Mike Rutherford's column

	I told the VW executive that the £4,000 Up! was so brilliant I would buy one. What the hell, I’ll take two... one for each foot!”

After spending two days walking a total of nine miles and checking out 1,000 exhibitors occupying a quarter of a million square metres of floor space at the Frankfurt Motor Show, I’m delighted to report that the global auto business is in rude health. I have never attended an exhibition that has oozed more confidence. And it’s no exaggeration to say that, post Frankfurt, I’m more optimistic about the motor industry than I have been for years. It’s almost as if the harder the IEA (International Ecomental Army) fights the car world, the stronger the manufacturers become in terms of better, safer, cleaner, more attractive and affordable motors.

On the eve of the show, a respected international financial institution announced that, with one exception, all the major automotive corporations in the world will remain in profit or move into profitability this year. And even the odd one out – Ford – will massively reduce its losses, ahead of a return to full fitness by the end of this decade, if not before.

Top executives from the blue oval made it clear in Frankfurt that although they’re sad to be seeing troubled Jaguar, not so troubled Land Rover and possibly even healthy Volvo leaving the Ford empire, they’re at the same time almost relieved, because they’ll now have the manpower, cash and other resources to concentrate on their mainstream business. They are also aware that the sales will generate billions of much needed dollars.

Ford isn’t content with having the best mass-produced family hatchback (Focus), mid-size saloon (Mondeo) and people carrier (S-MAX) on the market, it’s also determined to design, build and sell the greatest small cars, too. The Verve concept showed how good the Fiesta replacement, due next year, will look, as 90 per cent of it will make production. Also, there’s another rabbit in the hat in the form of the next Ka – a model that will be built at the same factory as the new Fiat 500, but be much more competitively priced, just as handsome and more widely available via a larger and better dealer network, Ford execs argue.

Volkswagen was equally upbeat at Frankfurt and was also keen to talk about small, affordable future products. You’ve probably already seen and heard a great deal about the company’s rear-engined Up! concept car, and, like me, you’ve taken it with a pinch of salt. But when I walked on to the VW stand, I was immediately greeted by a senior executive for the company who asked me what I thought of “our new, 6,000 Euros car?” I told him that, for this sort of money – approximately £4,000 – I thought it was so brilliant that I’d personally buy one. What the hell, I’ll take two... one for each foot!

Seriously, though, I’m a great admirer of VWs, having owned a few myself, and often recommend them to friends. When people complain that they aren’t the cheapest things on four wheels, I point out that the badge alone is worth a couple of grand, because it spells class and means comparatively high resale values. This being the case, think of the Up! as being a £2,000 car wearing a £2,000 badge.

Who needs bicycles, motorcycles and expensive public transport? It’s been a long time coming, but the Car For The People is back. Or at least it will be after you’ve visited your friendly Volkswagen dealer, told him you’re aware of the car and its VW of Germany-endorsed price and insist on placing an order for an Up! for £4,000. Any problems, tell them I sent you.