Car Industry Uncertainty... where does the future lie?

With Landrover and Jaguar for sale by Ford, where does the future of British luxury brands lie?

Were a mass-market brand like Ford, and specialist brands like Landrover and Jaguar, really suited in the first place?

Jaguar is a top of the range brand, the cars use more fuel... but is that a true reflection of their carbon footprint? Perhaps our esteemed politicians, and many pundits who like to grab a bandwagon might THINK a little deeper!

How about the carbon footprint costs of the actual physical production, plus design and testing of vehicles - how long is a vehicle's projected life?

When it comes to Landrover Defenders they have been in production since 1948 and I think I am right in stating that 70% of them are still being used today. Sturdy construction!

What about injury statistics for the different types of vehicle, and resultant hospital costs?

I imagine if luxury brands and 4x4's were judged on a fuller range of figures, rather than just on the amount of fuel they consume... then they would come out as the better bet as far as carbon footprints are concerned.

[Plus something no-one seems to take into consideration... fuel consumption depends upon the driver and the way they drive.]