2002 in motoring deals with developments in the automotive industry that occurred throughout the year 2002 by various automobile manufacturers, grouped by country.
Contents
United Kingdom
Ford ends 90 years of building cars in Britain when the Dagenham plant finishes Fiesta production in February, but it will remain open for the production of vans and the development of engines. The new Fiesta, will be built at the Valencia plant in Spain. Its front-wheel drive chassis is used for an estate/MPV crossover called the Fusion. Another addition to the range will be a Peugeot-sourced 1.4 turbo-diesel engine.
Vauxhall introduces a large family Vectra which is built in Britain. It also has a hatchback called the Signum.
Land Rover introduces new version of Range Rover. The smaller Discovery gets a facelift four years after its launch.
France
The new Renault Megane earns the European Car of the Year award, and offers a 1.9 direct-injection diesel engine. The initial bodystyles are three- and five-door hatchbacks.
Renault has also re-entered the executive car sector with the Vel Satis, a five-door hatchback.
Citroën Saxo production is winding down after six years following the launch of the new C3 - a five-door hatchback. Saxo production will continue for another year until the launch of the three-door C3.
The Eurovan venture between Peugeot, Citroën and Fiat has been renewed in an all-new format. Fiat retains the Ulysse nameplate, but the Citroën Synergie becomes the C8 and the Peugeot 806 becomes the 807. Left-hand drive markets will get the Lancia Phedra.
Germany
The Volkswagen Polo has been relaunched in an new fourth generation format, sharing its underpinnings with the Škoda Fabia that was launched two years ago.
The BMW 7 Series is updated. A similarly styled update for the smaller 5 Series is due for next year.
The latest Mercedes E Class is introduced, which looks very much like the smaller C Class and the larger S Class.
Spain
The third generation SEAT Ibiza goes on sale at the same time as the new Volkswagen Polo upon which it is mechanically based. A Córdoba saloon version comes with a boot.
Eastern Europe
The six-year-old Volkswagen Passat design has been tweaked to become the Czech-built Superb.
Japan
Honda launched a new supermini, the Jazz.
Honda also launched a new version of Accord large family car.
The Nissan Micra has a new version with styling that blends modern and retro.