We asked three of our staff members what they thought the likely trends could be.

Their thoughts varied from all-electric cars to plastic engines and a China/India domination.

Click here to read the full article. If you disagree or have any other thoughts to add we’d love to hear from you, so please add your comments below

For example, a staggering 61 percent admitted illegally using mobile phones whilst driving, a shocking 30 percent said they had sent text messages and one in four believed they could drive 10 kph above the speed limit in a 100kph zone without being fined.
 
Sadly these are not the most serious indiscretions revealed in this government - backed driver survey
An alarming one in six of those surveyed admitted falling asleep at the wheel, and up to 1 in 10 drivers said they had driven while they thought they might have been above the legal alcohol limit at least once in the last twelve months. 

Our own Private Fleet survey conducted amongst a much larger cross section reached similar conclusions and also showed many more concerning traits.
• Young Toyota drivers are 40 percent more likely than the average driver to talk on the phone whilst driving but they are 30 percent less likely to drink and drive.
• Female drivers fare well except that they are more likely to text when driving than their male counterparts.
• Holden holds the unenviable title of housing Australia’s worst drivers, whereas Mazda comes out top as having the best behaved drivers.
• The Australian Capital Territory can proudly claim to have the best behaved drivers in the country. But South Australia takes the booby prize, however the worst driving individual segment  goes, perhaps unsurprisingly, to NSW ‘P’ platers
• Tasmanian drivers are more likely to speed than their Victorian cousins.
• Remarkably 51 percent of West Australian drivers admitted to having consumed three or more standard drinks before driving.

Does this sound right to you?  Put your own theories to the test here - and feel free to add your comment below…

Honda in the UK has announced a recall of the Honda Jazz model produced between 2002 and 2008 so that electric window master switches can be checked.

Honda say that “the master switch in the driver’s door can malfunction when exposed to large amounts of liquid ingress”

That’s Honda-speak for getting wet.

If the driver’s window is left open during heavy rain, water can leak on to the electic mechanism and can be a smoke and fire risk. Although it is understood that there are no reported health and safety incidents in Australia, apparently such an incident has allegedly led to the death of a two year old girl in South Africa last year, according to British media reports.

Apparently all recalled cars will be fixed with a waterproof skirt that will prevent further water getting in.

It is reported that over 650,00 Honda Jazz models are being recalled world wide.

It is not yet clear whether Honda Jazz models supplied in Australia will be subjected to a similar recall.

Last month General Motors unequivocably announced the demise of Saab. There was horrified reaction to this and some desperate last ditch offers were put into the melting pot in a bid to reverse GM’s decision.

GM relented and re-considered.

Yesterday Spyker Cars announced that they had reached agreement with GM over the transfer of the ownership of Saab.

Terms are agreed and the deal is expected to close in February.

Thus, according to Spyker ” Saab’s future as an independent car maker is assured.”

Spyker will pay General Motors US$74m. in two instalments, to be completed by July 15th 2010.

But the sale is also subject to a loan of 400m. euros from the European Investment Bank, guaranteed by the Swedish Government.

So that all looks positive for Saab dealers, supporters and customers.

But is it sustainable?

Saab suffered a massive loss of production in 2009 over 2008. By ‘massive’ we mean no less than 76.7 percent!!

No business, let alone a highly structured car company, can survive these sorts of losses if such diminished returns continue.

It seems, therefore, that Spyker/Saab have a huge task in front of them if they are to preserve this iconic brand. 

It will be interesting to see the difference between hopes and reality.

Amongst those involved in trying to save Saab is Bernie Ecclestone, the Formula 1 guru who said that Saab is ‘ a good brand that has probably been neglected by its current owners”. It has not been revealed how much he is personally offering for the purchase.

Spyker Cars have also submitted a modified bid to GM who have said that all four bids will be considered and an announcement regarding the future of Saab will be made next Thursday.

We’ve assembled ten of them, some obvious, others less so.

Here are our top ten.

1. Buy on the right day of the week.

2. Don’t buy ethanol added fuel.

3. Pump up your tyres

4. Slow down

5. Keep a clean air filter

6. Idling your engine costs fuel - the 60 secs. bench mark.

7. Turn off the aircon.

8. Maintain your car.

9. Proper start up procedure.

10. Buy a fuel efficient car.

For the full story on fuel saving ideas click here.

Have you any other hints that you’d to comment on?

Ford announced last week that agreement had been reached to sell its subsidiary, Volvo Cars, to China’s Geely Automotive for a reported $AUS 2.26 bn. (Ford acquired Volvo for $6.45 bn. US  just ten years ago).

The deal is expected to be completed early in 2010, though the Swedish press are sceptical - and angered.

” How can a former refrigerator parts manufacturer with just ten years’ car manufacturing experience manage such a well known, quality, world - wide brand successfully? ” they ask.

But then China is now one of the leading car manufacturers in the World, rising from virtual obscurity a decade ago.

So is this the death knell for Volvo, or a new exciting development for the ’safety first’ Swedish manufacturer?

Only time will tell.

The demise of the very distinctive, if slightly quirky Swedish car maker is a direct result of the Global Financial Crisis and General Motors plans to dispense with its non-performing overseas assets.

GM said it would close Saab dealerships around the world, although it would honour warranties and provide service and parts to Saab owners.

It is likely that Saab owners will suffer from heavily depreciating values, at least in the short term, though some may regard them as future collectors items.

We suspect, however, that hefty discounts will be offered to new car buyers if they are brave enough to want to purchase such a future rarity.

We’ve listed our top five here:-

THE LEYLAND P76

It’s aim was to knock Holden, Ford and Chrysler off their big car perches - and it failed miserably

THE DATSUN 120Y

Boring! Yet is sold over 2 million worldwide. Why?

THE MORRIS MARINA

Another Leyland disaster trying to play catchup.

AU FALCON

How a styling studio and the research dept. got it so wrong, and Ford never recovered.

MITSIBISHI 380

The car that was to save Mitsubishi local manufacturing and pay back Government grants. It didn’t.

For the full story on the top five failures, and a list of the ‘also rans’ (or didn’t) click here

General Motors announced last June that they had reached agreement to sell Saab to Swedish ultra luxury sports car maker Koenigsegg, and most thought it to be a ‘done deal’ until recent doubts surfaced about whether it would be completed.

And, indeed, today Koenigsegg announced that it had come to the ‘painfull and difficult conclusion’ that it has to abort the purchase.

GM’s response is that it is ‘very disappointed’ with the decision.

Speculation is now rife over whether GM will continue to keep Saab in their camp along with Opel and Vauxhall, whether they will seek another buyer or simply close it down.

Whichever way they choose, this news will do nothing to assist Saab in getting back into the black after some disastrous sales performances