This week's snippets of automotive news include news on Infiniti upcoming SUV, the Bugatti Divo, Jaguar I-Pace wait-times, the plan for Maybach and Skoda on diesel.
Infiniti on a new SUV model:
Infiniti design director Karim Habib has hinted that a smaller, dedicated SUV sibling to the QX50 could be shown next year. While remaining coy about the details, he said we will see “a couple of new things in that area” in 2019.
A 'turning' point for Bugatti:
The launch of the Bugatti Divo could mark a turning point for the formerly top speed-focused brand. Company CEO Stephan Winkelmann said the Divo’s focus on dynamics and handling had been well received: “Life is not just about the shortest path from A to B–a winding road can be very enjoyable as well.”
Jaguar I-Pace waiting times:
UK customers are now facing a six-month wait for deliveries of the Jaguar I-Pace – the longest UK MD Rawdon Glover is comfortable with. “We’re looking at ways to keep the waiting list reasonable,” he said. “Interest is strong, and we’re enjoying the challenge of keeping up with that.”
The plan for Maybach:
The long-term plan for Maybach is for it to “stand on its own two feet, like AMG”, according to Mercedes boss Dieter Zetsche. Bespoke Maybachs are on the cards, but first Mercedes will raise volume and credibility with more models based on cars such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Mercedes-Benz GLS.
Skoda on diesel:
“Diesel is not dead,” according to Skoda R&D boss Christian Strube, who confirmed that a newly developed diesel engine will launch in the next-gen Skoda Octavia. Skoda also decided that the new Kodiaq vRS should be diesel-rather than petrol-powered because torque “was really important”, said Strube.
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