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Crunch watch Jan 09: the auto industry in crisis

By Tim Pollard, Ben Pulman and Gareth Evans Motor Industry 30 January 2009 12:39 Friday 30 January 2009• Honda is about to close the Swindon factory for four months when Friday's shifts are finished; the shutdown will affect 2500 of the 3700 staff, who will receive full pay for two months and then 60% pay for the next eight weeks (BBC News)• Porsche has announced a sharp drop in sales and likely profits. It forecasts a 27% drop in 911, Boxster, Cayman and Cayenne sales to around 34,000 units in the six months to the end of January 2009 (Financial Times, subscription required)• Ford wants Washington to do more to stimulate car sales, after posting a record loss of nearly $14.6 billion earlier this week (Detroit News)• Honda's quarterly profit has crashed by 90% – forcing the Japanese car maker to halve its annual profit target (Detroit Free Press)Thursday 29 January 2009• Ford of Europe is a bright spot in the Blue Oval's quarterly results today, making $1.06 billion pre-tax profit in 2008 (up from $997m in 2007). It's the first profit of more than $1bn since 1989 (Automotive News Europe, subscription required)• Volvo suffered a 'disastrous 2008' with a pre-tax loss of $1.46bn.

Video: Porsche's Michael Mauer and Mitja Borkert on the new Macan

Porsche style vice-president Michael Mauer has revealed how the new Macan's design was influenced by racecars. In this new video, Mauer and members of his design team explain some of the Macan's development and the team's desire to create "a true Porsche in each segment – a true sports car". Classic Porsche design cues were immediately obvious upon seeing the Macan in the metal in Tokyo and Los Angeles – including its rear and interior – and Mitja Borkert, director advanced design style, identifies other recognizable features.

Range Rover Evoque: Are Land Rover plans for a ‘Grand Evoque’ taking shape?

Range Rover Grand Evoque planned - a stretched Evoque Land Rover are considering plans for a stretched Range Rover Evoque – the Grand Evoque or Evoque XL – to fit between the Evoque and RRS. Although it seemed to take forever to turn the Land Rover LRX in to the Range Rover Evoque, the Evoque has certainly had a real impact on the car market since it finally arrived this year. Plaudits and prizes galore, and an order book that seems to be growing every day.