Volvo reveals next generation platform

Volvo Car has revealed first details of the platform which will underpin its next-generation mid-sized and large cars and allow the integration of its latest safety technology.

Scaleable Product Architecture (SPA) will appear for the first time on the next XC90 SUV at the end of 2014, but will be used also for the replacement 60 and 70 series models.

It allows petrol, diesel, hybrid and all-electric powertrains to be mounted identically in a fixed location, leaving engineers with flexibility in the shape and size of the rest of the car.

Geely rescues Manganese Bronze

Production of London TX4 taxi cabs could begin within weeks at the Coventry site of Manganese Bronze following the decision by Geely UK to buy the company out of administration for £11 million.

The acquisition came after Geely, the company’s biggest creditor, refused to provide funding to keep the cab maker afloat. Geely owned about 25 per cent of Manganese Bronze. The move will save about 100 jobs at the Coventry-based cab maker.

Daniel Li, chairman of Geely UK, noted the Chinese company would use Manganese Bronze as a vehicle to sell Geely cars in Europe.

Li said that Geely planned to invest between £30 and 50 million over the next five years to introduce new models into production.