what we all knew is now once again revealed...

As one would expect. Maybe because they get a height adjustable drivers seat over there!!

Oh man, there goes my Smugness Detector again... It's been going off constantly ever since I got this car!

Way to go Prius! So, I have a reasonble international job requiring overseas communication (phone, e-mail), but no travel...yet. My question to those who can answer: a Skoda is a what? And the Chevy models: Lacetti, Matiz, and Kalos...what are these? Ford Ka? And the Hyundai Matrix (#42)...isn't there a Toyota Matrix? How can one model name fit 2 car makers at the same time? I know markets differ and names too. Just curious if anyone can shed some light here. I'm googling as fast as I can...

Skoda is a brand that originated in communist Czechoslovakia, but is now owned by VW - there used to be lots of jokes about them because quality was very poor, but these days they're pretty well built and reliable.

The Ford Ka is a sub-compact, and fits into the European tendency for smaller, lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles than we have in the US.

Given Chevy are part of GM, which also owns Vauhall (UK) and Opel (Europe), there are lots of models which switch model names and branding as they cross the Atlantic.

Lacetti, Matiz and Kalos are made by Daewoo in South Korea which is a subsidiary of General Motors Holden Australia which is a subsidiary of General Motors. They are sold under the Chevy badge in the UK as is the Holden Commodore SS which also sells in the US as a Pontiac G8.
The Ford Ka is a piece of crap unless it has improved over the last 6 years. We hired one when my wife's car was stolen, it had a 1.3 litre throttle body injected cast iron push-rod engine which apart from the fuel injection was straight out of a 1970s Ford Escort. It is shaped like a blob.
Hyundai most likely used the Matrix name in the UK because the Toyota Matrix is a US only model, I don't really know this but I have never heard of a Toyota Matrix or a Hyundai Matrix.

That was certainly one of the key factors, as was the reach adjustable steering wheel.......... slide the seat backwards or forwards and tilt the seat backrest in a similar manner to find the perfect driving position

Actually its worse than that. It has a modified Kent crossflow engine that was originally designed in the UK for the 1959 Anglia and Ford Prefect...

See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_ka