Robotized transmissions are dog slow. Being able to initiate the shift yourself does not change this. It only allows you to time when you want all your power to disappear, wait a decade for the transmission to shift, and repeat. It’s just a flappy paddle masked as a gear lever. VW ASG, Peugeot ETG, Fiat Dualogic,…

I mean... Citroën CX driving in and out of Grace Jones’ mouth.

4 (what is actually happening right now): Massive EV subsidies and manufacturers putting plugin/ev drivetrains in everything that moves. Even big, hybrid SUVs that would NEVER sell otherwise (Toyota Highlander/Ford Expedition) get imported because every hybrid/ev sell counts double towards the avg fleet emissions (so…

You present a rather simplified view here, there are many exemptions and stipulations attached to this. Cars that emit 50 g/km CO2 or less count double towards the average fleet emissions for now, and with European manufacturers rapidly embracing EVs and Plug-Ins, (PSA launched 16 EVs/Plug-Ins in the last two years!),…

I love this. It’s so mad!

This doesn’t even slightly resemble a Saab but sure

Just a heads up: Your Panda was either a 0.9 TwinAir Turbo 2 cylinder with 85PK or a 1.2 4 cylinder with 69PK, a 1.2 85PK doesn’t exist.

Exactly. I was quite surprised reading about the existence of a Skoda Rapid wagon. Skoda does offer multiple wagons in 2018 (Fabia, Octavia and Superb), the Rapid though is not one of them.

Excuse me for being pedantic, but it’s a hatchback not an estate car.

Dacia are great! Funky looks for around 15k euro max. They come in both diesel and gas witha manual and optional 4x4 ranging from 90-125bhp which is, lets be honest, all you’ll ever need.

I call BS. In manual BMWs, the engine only shuts off when the clutch is out and the gear lever is in neutral. As soon as your foot touches the clutch pedal to put the car back in gear, the engine restarts. Faster than you can get your foot to the floor and the car back in gear. Now on an automatic, I kind of hear you,…

It isn’t even nice

Yeah, well, I got some news for you too! FCA is based in Europe and the European Union/Commission wouldn’t let FCA dump just Jeep and let the rest burn in hell so it’s not just about the US either.

People tend to overlook it, but Fiat actually is a valuable asset as well. Big dealer network in Europe and everyone knows what 500/Panda/Punto (500/Panda are among the top 5 in the compact market in Europe) are so I guess with a bit of capital injection they’ll be even more lucrative.

Let’s pretend for a moment that large automotive manufacturers are run by very savy buisness men and women and that.... wait! We dont even have to pretend! They are! Whatever they end up doing is probably a way better decision than any readers or writers on Jalopnik could muster. Wether or not its in the best…

Nah, one could argue that Europe has moved away from minivans towards SUV-like cars. Minivans are dead here, and the ones availible (such as the S-Max) are ancient. Hell, the new Peugeot 3008 and 5008 now have SUV as a suffix. Not that they are availible with AWD, though

Yes and it is also not availible in Europe so not relevant for this test

It really says something about VW upper management and the expectations they set.

Not at all surprised. Here in The Netherlands VW also pulls dirty tricks to somehow always top sales charts. For example, registering a vehicle (which counts as a sale) and then let it rot on a dealer lot for half a year. Granted others do it too, but not on the massive scale VW does it...

The 2-door GLS version looked like a cross between an Escort, Thunderbird and Ambien: