Car and Van News

In what is fast becoming a year of positive headlines for the UK motor industry, BMW has announced that it is to invest a further £250 million in its MINI manufacturing operation.

The new announcement follows close behind a £500m investment announced only a year ago.

For many years Far-Eastern manufacturers have emphasised the European bias of their cars, increasingly building them in Europe.

Now it seems Mitsubishi is adopting a reverse strategy, announcing the end of production at its one Western European plant.

BMW chose the Detroit show to take the wraps off the hybrid version of its new 3 Series.

This was no surprise as the German brand sells more examples of the 3 Series in America than anywhere else – the car represents half BMW’s entire US market.

The head of the UK firm that builds parts for Spyker sports cars has reacted with caution to news that the Dutch brand is to be sold to a US private equity firm.

Coventry-based CPP Global Holdings had signed an agreement with Spyker owner Swedish Automobil in February to buy the sports car business.

Even as it shows its version of the FX crossover created for F1 Champion Sebastian Vettel, Infiniti has revealed that it will unveil a new concept – at the Geneva show in six months’ time.

The model will be a two-seat mid-engined sports car, and according to Infiniti’s head of global planning and communications Andy Palmer, will also have zero emissions capability.

The future of Saab has been thrown into doubt again after owner Spyker Cars announced its funding deal with Chinese maker Hawtai has fallen through.

In a statement, Spyker says that it has been forced to terminate the agreement, “since it became clear that Hawtai was not able to obtain all the necessary consents.”

MG is on the hunt for new dealers as the brand prepares for the launch of its first new UK car in 16 years.

The MG6 sports fastback is already on sale in China, but was designed and engineered, and is now being built, at MG’s Birmingham site, part of MG-Rover’s former Longbridge premises.