The motor industry

Taking the high road

Britain’s motor industry has found a new life making pricier cars for export. But its revival is incomplete

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Readers' comments





Well, I wouldn't call Lamborghini, Ferrari or Maserati - all made in Italy - "commodity end".

And these brands are doing quite well nowadays, their main market being the USA and China.


It's pretty fortunate for Land Rover that the vast majority of its products don't get anywhere near a real jungle track or a desert. Last time I checked, 75% of Land Rovers sold in the USA last year had to have at least one significant defect fixed within the first 12 months of ownership. The LR4 has a fuel tank capacity of 19 gallons/72 liters. This gives it a range of around 200 miles/320 kilometers. Not exactly inspiring if you happen to be out in real wilderness or desert... That's why Toyota Land Cruisers are still the real workhorse of the off-road world, and why Land Rovers are the rich kid's supermarket-run toy. So long as the Chinese, Americans, and other upmarket buyers are content with image over reality, Land Rover will continue to sell its products. But woe betide anyone who imagines their expensive toy is really suited to real-world off-road use... if they are very lucky, a Toyota or Nissan will come along and tow them home eventually. In fact, even a Ford (the excellent F150 Raptor) might make an appearance in this game.

mnat in reply to CA-Oxonian


Which is clearly the point. And it applies across the industry, not just to Land Rover or any individual manufacturer. Most off-road vehicles are bought by people who have no intention (or ability) to use them off road (driving on a grass verge doesn't count), and expect their SUV to drive like a car. But so what? The industry is making what the car buying public wants to spend its money on. If that's a heavy 4 wheel drive vehicle that can handle anything a suburban mom can throw at it, that's hardly Land Rover's fault. (I expect your Land Rover statistic is out of date, BTW. From what I've read, their product quality is much improved. It needed to be.)


Land Rovers are brilliant off road vehicles. They are very good cars on road too. They are more than a "supermarket run toy". Drive a Land Rover for a whole day and come out feeling fresh, what other 4x4 does that? CA-Oxinian, your cynical letter says much...about yourself.

Shaun39, sourcing parts close to the factory is in the car makers interest. Both due to cost and reliability of delivery. It is getting UK companies to invest and banks to lend that is the problem.

I like raptor but that is even more of a toy than a range rover. Which is why I would chose a raptor. Landrovers are better of road but take the point about range. personally If i was going in to the desert I would want something from the 1980s that could actually fix if broke with an extended fuel tank.

whethere landrover nissian toyota if electronics fail stuck.

An old car with 80 horsepower and low gearing and mechincal ignition would be by choice with complete electrical system spares.


Alvis and Wolseley? few under under 50 has even heard of those the people who apire to drive a wolsey are bettween 80 and dead.

My grandad who died earlier this year at 96 was only person I knew that conisdered a wolsey the best car he ever owened and that 55 years ago.


Jaguar and landrover better postioned than cadillac because they took the value in the brand and worked on that. Landrover did not decide it was going to become the best sports car maker in the world.
Jaguar took a little risk with the Xj as had been making soft riding classic looking salmons.
Cadillac instead of taking the value in the brand spent a lot of time and effort trying to re brand its self by making bmws type cars.
Good cars yes but trying to take someones else nechie is never the most efficent.
Instead of throwing away part of the value in the brand if built on it. Cadillac the founder of v8s but if you want a nice riding v8 sedan buy jaguar bmw hyundai. Cadillac marker of personal coupes if you want one today you buy a mercedes or bmw. Cadillac dont make 4 seaters convertable or any convertable. They dont make a lazy a large boat which some buyers still liked in the DTS Lincon dont make the towncar.
Lincon and cadillac dont focus on there customers too busy looking at others they do not look at what brand means what value in it and work on that. Instead a complete reinvesions that leave everyone confused cost a sheed load of money. Not taking advanatge of there comparative advanatages. Landrover is better at this jaguar still has something to offer there old man clinetel as well as the bmw type.



From Alvis to Wolseley (and I've probably missed something), the list of defunct British premium car brands is extensive. As long as the price point makes sense, what better way to sell premium brand cars than by reviving a brand name that implies a rich heritage, as well as delivering one or two styling cues? Take Wolseley: even Cadillac would be roundly out-blinged by a car that absolutely MUST have a name badge that lights up. And particularly in emerging markets, an evocation of Britishness is often suggestive of good quality and/or exclusivity.

But would that significantly benefit the actual manufacture of cars in the UK? I wouldn't think so.

mnat in reply to J3yw7yhiPP

Diesel's unpopularity is largely cultural. The perception among US car buyers is that compression ignition is meant for buses and large commercial or agricultural vehicles (not even vans or trucks, many of which use V8 petrol engines, as you say). One or two manufacturers offer diesel cars in their product line up, but they sell in limited quantities. On a practical level, depending on where you live (obviously), not all gas stations even sell diesel. But gas mileage is becoming ever more important to American buyers. Most cars on American roads these days are of the 4 cylinder variety, and petrol-electric hybrids are increasingly common. Rightly or wrongly, electric cars are seen as the future, rather than small diesels.

You make a nice point about Toyota: it would make an exciting tow home if the Toyota's accelerator cable got stuck in the "loud" position.

J3yw7yhiPP in reply to CA-Oxonian

CA-Oxonian: I'm sure if you were that concerned about range you'd get a diesel engine version - oh that's right american's haven't clocked on to the fact that diesel is a lot more efficent for mpg than gasoline and they only get the V8 version. You also miss the fact that Toyota have also had a lot of recalls recently...


It certainly isn't in British interests to prioritise sourcing of parts in the UK.

Rather, manufacturers should source parts from the most productive & competitive manufacturers - whether in the UK or Eastern Europe. That is the path to generating greater value added, higher productivity, higher incomes & profits, safeguarding jobs, etc.

Drawing lines in the sand and then prioritising activities on one side is a path to missed opportunities and lower living standards.


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