Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In The UK - October 2010

As was the case in September, declining car sales in the United Kingdom are only declining in the face of artificially inflated car sales from October 2009. Britain's Scrappage Incentive Scheme boosted new car sales so current numbers appear underwhelming. The facts: new vehicle registrations in the UK fell 22.2% in October 2009. The Society Of Motor Manufacturers And Traders Limited, SMMT, believes new car sales will show declines in November and December, too, but the overall market in 2010 should end up with greater numbers than in 2009.

131,495 new vehicles were sold in the UK in October. There were 123,154 new vehicle sales in Canada in October, based on these figures. Automakers in the United States sold 950,145 new vehicles according to Autoblog. The nameplates which made up those sales are very, very different. In the UK, two companies represented in the Top 10 don't even sell vehicles in North America.

This month, rather than writing up an analysis on each product, for which you should check earlier versions of this post, we'll show you the direction in which the vehicle is trending compared with September 2010. These are the Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In The United Kingdom.

#10 - Renault Clio: 2786
↑↑↑
The Clio is most commonly seen in the North American media as a hot hatchback derivative, the Clio 200 or the old mid-engined Clio V6. In reality, most Europeans buy this Ford Fiesta competitor with less than 100 horsepower.

#9 - Mini: 2876
↓ from 7th

#8 - Nissan Qashqai: 3175
↑↑↑

#7 - Vauxhall Corsa: 3574
↓ from 2nd

#6 - Vauxhall Insignia: 3811
↓ from 5th

#5 - Ford Focus: 3888
↓ from 4th

#4 - BMW 3-Series: 3955
↑↑↑

#3 - Vauxhall Astra: 4472
↔

#2 - Volkswagen Golf: 5230
↑ from 6th

#1 - Ford Fiesta: 6024
↔

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In The UK - October 2011
Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In The UK - November 2010
Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In The UK - September 2010
Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In The UK - August 2010
Canada Auto Sales By Brand - October 2010
U.S. Auto Sales By Brand - October 2010

RENAULT DONE WITH ITS LARGEST MPV, THE ESPACE

Credited on the other side of the Atlantic with the introduction of the "minivan" - to Europe the MPV - Renault appears to have decided that the fad's forerunner will not be replaced at the end of its current life cycle.

The Espace and Grand Espace are rather luxurious family vehicles now but still completely capable of transporting you and all that comes with you across continents. Renault has long since developed smaller, cheaper alternatives to the Espace - the Scenic and Grand Scenic; Modus and Grand Modus.

(See all Renault-related posts with a click right here)

The irony of it is almost sad. In an era where Chrysler, the North American originator of the minivan, is struggling mightily to survive as truck sales fall of a cliff and minivan sales continue to stagnate (if continuing to stagnate is possible), their European equivalent's underling (Nissan), is rumoured to be interested in purchasing a chunk of the world's biggest minivan-maker, Chrysler LLC ,even as Nissan's parent (Renault) is cancelling further production of the Espace, a vehicle the rest of the world sees as famous. Irony, see?

RENAULT LAGUNA COUPE - 84 PICTURES

With 332 lb-ft of torque and 235 horsepower, the V6 diesel in the Renault Laguna coupe is far and away the better engine choice. Choosing the Laguna coupe won't be a common occurence in Europe, however. Expensive front-wheel drive two-doors from mainstream manufacturers aren't the hottest ticket - ever. 

That's not to say the car is indistinguishable or irrelevant. Renault design is always one step ahead of the pack; even if that step is in the wrong direction. In this case, the Laguna is let down only by its front end - a face only a mother could love. 

In profile and especially from the rear three-quarter, the Laguna coupe is a stunner. Renault will celebrate its diesel technology and safety while attempting to draw attention to this lifestyle choice. No doubt, the four-wheel steering that's already been put into practice in the regular Laguna will aid agility in no small measure. The gasoline-fired engine is a 240bhp, 243 lb-ft 3.5L V6 that you know well from Nissan, Renault's partner. Features more commonly seen in BMWs or Audis will help sell a few Laguna coupes.

Pricing should never be compared directly since currency exchanges tell only part of the story. Most print and online auto outlets pay no attention to that and will tell you the Laguna Coupe's price in € translates to USD pricing between $45,000-$65,000, about the same as a BMW 3-Series would if its € prices were exchanged directly. In fact, the 3-Series coupe shifts in America between $36,000-$45,000 and so would the Laguna coupe if imported to this continent. Renault? In North America? Ha. Check out the full gallery below.

THE WEIRD.... FROM THE 2008 PARIS AUTO SHOW

One expects weird things to come out of the Paris auto show. I say "things" because there're often, well... things; that can't be called cars. From Nissan and Renault, partners in crime weird things, come the Nissan Nuvu and Renault ZE. Descriptions would be wonderful, but that wouldn't help you absorbe the strangeness of the concepts. Tokyo this is not. But Paris will do just fine for now, thanks. Click to read about the good, the bad, and the ugly so far from the 2008. Paris auto show

THE GOOD..... FROM THE 2008 PARIS AUTO SHOW

Good can be defined in many ways. When it comes to automobiles, The Good 12 from GoodCarBadCar.net requires a car to be available to North Americans and in a reasonable price realm before consideration for goodness even begins.

For the purpose of mentioning what has been good - so far - at the Paris auto show in 2008, a vehicle needs to be impressive all-around. Not just to look at; but in conceptual terms as well. Vehicles that have already been seen at GoodCarBadCar.net need not apply. Here then are the Audi A1 Sportback and Renault Megane Coupe. Check back soon for the bad, the ugly, and the weird.

RENAULT KANGOO BE BOP TRULY... UMM... UNIQUE

One great difference between French and German automobile manufacturers can be described in this'a'way: Renault; Peugeot; and Citroen introduce weird vehicles automatically and think nothing of placing said vehicles in series production while BMW; Mercedes-Benz; Audi; VW and the gang are forced into conceptualizing strange stuff and struggle to consider production. 

The Renault Kangoo isn't a typical vehicle in its own right. Take the strange up a notch and you have the surprisingly desirable Renault Kangoo Be Bop. In Renault terms, it's the Kangoo be bop. Itty-bitty diesels displacing less than two litres and generating a smidge over 100 horsepower - or less - power a vehicle that's significantly less than four metres long. 

Renault says the Kangoo Be Bop has 16-inch wheels and thus, "holds the road with precision". That's funny. One can assume the Kangoo Be Bop will never be linked to the RenaultSport Megane in terms of handling acumen.

Unique elements and features are clearly visible in the gallery below. The regular Kangoo is pictured above.

AUTO NEWS VIA QUOTES

"Mercedes-Benz is the taxicab of choice in Germany, which shows if you have the right products, being the airport car won't hurt you." Ford President of the Americas, Mark Fields, speaking to the fact that Lincoln could attain limo+cool status.

"America has never been more ready for a car like this." smart USA President, David Schembri, speaking at the delivery to one of smart's first American customers.

"I think Chrysler has cut a lot." United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger believes that new labour agreements should be enough to stave off more cutbacks at American automakers.

"...we know what we're doing when it comes to combining industry-leading safety with industry-leading value." John Krafcik, a Hyundai VP, after noting that Hyundai produces more IIHS Top Safety Picks than BMW, Mercedes-Benz, or Toyota.

"I feel more than happy with today." Former two-time F1 champ Fernando Alonso after his first day of testing back at Renault.

"We are in discussion with Tata Motors on dealers and distribution of these brands. We are looking at an interesting set up." Alfredo Altavilla, Vice-Chairman of Fiat India speaks of Alfa Romeo, Maserati, and Ferrari being introduced in the world's second-largest nation.

"Everyone wants to pollute less; that's a no-brainer. What we've heard from our customers is if Bentley can be socially responsible that would be a positive.'' Bentley spokesman David Reuter figures the ultra-rich are about as socially conscious as the rest of us.

"Everybody at Rolls-Royce is delighted with this tremendous result which marks our fifth anniversary in the best possible way." Rolls-Royce's CEO, Ian Robertson, appears to ignore the multiplicity of decades prior to BMW's Rolls-Royce, but is happy with a worldwide sales increase of 25% and total Indian sales of eleven.

"We don't look at this as a car ad as much as we look at it as a statement." Scott Keogh, VP of Marketing at Audi, plays up the importance of Audi's Paramount Pictures-produced Super Bowl ad.

RUSSIAN RENAULT

At one point will Lada just be a Russian Renault? Who knows.... but there is now a chance that AvtoVAZ's most infamous brand could be on the up-and-up. Renault just took hold of a 25% stake in the Russian group.

Why the interest from the French? Russia will be Europe's most lucrative market come next decade. Combine Renault with tag team partner Nissan and the new member of the family, and you've got 40% of the market share tied up. Nation-wide sales growth + 40% marketshare at present makes for plenty of money in the future.

Renault pumped out some other major news today in F1 circles, too. Oh, by the way, the brand of car I first drove? That'd be Lada. I was 3 years old, unable to reach the pedals. Steering was a bit lifeless and not terribly accurate, as I recall.