Full details of the new Jaguar Heritage Challenge Series have been announced.

• The Jaguar Heritage Challenge Series will be contested across five weekends at some of the best drivers’ circuits in the UK and Europe
• The new race series, run in partnership with the Historic Sports Car Club, is open to pre-‘66 Jaguar models, ranging from MkI and MkII saloons to C-type, D-type and early E-type cars
• The Jaguar Heritage Challenge marks the first time such a varied group of historic Jaguar competition cars will be assembled in one race series
• Entrants and drivers can visit a dedicated web page for the new series at http://www.hscc.org.uk/jaguar-heritage-challenge for full details and information on how to enter

Jaguar and the Historic Sports Car Club (HSCC) have today announced further details of the Jaguar Heritage Challenge race series, including event dates, classes and eligible cars. 

Entrants and drivers can visit http://www.hscc.org.uk/jaguar-heritage-challenge – a new web page dedicated to the series for further information and to apply for an entry.

This exciting new racing championship is open to pre-‘66 Jaguar models and will be split in to five classes: Jaguar XK-series cars; pre-‘66 saloon models, C-type, D-type and XKSS, and two separate E-type classes. The Heritage Challenge marks the first time such a diverse group of historic competition Jaguars will be assembled as part of a race series.

Contested across five race weekends in 2015, beginning on the 2^nd May and ending on the 31^st August, the Heritage Challenge will be taking in some of the best drivers’ circuits in Europe at blue riband historic racing meetings. The full race calendar is as follows:

• 2^nd – 4^th May: Donington Historic Festival
• 16^th – 17^th May: Silverstone International (GP Circuit)
• 11^th – 12^th July: Brands Hatch Super Prix (GP Circuit)
• 7^th – 9^th August: Nürburgring Oldtimer Grand Prix
• 29^th – 31^st August: Oulton Park Gold Cup

The Heritage Challenge Series builds on the success of the E-type Challenge that ran for a number of seasons. It also comes at a time when Jaguar Heritage is busier than ever, with the launch of the recreation Lightweight E-type, the Heritage Driving Experience and the growing Heritage parts and restoration business. Jaguar Heritage is part of Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Operations Division.

Derek Weale, Jaguar Land Rover Heritage Business Director, said: “We are delighted that our new Heritage Race series will take place at some of the best drivers’ circuits in Europe and at world-famous historic race meetings. The spectacle of seeing a race dedicated to these classic Jaguars, on these circuits and at these events is going to be a sight to savour and behold.”

Graham White, CEO of the HSCC, said: “A single-marque racing series like the Jaguar Heritage Challenge is a great addition to our racing calendar and I can’t wait to see some of the finest racing Jaguars of the past lining up on the grid at Donington in May.”

All new Concept to debut at Geneva for Infiniti, the QX30 Crossover.

Infiniti will take the covers off the QX30 Concept at the Geneva International Motor Show next month. The QX30 Concept is the Infiniti design vision that will inspire a new premium compact crossover targeted at a new generation of premium customers. 

Set to be revealed at Infiniti's press conference scheduled for 12:30 p.m. local time on March 3 in Geneva, the QX30 Concept aims to reignite the premium compact segment with a distinctive approach to design that looks beyond the practicality and conformity expected of the segment.

The potential customers for such a concept are searching for a product to suit their "urban week and get-away weekend" lifestyle, and the QX30's compact footprint matches that. 

Combining the sleek lines of a coupe with the rugged looks and commanding seating position of a crossover, the QX30 Concept foreshadows an urban explorer which is equally at home in the city as it is on the open road.

JANUARY SALES WORLDWIDE - VOLVO - Growth in all major markets

Volvo Cars’ global sales up 1.6 percent, growth in all key markets

• Volvo Cars’ 19^th consecutive month of growth
• Global sales of 30,854 cars, up 1.6 per cent versus January last year

Volvo Cars posted a 19^th consecutive month of retail sales growth in January with Europe, China and the United States all recording sales increases compared to January 2014.

Sales of Volvo Cars in Europe rose 4.9 per cent versus the same month last year. Most European markets did well, with the United Kingdom being the main growth driver; up 34.4 per cent versus January 2014.

Sweden remains a growing market for Volvo Cars with retail sales of 3,628 cars, up 0.2 per cent from the same month last year, and Volvo Cars retains its 20 per cent market share. The Volvo XC60 and XC70 crossovers were the best-selling models.

China also reported growth with January sales of 5,879 cars, up 0.7 per cent versus January last year. Volvo Cars’ best-selling models in China were the XC60 and the S60L.

Sales in the United States were up by 0.1 per cent to 3,795 cars in January. The best-selling models were the Volvo XC60 and S60.

“2014 was a good year and we continue the positive trend into 2015 with our 19^th month of consecutive growth,” says Alain Visser, Senior Vice President Marketing, Sales and Customer Service at Volvo Cars. “The fact that we have received over 15,000 pre-orders for the all new XC90 before its arrival in showrooms shows promise for Volvo Cars’ future.”

Retail sales status (deliveries to end customers) for Volvo Car Group is as follows:

	January
	2014	2015	Change
China	5 841	5 879	0,7%
USA	3 792	3 795	0,1%
Sweden	3 621	3 628	0,2%
Western Europe*	11 701	12 277	4,9%
Other markets	5 417	5 275	-2,6%
TOTAL	30 372	30 854	1,6%
*excluding Sweden

The Volvo XC60 was the best-selling mode in January with 10,403 sold cars (2014: 8,947), followed by the Volvo V40 and V40 Cross Country for which deliveries reached a total of 6,990 cars (2014: 6,575). The V60 and V60 Cross Country models were third best selling at 3,989 cars (2014: 4,628).

The Renault-Nissan Alliance sold a record 8,470,610 vehicles in 2014, with no sign of it dropping.

• Sales higher amid rising sales in the United States and Western Europe
• Alliance sales, including AVTOVAZ, account for one in 10 cars sold worldwide
• Alliance remains global leader in zero-emission vehicles; EV sales up 24 percent

The Renault-Nissan Alliance sold a record 8,470,610 vehicles in 2014 amid rising sales in the United States and Western Europe.

Sales rose for the fifth straight year, up 2.5 percent compared with the previous year. Together, Renault, Nissan and AVTOVAZ, Russia’s largest automaker, account for one in 10 cars sold worldwide.

“Robust demand in the United States, the recovery in Western Europe and an array of compelling new models contributed to another year of rising sales for the Alliance in 2014,” said Carlos Ghosn, Alliance Chairman and CEO. “We remain well-positioned and optimistic about the long-term prospects in the global growth markets, despite the recent declines in Russia and Brazil.”

Renault SAS, Europe’s third-largest automaker, sold 2,712,432 vehicles worldwide in 2014, up 3.2 percent from 2013. In Western Europe, Renault sales totaled 1,464,611, up 12.5 percent, more than double the overall market. Renault’s market share in Europe reached 10 percent, up 0.6 percentage points. Dacia was Europe’s fastest-growing brand, gaining 0.4 percentage points of market share.

Renault sales outside Western Europe fell 5.9 percent to 1,247,821 vehicles due to the economic slowdown in many of its markets. Despite the slowdown, Renault posted its highest market share ever in Brazil and Russia, its second and third largest markets after France.

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., sold a record 5,310,064 cars and trucks worldwide, up 4.1 percent.  Nissan continued to sell more than 1 million vehicles in its two largest markets, the United States and China.

AVTOVAZ sold 448,114 vehicles, down 16.3 percent due to the overall market slowdown in Russia. The Renault-Nissan Alliance has a majority stake in AVTOVAZ, which sells cars under the LADA brand, through a joint venture with state corporation Rostec. Together, the Renault-Nissan Alliance and AVTOVAZ sell about one in three cars in Russia.

Renault-Nissan market highlights

The Alliance’s top 10 markets in 2014 were the United States, China, Russia, Japan, France, Mexico, Brazil, UK, Germany and Italy.

In China, the world’s largest auto market, Nissan, through its local partner Dongfeng Motor, sold 1,221,598 vehicles, up 0.5 percent. Nissan is the leading Japanese carmaker in China with a 5.5 percent market share. In 2016, Renault will start producing vehicles in China with Nissan’s long-term partner Dongfeng Motor. The new joint venture plant in Wuhan will have an initial production capacity of 150,000 vehicles a year, with the potential to double that figure in the future.

In the United States, Nissan sold a record 1,386,895 vehicles, up 11.1 percent, resulting in a record market share of 8.4 percent. Nissan also set annual sales records for Altima, Rogue, Versa, Juke, NV200 and the 100 percent electric Nissan LEAF.

Despite the economic downturn in Russia, the Alliance posted a market share of 30.7 percent, up 1.1 percentage points. AVTOVAZ sold 387,307 vehicles in Russia, down 15 percent. 

AVTOVAZ’s market share stood at 15.5 percent, down 0.9 percentage points. Renault sold 194,531 vehicles, down 7.4 percent, but its market share grew to a record 7.9 percent, up 0.3 percentage points, thanks to the success of the Duster SUV and the successful launch of three new models: New Logan, New Sandero and Sandero Stepway. Nissan sold 182,412 vehicles, up 17.7 percent. Nissan held a market share of 7.3 percent, up 1.8 percentage points.

In Japan, Nissan’s home market, Nissan sold 670,263 vehicles, down 1.3 percent. Nissan’s market share stood at 12 percent.

In France, Renault’s home market, Renault sold 577,601 vehicles, up 5.5 percent. Its market share totaled 26.6 percent, up 1.3 percentage points. Clio was the best-selling car in the market, while Captur was the best-selling crossover.

In Mexico, Nissan posted record sales of 293,204 vehicles, up 10.9 percent, outpacing the overall industry. Nissan is the number one brand in Mexico with a market share of 25.8 percent.

In Brazil, Renault sold 237,187 vehicles, up 0.3 percent. Renault’s market share stood at a record 7.1 percent.

Zero-emission highlights  

The Renault-Nissan Alliance sold 82,602 electric vehicles in 2014, up 24 percent compared with previous year, giving it a global market share of 56 percent. Nissan LEAF was the world’s best-selling EV with 61,507 sales, while Renault led in Europe with 17,813 sales.

The Alliance has sold a cumulative 217,365 electric vehicles worldwide since December 2010, when Nissan LEAF – the first mass-marketed Alliance EV - went on sale. The top markets for Nissan LEAF are the United States with 72,322 vehicles sold since its launch, Japan with 48,641 sales and Europe with 33,481 sales. Meanwhile, Renault has sold a cumulative 56,499 electric vehicles worldwide since its first EV, the Kangoo Z.E., went on sale in October 2011.

The Alliance sells about one out of two electric vehicles worldwide, including Twizy, Renault’s two-seater urban commuter vehicle and the Nissan e-NV200 van on sale in Europe and Japan since 2014.

Top 10 Alliance Markets

Country	Total Sales	Market Share
U.S.	1,386,895	8.4%
China	1,255,665	5.7%
Russia*	764,245	30.7%
Japan	674,922	12.1%
France	653,326	30.2%
Mexico	318,093	28%
Brazil	309,547	9.3%
UK	259,762	9.3%
Germany	240,181	7.4%
Italy	184,416	12.5%

*Including AVTOVAZ

Top 10 Renault Markets

Country	Total Sales	Market Share
France	577,601	26.6%
Brazil	237,187	7.1%
Russia	194,531	7.9%
Germany	173,479	5.3%
Turkey	133,212	17.4%
Italy	130,996	8.9%
Spain	127,666	13.2%
UK	109,014	3.9%
Algeria	91,800	26.9%
Argentina	84,946	12.9%

Top 10 Nissan Markets

Country	Total Sales	Market Share
U.S.	1,386,895	8.4%
China*	1,221,598	5.5%
Japan	670,263	12.0%
Mexico	293,204	25.8%
Russia	182,412	7.3%
UK	150,748	5.4%
Canada	115,445	6.2%
France	75,725	3.6%
Brazil	72,360	2.2%
Germany	66,702	2.1%

*Including Venucia brand