of being able to say “if I wanted to, I could.”

Range Rover aside for the moment, Land Rover now offers a wide variety of vehicles, including the entry-level LR2, the new Evoque, the Range Rover Sport and, of course, the one perhaps most likely to be seen out on the trail, the highly capable LR4.

Photo: Kevin ''Crash'' Corrigan

Although still sold in the UK, and in use by numerous armed forces around the world, we no longer enjoy the option of purchasing the granddaddy of them all, the Land Rover Defender. Still the closest vehicle in DNA to the company's original 1948 Series one, it is the coolest of 4x4s, which is why I've imported my own.

Of course, as it has now been 10 years since I laid my hands upon a modern Land Rover (I have the clean fingernails to prove this), I can honestly say that I no longer feel any true connection to the company. As such, I'm now quite comfortable in offering my evaluation of its product line.

So come for a ride with me as I check out the new 2012 Land Rover LR4.

The Land Rover LR4, also known outside of North America as the Discovery 4, is often viewed as the middle-of-the-range, positioned somewhere between the entry-level LR2 and the mighty Range Rover. In my view, this is somewhat misleading as the LR4 is, in many ways, a different animal from the two aforementioned vehicles.


With the Range Rover scaling further and further up the prestige ladder, it left a void for those who wished for a capable, yet perhaps slightly more affordable SUV. Therefore, in 1995 (1989 in the UK) Land Rover introduced us to its first Discovery model, and an instant success, not surprisingly, as it appealed to the family market seeking a well-appointed and competent seven-passenger, midsized SUV.

Of course, while all Land Rover products feature standardized off-road prowess, LR4 owners are perhaps most likely to make use of their vehicle's capabilities, which is why I feel it differs from the rest of the range. It's also perhaps why the company lists the vehicle's water wading depth (27.56 inches) within its sales materials. Try obtaining that information from other SUV manufacturers!

The LR4's two-level roofline is a dead giveaway when it comes to recognition as a carryover from the original Discovery. I like it and, from what I've gathered, so do the younger generation, as they tend to sit higher in it than most other SUVs and therefore enjoy better all-around vision.

Apart from that one nod to the original design, the latest offering appears worlds apart from its predecessor. With just about every SUV manufacturer busy dressing up its product line, Land Rover is no exception to this.

In fact, stepping inside a new LR4, it's not difficult to imagine yourself seated in a brand new Range Rover. However, dressed or not, the fundamental rule of Land Rover still exists within the LR4, which is to build the most capable 4WD vehicle available and then attempt to make it as comfortable as possible.

With this in mind, the vehicle boasts one of the most sophisticated drivetrains in the business. Its simple-to-operate twist knob selector offers the choice of five settings (general driving, grass/gravel/snow, sand, mud and ruts, rock crawl). The air suspension can then be raised further up to 4.92 inches for use in extreme off-road conditions.

Stepping inside a new LR4, it's not difficult to imagine yourself seated in a brand new Range Rover. (Photo: Kevin ''Crash'' Corrigan)

This system also features a clever access mode which allows for the vehicle to be lowered by 2 inches for easy entry/exit. Speaking of which, the split-level tailgate works great as an exterior bench seat or as a platform to stand on while loading items onto the roof. It also allows access to the large, 2,557-litre cargo area.

The LR4 also serves duty as an excellent tow vehicle, as it's rated for 7,716 lbs or 3,500 kg.

Power comes from a 375-hp 5.0L V8, borrowed from Jaguar, and works well when you need that added oomph for overtaking, capable of sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds. Now that's quick for a vehicle of this size, especially when you consider that the LR4 is constantly in 4WD mode.

On the road, the LR4 is a blast to drive. Although you'll possibly pay a penalty for it at the pumps, the power on hand is phenomenal for a vehicle of its size and weight. The vehicle feels what it is, a well-designed SUV with a performance motor under the hood.

Power comes from a 375-hp 5.0L V8, borrowed from Jaguar, and works well when you need that added oomph for overtaking. (Photo: Kevin ''Crash'' Corrigan)

However, for me, the ride quality was what truly sold me on the vehicle. You see, I've driven too many SUVs which either wallow along with vague steering or, were so tight and responsive that they tire you out and make your teeth chatter.

Somehow, the designers at Land Rover have managed to achieve the perfect combination. Yes, you can still feel the roadway, yet by the time this information has arrived at your steering wheel, it appears to have passed through several layers of cotton wool.

Naturally, for a vehicle which starts at $59,990 and can easily reach well over $70K, you might expect nothing less. However, this is one of those occasions when you have to seriously look at what you're getting for the money.

Of course, if you read my blog on my past experience with the Land Rover brand, you're probably hoping for a few insider truths, so I won't disappoint you.

Heavy on fuel? Yes, traditionally there has always been a price to pay with full-time 4WD vehicles (because of the moving parts involved), and it's a challenge to make any V8 frugal on fuel. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the new LR4. If you leave the heavy foot at home, it's surprising what can be achieved. On the highway at 100 km/h, I had no problem keeping under 10L/100km (which is much better than the official figures).

Unreliable? You know, it really annoys me when I hear and read this. Admittedly, the company did suffer from this reputation in the past. Truthfully, this was mostly due to its rapid expansion in North America and the lack of trained Land Rover technicians. From what I now hear from ex-colleagues, today's products are just as reliable as most other sophisticated high-end manufacturers' offerings, provided of course that they're serviced properly.

This is one of those occasions when you have to seriously look at what you're getting for the money. (Photo: Kevin ''Crash'' Corrigan)

In fact, a good indication of any vehicle's reliability is how many techs drive the product they service (the last thing I wanted to do after a day's work was fix my own vehicle), and most LR techs I know drive Range Rovers!

Expensive parts? Premium brands run premium parts, it's as simple as that. However, when you're in a not-so-premium-brand store, check out how their prices have risen of late. The gap today between servicing a Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz or BMW versus a domestic or oriental import is not as great as you may think. Beware though; I've seen the MSRP on aftermarket parts priced higher than genuine parts, so always compare the two!