Toyota take the No.1 spot from GM

General Motors has, for the first time in 77 years, ceded the number one spot as the worlds largest volume automaker. Sales figures show that Toyota has now overtaken GM with sales figures of 8.97 million units globally as opposed to GM's 8.36 million.

With the economic difficulties GM is experiencing this could be the shift in power that has long been expected.

Steven Curtis, a Toyota spokesman said "Being No. 1 in volume has never been our goal. Being No. 1 in quality and customer experience has been our goal."

Government Sub Prime Car Finance – OH NO!

Over the last ten years people have got into the habit of spending money they haven’t got. The Governments proposed solution? Lend them some more.

Rumour has it that Gordon Brown and Lord Mandelson (Mandy to his friends) fancy going into the car finance business. You can read the full article here http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5519737.ece

Now I may be a bit daft, but even I can work out that it is difficult to get people out of debt by offering them further loans. The so called ‘credit crunch’ is a direct result of the banks lending money to people who now find it very hard to pay back. Whether this has been in the form of loans, credit cards or using the equity in their house as a cash point, many people in the UK now find themselves in debt. Some deeply in debt.

If people have a poor credit history they will have trouble getting finance. The reason why the economy is in freefall is because people feel it is their right to have things they cannot afford. Giving them further lines of credit can only ever exacerbate the situation.

For those who do have a solid credit history there are some great deals out there. Take a look at Broker4cars and Finance4cars, they are offering lease purchase deals with an APR from as little 6.9%, combined with great discounts on new cars. For those who either have the cash, or have a clean credit history, this is probably one of the best times to look at buying a new car.

PLEASE stop lending to people who have no money. Credit is not a god given right, it has to be earned. Otherwise say goodbye to capitalism and say hello to creditism.

Motogp to follow Formula 1 in costcutting

Following the decision by Kawasaki to withdraw from the Motogp series plans are being made to reduce the costs of racing. With ideas similar to those of Formula 1.

The main area the organisers and teams are looking at is making the engines last for a minimum of two races, with that possibly being increased to three races over a period of time.

These rules may be difficult to implement this season, but with both manufacturers and organisers recognising the scale of the financial problems ahead, I think it will only be a matter of time.

Ducati team boss Livio Suppo said "Now we have on the table what can be done, we wait for the GP commission to transform the proposals in proper regulations."

Toyota launch the new TF109 online

With the credit crunch hitting all of us, Toyota has decided to launch their new Formula 1 car, the TF109, online.

With all manufacturers feeling the pinch lately, Formula 1 launches have been far more low key this year. As a result Toyota have decided to make use of the internet for the launch of their next new car the TF109. Visit http://www.tf109-premiere.com/ and you can be just as on the ball as the press, best be quick though, the launch is 12 noon on the 15th of January.

Sorry you missed it.

Fying Car or Just Another Nutty Brit

Neil Laughton an ex SAS soldier is about to undertake one of the most dangerous missions of his life. A journey from London to Timbuktu crossing amongst other things, parts of the Sahara Desert, the Strait of Gibraltor and a minefield in Mauritania.

Admitting that the car had not yet been tested to any "distance, heat or endurance" and adding that there was a sense of the old "mad Brits" about the adventure, Mr Laughton hopes to raise £100,000 for various charities.

One thing he has certainly done is get plenty of press for his co-pilot, Mr Cardozo's company, Parajet. Cardozo, a self taught engineer has always dreamed of producing a flying car and if the mission is successful, plans to sell the Skycars for around £50,000 each.

Will they manage to complete the 3,600 mile trip? Hopefully.

Will it be a commercial success? Not while there's sand in the Sahara

Chrysler. American Dream or Nightmare?

As we all know, the American big three all find themselves in varying levels of financial difficulty. What they all need is a plan.

Disappointing then that Chrysler didn’t wow us at the Detroit Auto Show with their new plan. Having just received four billion dollars from the American taxpayer, with another three in the pipeline, this was Chrysler’s opportunity to show us how they are going to rejuvenate this once great manufacturer. Chrysler sales VP Jim Press stated in a press conference at the show “We now have a special bond with the American public.” You certainly do. They pay your wages. For the time being that is.

So what’s the plan?

Ummmmmmmmmm.

Three hybrid concepts.

Nothing that will be rolled out in the early part of 2009 that will start making any money back for the company or the taxpayer. Nothing that in reality will be on the roads for another two to three years. Seven billion may be a huge number to us, but for a dinosaur like them it won’t last long.

These are just pipe dreams. The 200C EV shown above may be a decent looking car, but it is only a concept.

Chrysler needs to produce cars that sell in volume. Hybrid and fuel cell technology may be the way forward, however they do not sell in volume.

These are simply projects that they can show to the car czar to prove they aren’t wasting the money. Problem is though, they most certainly will be. Before Christmas, Cerberus made it quite clear that without a cash injection Chrysler would collapse. What’s changed? The money will be spent and the company will fail.

Ford and General Motors have good presence in the European markets. Chrysler doesn’t. With a shrinking market and no new rollouts the future would appear to be just as bleak now as it was before Christmas, possibly bleaker.

Chrysler will fail. Cerberus certainly won’t take the hit. So rather than waste more money. Let it. Use the seven billion dollars to support the supply chain. Failure to do so may just drag Ford and General Motors further into the mire.

Are Times That Hard For Ferrari?

Ferrari has been the first of the Formula One teams to break cover with their new car for 2009. The Ferrari F60, with Felipe Massa describing it as "tiny, very compact and cute".

Cute? Has Massa been on the Caipirinha. Now I realise Max (alleged bum spanker) Mosely has told the teams to save some cash, but the rear wing looks like a shopping trolley handle (suppose it saves on carbon fibre though). On the plus side, they've got rid of loads of those stupid little wings and deflectors so side on it is far more pleasurable to look at.

With McLaren launching their Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 (shopping trolley) on the 16th of January, it shouldn't be too long before we see some proper testing and see what effect the new KERS System will have.

Personally I can't wait. Rule changes always tend to put a cat amongst the pigeons.