Hard shoulder:ON THE 50th anniversary of Mini, the first details of a Mini coupé concept were released, indicating that new two-seat derivatives of the hatchback could go on sale in the near future.
Although the show car is dubbed a concept, it shares a lot with regular versions of the Mini so its dimensions – truncated height aside – are the same as the hatch’s and even its lights and interior detailing are virtually unchanged from current production models.
The biggest change to the cabin is the lack of rear seats, making way for more luggage space than in the regular three-door variant.
Outside, a sharply raked windscreen leads into a short roof, finished in contrasting silver and black emphasising the large rear spoiler.
Due to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show on September 15th, the concept is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine from the range-topping John Cooper Works models, although it could accommodate any of the powerplants available in the Mini line-up if it reaches the showroom.
Mini has confirmed that it will gauge public interest in the coupé – and in a similarly styled two-seat Roadster – before deciding whether it will go into production.
New car sales in August see 54% fall on 2008
NEW CAR sales were down 54 per cent in August, compared to figures for the same month last year.
Sales for the month were 2,414, bringing the total for the year to date to 52,906, a drop of 64 per cent on the same period last year.
Imported used car registrations were down 33 per cent for the month at 3,177, with total used import for the year to date at 38,857, 17.1 per cent down on the same period last year.
Meanwhile the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) has launched its Safe Car Campaign 2009, offering motorists a visual car check, free of charge, at participating dealerships for the next two months, to coincide with the return to school for many children.
SIMI has devised a visual check sheet, which garages will provide to the customer on completion of the check.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign, SIMI’s director general, Alan Nolan, said: “We are encouraging all motorists to avail of this free, 10-point car check which is being offered at all participating SIMI member garages.”
BYD to sell electric car in US next year
BYD, THE Chinese car company backed by US investment guru Warren Buffett, said it would start selling its e6 all-electric sedans in the US next year, a year ahead of schedule.
Announcing in Hong Kong that the company had nearly doubled first-half net profits from a year earlier, BYD chairman Wang Chuanfu also said that he was considering selling more shares to Buffett.
MidAmerican Energy Holdings, a unit of Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, bought a 10 per cent stake in BYD last September.
“MidAmerican has always intended to raise its stake in BYD because it has confidence in the company’s prospects,” Wang said.
He added: “we are still considering ”.
His comments sent BYD’s shares up 8 per cent, more than six times what MidAmerican paid for its stake nearly a year ago.