For the first time since its market launch in 2006, the latest generation of the MINI offers the opportunity in the cars anniversary year to enjoy supreme driving pleasure in particularly exclusive style. Hence, the MINI 50 Mayfair (and the MINI 50 Camden) follow the principle already applied by the classic Mini to accentuate individual highlights in the character of this highly successful performer from Great Britain.
With its dominating colors Silver, White and Black, the MINI 50 Camden even at very first sight highlights its technical clarity and sporting character. Body paint in White Silver metallic is combined with a white roof, and the MINI 50 Camden is also available in Midnight Black metallic or Horizon Blue metallic.
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| From Fornasary's latest creation we become aware of how they see the near future - Sharp Edges, Chrome Paint and lots of rough POWER. Not to mention we are speaking for a Maxi SUV with off-road capabilities. If the apocalypse is near, you are going to need one. |
Having spent a weekend with a Nissan Pixo, I was baffled as to how this car could ever go on sale for just £5995. Then of course it didn’t.
The reason given by Nissan for raising the price by £1000 just before the car goes to market is the weakness of the pound, and definitely not the scrappage scheme. 
But this is not a £20,000 car going up £1000, it is a car publicised on the fact that it was to be the cheapest car in Britain, bar the Kia Picanto and Perodua Kelisa.
The last-minute goal shifting is bit of a shame really, because the Pixo is actually a pretty good car and £6,995 seems like a perfectly reasonable price anyway.
Nissan Pixo prices up £1000
Firstly, Nissan has managed to make the car, which is based on the Suzuki Alto, look bigger than it actually is thanks to some grown-up frontal styling.
It has a hard-working three-pot engine with 67bhp that always sounds like you are going faster than you actually are, and the Pixo even has a decent turn of speed on the motorway.
The inside is well built and stylish and there are enough toys for such a cheap car.
It even handles too, giving you that low-speed grin factor that you don’t get from more capable cars. There is admirable body control and a good balance between grip and power.
All these things combined made me question the pricing, and more often than not I thought I’d misheard the figure. But the Pixo is, or was, a £6K car.
By hoiking the price up at the last-minute, Nissan has made a good-value £7K car seem like it is overpriced - and all before it has even gone on sale.
The new Life Ball MINI created in Katy Perry style by American designer duo The Blonds made its debut at the Life Ball gala earlier this week in Vienna, Austria. For the ninth year in a row, MINI sponsored the Life Ball, Europe’s biggest AIDS charity event.
The MINI Convertible inspired by Kate Perry, the artist behind the song “I Kissed a Girl”, was designed by Rican Phillipe and David Blond. Sporting a funky pink and black leopard paint, the Life Ball MINI was revealed in the presence of important personalities, from former U.S. President Bill Clinton to movie stars like Eva Longoria and former Playboy bunny, Pamela Anderson.
The Kate Perry MINI Convertible edition will be offered in a prize draw to raise money for the fight against HIV/AIDS. A ticket costs 10 euros, approximately $13, and can be purchased at all Life Ball events, from all BMW and MINI dealers in Austria, directly from the Life Ball, from the official distributor of Austria’s “class lottery” Prokopp and, of course, over the Internet. Go to www.mini.at for detailed information on the various sources.
More photos after the jump
[Source: Carscoop ]
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Fiat 500
Since the announcement of the Chrysler-Fiat partnership last week, speculation has swirled about what models would come out of the American-Italian venture. Automotive News got the skinny on what's on the way, and according to their unnamed sources, we can expect seven new vehicles in North America - four under the Chrysler brands and three as Alfa Romeos or Fiats.
The plan covers vehicles on four platforms, spanning from a micro-car to a mid-size sedan, with plants in North America being tasked with building most of the new models. Chrysler's Toluca, Mexico plant, which current builds the Dodge Journey and not-long-for-this-world PT Cruiser, will begin producing the Fiat 500 under the alliance.
Chrysler's executive vice president for product development, Frank Klegon, said, "We don't have an A-segment vehicle, and we don't have a B-segment vehicle, and our C-segment vehicle [Dodge Caliber] is in the next stage of renewal. That creates some opportunities for us." So what's on the way? Hit the jump to find out.
Gallery: Fiat 500
Click above for a gallery of the MINI Crossover Concept
According to BMW, the reception to its MINI Crossover Concept from the Paris Motor Show was so positive that the automaker approved the project for production in 2011 just four weeks after it debuted. The production version of the jacked-up MINI CUV is slated to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, which is right on schedule with earlier projections. Don't expect to see the concept's trick rear doors or the side-hinged driver's side portal on the production model, which will instead rely on four normal front-hinged openings and a standard tailgate. Also on the menu is an optional four-wheel drive system complete with low range when drivers want to tackle the Rubicon, which is, of course, never.
According to sources at MINI, the car will retain the brand's trademark kart-like handling, in spite of the ample ground clearance and meaty rolling stock that will be required on a vehicle with off-road intensions. In any case, the biggest MINI won't come cheap. Expect the 2011 MINI Crossover to pick up where the current range lets off, with a base price of around $29K. MINI also promises a full range of available options, so consider that figure nothing more than a vague starting point for the customizers among us.
Gallery: MINI Crossover Concept
While many Smart owners love their little tiny ForTwos, very few (including many of us automotive journalists) aren’t to fond of the transmission. After complaints of the transmission slipping shifts between gears added up, Smart has finally decided to solve the problem.
Smart USA is now offering the owners of some 24,622 2008 Smart ForTwo units a free transmission upgrade. The upgrade includes some software changes that smoothes out the balky shifts.
“We will upgrade your transmission software to the new 2009 operating mode which provides improved shifting dynamics as well as instant changing between automatic and paddle shifting just by touching the up or down shift paddles,” said the letter sent to owners.
Smart said that the fix will take about 90 minutes.
- By: The Daily Auto Editor
Source: USAToday
According to a spokeswoman for the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, which sponsors the Tokyo Motor Show, 22 foreign automakers will not be attending the auto show in October.
Kazusa Yoshino said that more than 20 major foreign automakers including GM, Chrysler, BMW, Volkswagen, Porsche, Ford and others, will be passing on the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show.
“It is unprecedented to see such a large number of carmakers not coming to the motor show. It’s disappointing,” Yoshino said.
The show will have only four foreign carmakers including Hyundai, Ferrari and Lotus. They will join domestic brands Toyota, Nissan and Honda.
