So here we go through options which are more likely than the previous bunch. But, nay, they ain’t great candidates either.

Renault-Nissan – Land-Rover, Jaguar and Volvo look good for Renault on paper. Profitable luxury brands where Renault isn’t strong. But hey, there is Nissan and Infinity. Nissan is good with quality cars and SUVs. Infinity is rear wheel drive and could be developed for the European market. So there go Land-Rover and Jaguar. Volvo is more attractive – until you look at the efforts Renault has undertaken to become the brand for “5-star safety”. And then Volvo and Renault had a fling before Ford stepped in. They didn’t like to go through with it then, so why should they do so now?

PSA – again, on the surface such a deal looks appealing until you digg deeper. PSA is not without problems, their car range has become unattractive with the notable exception of Citroen. Ok, so Volvo / Land-Rover / Jaguar could open the US market for PSA. But would they try to sell Citroens and Peugeots over there? Even with the distribution in place, that seems unlikely anytime soon. PSA seems good in collaborating with others on engines (BMW, Ford), vans and minivans (FIAT), small cars (Toyota) and more recently SUVs (Mitsubishi). None of the three bands would add much to the PSA portfolio. So we think PSA won’t buy any of them.

FIAT – again great on paper, Volvo, Land-Rover and Jaguar opening the US-market for FIAT. But look at FIAT, they are just getting out of a long struggle which nearly destroyed the concern. And hey, FIAT is not very good at managing acquisitions. Lancia is not really selling outside of Italy. Alfa Romeo has a great potential, but recent models like the fat Brera and Spyder disappoint the enthousiasts and are not attractive enough for the executive buyers. Alfa as a company car? Alfa fleet sales? Yeah, exactly. The only successful joint-ventures were with PSA (vans, minivans), so FIAT might be trying more of those cooperations like they just did with Suzuki.

technorati tags:Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, PSA, FIAT, Renault-Nissan

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The wannabee SUVs, aren’t they dreadful?  Ahmm, no actually I mostly like them.  Of course they aren’t made for off road purposes (although the Panda is pretty good at it -see the video) but how many perfectly capable offroadies have actually seen any wildlife?  Exactly.  And these ruggedized vehicles are ideal for urban bumper action and they look sexier than their siblings.  Some even find them more comfortable, because the seating position is even higher and more convient.  You don’t like them and I send the ladies in their Panda Cross, Cross Polo, Cross Golf plus, Cross Touran after you.  ‘Cause it’s mostly the ladies who buy those urban streetfighters… despite the best effort of Tom Ford to tempt the blokes.  And Tom is a great addition to the 5th Gear presenters.