The good oil: Nissan Micra to be replaced

Nissan has shown a sketch of the global compact car to replace its Micra. Photo / Supplied

Nissan has shown a sketch of the global compact car to replace its Micra. It will be launched in Thailand in March, but Nissan might provide a preview of the real thing at the Tokyo motor show later this month. It'll be built in several countries including China, but New Zealand and Australian models are likely to come from India or Thailand. A three- and five-door hatchback, sedan and mini-MPV are in the works, said to be built on a revised version of platform that underpins the Micra, Tiida and Renault's Clio III.

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Volvo's working on technology that can detect when a pedestrian has walked in front of the car - possibly they think the driver will be too busy illicitly texting - and will automatically brake at speeds below 25km/h if the driver does not react in time. It'll appear on the new S60 next year, as part of Volvo's quest to develop a car that can avoid any accident without human intervention.

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Bosch, meanwhile, wants to put an end to rear-end collisions. Apparently drivers don't hit the brakes in almost a third of these collisions, or don't do so with enough force. The company's developing predictive emergency braking systems that warn, then assist and, if all else fails, brake automatically. Next step is a video sensor supporting a radar sensor, allowing the situation to be interpreted more quickly and accurately.

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Russia's largest car manufacturer AutoVAZ, which makes Lada, is cutting about a quarter of its workforce. Reports indicate that Lada sales are down 40 per cent year-on-year after the previously rapidly growing Russian car market stalled. But there's a glimmer of hope for displaced staff. Renault has a stake in the company and has been planning to build alliance partner Nissan's products in Russia by 2012.

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Good Oil spent last Sunday in the 4WD park at Woodhill forest, getting in the mood for the interview with Land Rover's boss. No picnicking teddy bears, but we did spot Colin Burden of Trackwise 4WD, which has the concession for off-road instruction at the park, preparing one of a new fleet of vehicles for tag-along tours. What a good way to get a taste of off-roading in a safe environment, within striking distance of a good latte. Jeep has enjoyed naming rights to the park since it opened so there's slight embarrassment that the tag-along vehicles are, um ... Suzuki Jimnys.

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Currently the forgotten Land Rover as the company introduces its updated trio of expensive prestige vehicles, the utilitarian Defender's future is evidently assured. Boss Phil Popham says: "We can keep it legal to 2013 (meeting safety and emissions laws in various important markets), but in that timeframe we really have to make some decisions about how we can replace the icon." Among the considerations, how to boost volume beyond the 23,000 to 25,000 units a year to make a new model viable.

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Battery-car company Tesla is launching a house-call service for owners of its electric-motor roadster. "You know how there's a Chevy dealer on every block? But we don't intend to have a footprint like that," a spokesman said. There'll be a minimum charge of US$100 ($135) per trip ... batteries not included.