The first image of the electric Nissan Skyline GT-R coupe has been released. This factory restomod is based on the R32 generation car and will be shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in January. Nissan has not yet revealed any details about the project, limiting itself to a statement that engineers have tried to “preserve the charm” of the original car in an electric format. However, Japanese social networks have revealed that the coupe has acquired a new chassis, two electric motors and a radically redesigned interior.
Meanwhile, the company, which is in crisis, Nissan has begun a major reshuffle in its management. New directors have already been appointed in regional offices in China, South and North America, Japan and Southeast Asia. The head of the entire Nissan company, Makoto Uchida, has retained his position for now, but everything could change next spring, as a new round of management changes is scheduled for April.
The Volkswagen concern may avoid closing its plants in Germany. According to the German business press, the board of directors has not yet made a final decision, since a significant part of it is still hesitating. However, the Porsche and Piech families are in favor of the most aggressive cost-cutting, that is, ruthless plant closures and mass layoffs.
Labor disputes plague Volkswagennot only in its native Germany, but also in the United States. The workforce at the Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant voted to join the American Automobile Workers' Union (UAW). The workers demanded higher wages from the company, but negotiations that lasted several months were unsuccessful. Volkswagen agreed only to gradually increase wages by 14% over four years, but the UAW considered this proposal frivolous. The union is demanding a more substantial wage increase, improved health and safety at work, affordable health care and pension guarantees.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducted a study of the dependence of injuries sustained by pedestrians on the height of the front of the car when it is hit. Based on 202 incidents that occurred from 2015 to 2022, it turned out that when a regular passenger car collides with a person at a speed of 44 km/h, the risk of receiving a moderate injury is 60%, and a severe injury is 30%. For high pickups and SUVs, the figures were 83% and 62%, respectively.
In an interview with Izvestia, the head of AVTOVAZ Maxim Sokolov confirmed that prices for Lada cars will not increase until the end of this year. Next year, price increases will not be avoided, although they promise to keep them below inflation. Sokolov emphasized that “indexation of prices below inflation from an economic point of view is an actual reduction in prices.”
Today we also talked about the Changan Uni-V liftback, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E hot hatch, the revived Ford Escort coupe, and new versions of the Lada Largus.