1980 in motoring

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Contents 1 United Kingdom 2 France 3 Italy 4 Spain 5 Sweden 6 Germany 7 Eastern Europe 8 Japan 9 See also

[edit] United Kingdom

British Leyland introduced the new Austin Metro, a three-door compact hatchback with 1.0 and 1.3 petrol engines. It is designed as a more modern and practical alternative to the smaller Mini, with which it shares most of its main components. Unlike the Mini, the Metro has hydragas suspension, giving it one of the finest ride qualities available in any small car of its generation. Sales began in October 1980, and the car quickly gained a high level of demand thanks to its modern styling, spacious interior, good ride and handling as well as its competitive price and low running costs.

1980 also saw British Leyland launch another significant new car - the Morris Ital. Marketed as a competitor for the Ford Cortina and Vauxhall Cavalier, the Ital is a rear-wheel drive range of saloons and estates powered by 1.3 and 1.7 petrol engines. It is widely believed to be the result of Giorgetto Giugiaro's Ital Design studio in Italy but wasn't, It was a home-grown revamp of the nine-year-old Marina range. Prices and running costs are competitive, but the Ital is still behind the best of its competitors in terms of driver appeal and design flair.

Ford made its most important new model launch for years with the introduction of a new Escort range in September. The Escort has been around in two different generations since 1967, but the latest version marks a radical move from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive, as well as the introduction of a hatchback model in favour of the traditional saloon bodystyle. As before, there is also an estate version. The initial engine range consists of 1.1, 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 petrol engines, as well as a 1.6 diesel. More powerful versions are expected later. The Escort proved an instant hit with buyers, who were impressed by the car's comfort, space, ride, handling and value for money - these credentials earned it the European Car of the Year award.

The beginning of the year saw Vauxhall launch its new Astra, a front-wheel drive range of 1.3 and 1.6 petrol engined hatchbacks and estates designed to compete directly with the Ford Escort. It had been on sale since late 1979 as the Opel Kadett, which is built in Germany but will continue in the UK alongside the Vauxhall version. The Astra replaces the Viva, which ceased production after 16 years, and also replaces some versions of the smaller Chevette, which is set to remain on sale for a few more years until a new entry-level car is launched.

[edit] France

Peugeot unveiled the new 505, a rear-wheel drive range of saloons and estates which were designed as an eventual replacement for the long-running 504 and a competitor for the likes of the Ford Granada, Rover SD1 and Vauxhall Carlton. The 505 is a conventional-looking large car with a comfortable interior, and the option of seven seats on some estate versions. The engines range from a 1.8 four-cylinder to a 2.9 V6 as far as petrol engines are concerned, while the 2.3 diesel is available as a turbo or non-turbo. Ride and handling are strong points, with the diesel engines having exceptionally good refinement.

Peugeot had taken over the European division of American manufacturer Chrysler in 1979 and re-branded the range as Talbots, and the 505's mechanicals formed the basis of a new large car called the Tagora; which will be produced in lower numbers than the 505.

Production of the Renault 12 was discontinued, two years after the launch of its successor - the R18. The R12 had been on sale for 11 years, though Romanian production of the car continues under licence by Dacia.

[edit] Italy

Fiat introduced a new entry-level three-door hatchback - the Panda - as a more modern and practical alternative to the rear-engined 126. It shares a 652cc two-cylinder engine with the 126, but this version of the Panda is only sold on the domestic market. There will also be a SEAT version built in Spain. Most markets will see only the 1.0 version of the Panda, which is a basic car in terms of specification and technology, but is arguably one of the most modern-looking mini-cars of its generation.

Lancia began exporting its new Delta range of five-door medium sized hatchbacks, designed as direct competitors for the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Escort. Sales began in Italy at the end of 1979 and the ultra-modern Delta was voted European Car of the Year thanks to its contemporary styling, impressive ride and handling, and quality which suggests that is a more durable product than some of the rust-prone models which have tainted Lancia's image in recent years. For the Swedish market, there will also be a Saab model known as the 600.

1980 saw a relaunch of Lancia's Monte Carlo sports car, a year after it was withdrawn from production. The re-lauched Monte Carlo sports a much improved braking system - with refinements being made in response to heavy criticism over safety issues - but few other significant changes.

[edit] Spain

Fiat decided to withdraw its subsidisation of the SEAT marque, a venture between themselves and the Spanish government. Though production of SEAT's Fiat-based models will continue, licening reasons will prevent them from using the same nameplates as the Italian models from which they are derived.

[edit] Sweden

The recently-launched Saab 900 range of upmarket hatchbacks has been joined by a smaller, entry-level model - the Saab 600 - which is a clone of the Lancia Delta and will only be sold on the domestic market.

[edit] Germany

Volkswagen updated the 30-year-old Transporter range to give it an entirely new bodyshell, but the air-cooled engines and rear-wheel drive chassis continued largely unchanged. The new range of vans and people carriers had a much-improved braking system as well as much improved specification levels, with some models even having power steering and air-conditioning.

Volkswagen also expanded its commercial vehicle range by launching the Caddy, a Golf-based range of compact vans and pickup trucks.

[edit] Eastern Europe

Lada facelifted its decade-old Fiat-based range of saloons and estates and renamed them "Riva". The car's technology remained unchanged, with power still coming from 1.2, 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 petrol engines. The new model will follow where its predecessor left off, retailing at a low price wherever it is sold.

[edit] Japan

A year after going on sale in its homeland, the latest generation of the Toyota Corolla went on sale in Europe. The traditional rear-wheel drive chassis and saloon bodystyle continues, as do the 1.3, 1.6 and 1.8 petrol engines. The latest Corolla will have the same virtues as the old - low running costs, a competitive list price, good space and comfort, solid build quality and cast-iron reliability.

Toyota gave its rear-wheel drive mini-car, the Starlet, a major facelift which included square front headlights instead of round ones. The old 1.0, 1.2 and 1.3 power units were replaced by new 12-valve ones which gave more power and even better economy.

Honda introduced a new medium-sized family saloon - the Ballade - which gave traditionalists a viable alternative to the Civic hatchback. It will be imported to the USA as a Civic, but the British version will go into production next year as part of a venture with British Leyland.

The Civic, Honda's best-selling model, was facelifted to exhibit a more aerodynamic shape and a more extensive range of trim levels. The 1.3 and 1.5 petrol engines are both new to the range, replacing the outdated 1.3 power unit from the original Civic range.

Nissan bolstered its Datsun brand to give European buyers a new, more credible alternative to the Ford Cortina. Its latest generation Bluebird comes in a range of saloons, estates and coupes which are hardly exciting but offer high levels of refinement, quality, comfort and economy. The coupe version comes in "SSS" form with a more powerful version of the already good 2.0 power unit. The standard 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 petrol engines are carried over from the previous range, though the under-powered 1.4 unit has been discontinued.

Mazda moved to front-wheel drive for its popular 323 hatchback, which will be sold in Australia as the Ford Meteor and Ford Laser as part of Mazda's venture with Ford. The latest 323 will have 1.1, 1.3 and 1.5 petrol engines, and the car's contemporary body was designed with the help of Ford's design team. Production of the rear-wheel drive estate, part of the pre-1980 range, will continue for at least a couple more years.

[edit] See also

• 1979 in motoring - the previous year
• 1981 in motoring - the next year