This week's gossip from the automotive industry brings news of Koenigsegg's customer waiting times, Skoda Kodiaq design struggles, Renault's future wheels and Kia's desire to move away from 'premium'.
Koenigsegg's waiting times
Koenigsegg is looking into increasing production capacity to reduce customer waiting times. Answering a fan question on its Twitter feed, Koenigsegg said the current waiting time for a new vehicle is around two and a half years, once deposits have been paid, but added that it is “looking to increase production”.
Read more: Koenigsegg One:1 Nürburgring crash car will go for record again, Koenigsegg One:1 review
Skoda Kodiaq design struggles
The design team behind the new Skoda Kodiaq SUV, led by Josef Kaban, spent the longest amount of time working on the rear of the car. “It was a challenge, but a rewarding one,” said Kaban. “It took a long time to get to the right point, but we wanted an SUV that was typically Skoda – not just rugged but elegant as well.”
Read more: 2017 Skoda Kodiaq prototype review, 2017 Skoda Kodiaq shown in new pictures ahead of Paris motor show
Renault's future wheels
The Renault Scenic and Renault Grand Scenic’s standard 20in wheels may set a precedent for other Renault models due to their efficiency benefits, striking looks and ease of set-up, according to design boss Laurens van den Acker. He said fitting 20in wheels across the entire range made things easier for engineers. “Instead of multiple chassis tunes or one compromised one, all cars are optimised for big wheels,” he said.
Read more: 2016 Renault Scenic TCe 130 Signature Nav review, 2018 Renault Mégane RS to get 300bhp and EDC auto option
Kia's brand image
Despite its cars being of an ever higher quality and offering plush top-spec trim levels, Kia is at pains to distance itself from wanting to be seen as ‘premium’, unlike many other mass-market car makers. “We’re not premium. We’re generalist,” said Kia’s European design chief, Gregory Guillaume, “but being perceived as having a premium design is a good position to be in.”
Read more: 2017 Kia Rio full specifications revealed, Kia Niro review
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Big wheels, so bye bye to
All well and good until a puncture leaves you stranded, the tyre foam is no good against a broken sidewall.
Never mind, the big wheels will still look good!
Efficiency benefits of big wheels?