1990 in motoring

United Kingdom

Ford launched a new, fourth generation Escort, ten years after the last all-new model was launched. The new Escort was available with 1.3, 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 petrol engines as well as a 1.8 diesel. It came with some up-to-date extras on more upmarket models, including electric windows, power steering, antilock brakes and central locking. It was competitively priced, spacious, comfortable, easy to drive and practical, but lacked the flair and innovation that might have been expected. The same could be said of the Orion saloon version.

Rover continued the modernisation of its range by launching a heavily updated Metro which used the same basic design but with many styling modifications. The ancient 1.0 and 1.3 A-Series engines were dropped in favour of the impressive new 16-valve K-Series units, with a choice of 1.1 and 1.4 litres. The saloon version of the 200 Series - the 400 Series - went on sale as a well-priced competitor to the Ford Sierra and Vauxhall Cavalier. In spite of the recent launches of similar-sized cars, Rover was still producing the Maestro and Montego ranges.

Japan

Nissan shelved the long-running Bluebird nameplate on the launch of its new medium-sized range of hatchbacks, saloons and estate - the Primera. Power came from refined and economical 1.6 and 2.0 petrol engines as well as a 2.0 diesel. The hatchbacks and estates were produced at the Sunderland plant in England, but the estate was fully made up in Japan. There was a wide range of trims which mostly have generous equipment levels, and the whole range is backed up by solid build quality and reliability. Meanwhile, its Micra range was the 11th most popular car in Britain during 1990, making it the fifth most popular car in its sector and the most popular car imported from Japan. Its successor was due in 1992 and would be built at the Sunderland plant.

France

Renault moved the mini-car game on to a new level with its new Clio, a range of three- and five-door hatchbacks which had already gone on sale on the continent and would arrive on the British market early in 1991. No other car of its size was as well-built, comfortable or well-equipped as the Clio, which justified its premium price over the likes of the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Nova. Power came from a new range of 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 petrol engines as well as a frugal 1.9 diesel. A 1.8 16-valve unit was expected soon, to succeed the R5 Turbo. The Clio was the replacement for the R5, though the long-running old car was still being built in Slovenia and there were no immediate plans for production to be terminated there.

Germany

BMW launched a new 3 Series, which looked set for dominance of the compact executive market thanks to its sleek looks, excellent quality and driver appeal. Even the basic 1.9 petrol engine gave impressive performance, with the range topping 2.5 unit one of the best powerhouses ever found under the bonnet of a BMW. Equipment levels were generally good, but it was disappointing to note that some of the cheaper models had a radio and sunroof as only optional extras. The current 3 Series range included just a four-door saloon, and the remainder of the old 3 Series range would remain on sale until the forthcoming new coupé, cabriolet and estate replacements were launched.

Volkswagen gave the Polo a major restyle to its exterior and interior to keep it up with the competition after nine years on sale. A completely removable stereo/cassette player was a clever security measure, but the rest of the car was unremarkable. The 1.0 and 1.3 petrol engines were carried over from the original 1981 Polo, but there were two more powerful versions of the 1.3 - the "GT" and "G40". 1991 saw the launch of the third generation Golf.

Italy

Fiat gave the seven-year-old Uno a major facelift to keep up with the ever-growing number of more modern rivals from the likes of Ford, Renault, Citroen and Rover. A major restyle saw the interior and exterior change substantially, but it is still a far cry from the ultramodern pace-setter than it was on its launch back in 1983. There was a new 1.0 petrol engine at entry-level, with a 1.4 option at the top end of the range. Some models had electric windows, central locking and a sunroof as optional extras. The Uno Turbo continued as Fiat's rival for the Golf GTI and Astra GTE.

Alfa Romeo at last expanded the 164 range to include a more affordable 2.0 four-cylinder version.

ee also

*1989 in motoring - the previous year
*1991 in motoring - the next year