MINI Spirit returns

British legend's big plans for new small car are exclusively revealed

It’s MINI’s biggest ever secret – and autoexpress.co.uk has all the details.

We’ve uncovered a bold plan by the British car maker to develop a new family of city cars, including a zero emission flagship powered by an advanced electric engine.

Though exact details remain scarce, it’s believed that the ultra efficient model line up will also offer drivers fuel sipping petrol engines as MINI owner BMW seeks to build an army of green machines aimed at beating tough legislation on CO2 and other gas emissions due in 2012.

Set to hit the road as early as 2011, it’s been confirmed to Auto Express that the top-secret machine is being developed alongside two new models from a joint venture between Fiat and BMW that’s tipped to mark the return of the famous BMW Isetta and Topolino nameplates

Aimed at a fast growing family of soon to be launched rivals – including Volkswagen’s Up! and a new family of small electric cars from French maker Reanult, MINI is promising to return to its roots with a lightweight model the promises to be every bit as innovative as the 1959 original.

It’s said to be no accident that MINI has chosen its 50th year to begin to develop such a ground breaking new model.

With its engine in back, petrol models will offer four seats and easy to access four door cabin. Individual chairs for driver and passenger will ensure safety is first rate, while the car’s wheel at each corner stance promises to ensure the car feels secure and stable on the road.

Plenty of effort is being poured in to ensuring that visibility is as good as it can possibly be with a large glass area set to ensure that the car is as easy as possible to drive on congested city roads.

Also under consideration is lightweight, tough plastic bodywork, like that fitted to the Mercedes Smart, while the car’s chassis will mix aluminium and composite materials like carbon fibre to deliver enormous strength and light weight.

Electric models could further improve the car’s interior space by locating the batteries in a thin sandwich under the car, and placing electric motors in all four wheels.

Technology to propel this version of the machine is reportedly already well advanced, and has already been publicly trialled in a prototype MINI called the E. This machine, which uses a battery and engine set up similar to that developed by American sportscar firm Tesla is set to be made available in small numbers in both the USA and Germany.

There’s no word on pricing for the newcomer, but given the advanced technology it’s expected to offer, it’s likely that flagship models will cost at least £20,000. A concept paving the way to full production is tipped to make an appearance at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

MINI Convertible

MINI cabrio goes topless in first official pictures.

The new MINI Convertible has broken cover, and given the success of the previous drop top it’s no surprise that BMW has lifted the lid on the current generation.

Due to reach showrooms in March, the new MINI comes two years later than its hatchback equivalent. These are the first official pictures of the soft-top and it looks like it's been worth the wait.

The second version of the best-selling convertible will make full use of MINI’s ‘Minimalism’ package, BMW's clever term for its Efficient Dynamics systems. The result is a cleaner more frugal beast. Performance has also been improved and the range-topping Cooper S now pumps out 175bhp from its turbo-charged 1.6-litre unit.

The new cabrio gets a healthy makeover too. A raised shoulder line and added chrome strip surrounding the car, highlight the cars sporty nature. While the trademark circular headlamps and hexagonal grille both remain. There are also two all-new colours making their debuts; Interchange Yellow and Horizon Blue.

Opting for the same two-stage electronically-operated canvas roof as the previous car, the top can be partially opened to act as a sunroof as well as fully retracted.

Another accessory making its debut is MINI’s ‘Openometer’, the add-on records how long the top has been down, letting passengers know how long they've been 'cool' for, air conditioning also now comes as standard.

Prices start at £15,995 for the standard Cooper rising to £18,995 for the Cooper S

The 100mpg fuel busters!

BMW and Fiat are joining forces to bring a revolution in the market – with a pair of ‘bubble’ cars which promise world-beating economy and ultra-low CO2 emissions...

Two of the most important new cars ever are about to ‘bubble’ to the surface – and in a world exclusive head-to-head, Auto Express has brought them together for the first time!

These are the clearest illustrations yet of BMW’s new Isetta and its sister, the Fiat Topolino. They are the result of a new deal between the two firms, which will also be extended to include next-generation versions of the MINI and Alfa Romeo MiTo.

The Isetta and Topolino are crucial to BMW and Fiat’s attempts to reduce the overall CO2 emissions of their ranges – but they will also offer buyers 100mpg fuel returns! Reviving a name not seen since the bubble car of the Fifties, the Isetta will take BMW into a new sector of the motoring market.

It will be joined by the Fiat Topolino – which we featured in Issue 1,013. Both machines will offer incredible fuel consumption and low emissions, as well as tiny dimensions, and rival the imminent VW up! and Toyota iQ.

The Isetta will be hugely important, because it will help BMW comply with the European Commission’s plans to impose an average 120g/km limit on the model ranges of all firms selling cars across the Continent by 2012. And, as there are plans for an electric version, it would also enable the manufacturer to meet California’s upcoming zero-emissions vehicle legislation.

As you can see from our artist’s impression, the Isetta harks back to the original bubble car shape. But it has been given a modern reworking by the design team, with the addition of some BMW-style chunkiness. The body is made up of simple panels, likely to be fashioned from plastic to save weight and help resist parking dings.

Meanwhile, the Topolino gets a retro look inspired by the 500, with a cheeky front end featuring a smooth nose and large headlights. Under the skin
of both models lies an all-new platform that places the engine in the rear and sends drive to the back wheels.

With an electric-only Isetta some way off, small-capacity petrol and diesel engines will feature initially. And as Fiat is using a new 900cc two-cylinder petrol motor in the Topolino, the Isetta could benefit from the same unit.

The new powerplant was previewed in Fiat’s Panda Aria concept at last September’s Frankfurt Motor Show, and it arrives in dealers under the bonnet of the 500 later this year. While two outputs will be offered in this car – a 105bhp turbo and a normally aspirated 65bhp unit – it will be the latter that powers the Topolino.

Twin-clutch semi-automatic gearboxes are likely to be used by both models, as is a stop-start set-up which switches off the engine when the car
is stationary in heavy traffic. Combine this technology with a lightweight body, and the newcomers will be incredibly efficient. Expect combined fuel economy of 100mpg and CO2 emissions of less than 90g/km.

The interior layout is still up for debate, but there is likely to be enough room for three occupants with an occasional fourth seat, allowing owners
to juggle luggage capacity with passenger space.

It will be interesting to see if BMW and Fiat can make the rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive layout work efficiently. An insider at VW recently told Auto Express that a similar mechanical layout in the up! is being ditched in favour of a front-engined, front-wheel drive format, after it was found that the layout was too costly to develop and made the car unstable in cross winds.

Although official production dates have yet to be decided, the Isetta and Topolino are set to arrive some time in 2010.

Fiat, BMW plan small-car alliance

Fiat and BMW will cooperate to develop a new platform for small cars, supplier sources said.

The platform will underpin the next Fiat Grande Punto and BMW's third-generation Mini. Both cars are due early in the next decade.

The two companies are also considering developing a new family of gasoline and diesel engines, sources told Automotive News Europe.

Fiat Group CEO Sergio Marchionne said today that the carmaker will announce a cooperation agreement with another automaker tomorrow.

"Most likely it will be in the car business," Marchionne said on the sidelines of the press introduction of the 500 Abarth model here.

Marchionne did not give any more details on the cooperation.

But supplier sources familiar with the matter told ANE that Fiat and BMW will cooperate on a new small-car platform.

Fiat already has industrial alliances with other carmakers including PSA/Peugeot-Citroen, Suzuki and Tata.

BMW cooperates in Europe with PSA on engine production and the company has a joint venture in China with Brilliance.

Automakers increasingly are cooperating with competitors to reduce investments costs for new models.

Automotive shares down as raw-material prices surge

Shares were lower in mid-afternoon trade as surging raw materials prices put pressure on automotive and other transport-related stocks.

Automotive stocks were particularly hit by news that oil prices reached a record high last Friday and a prerelease of auto motor und sport magazine which quoted ArcelorMittal's vice president for Automotives Jean-Luc Maurange as saying the company plans to charge higher prices to carmakers due to surging raw materials costs.

Daimler was off 0.99, or 2.48 percent, at 38.89 while BMW was down 0.15, or 0.50 percent, at 30.04.

Another factor contributing to weaker car stocks was Lehman Brothers' removal of Peugeot and Daimler from its Recommended Portfolio List, according to traders.

The only car stock on positive terrain so far was Volkswagen, up 0.86, or 0.48 percent, at 179.92. VW's management board is set to decide July 8 on the site of its new 500 million euro production site in the United States, auto motor und sport reported, citing management sources.

Court bans German sales of China-built SUV

A court has banned German sales of an SUV made by Chinese automaker Shuanghuan .
The court in Munich ruled that Shuanghuan's CEO infringes BMW's design rights. BMW claims the CEO closely resembles its X5 premium SUV. It started legal proceedings last September to stop CEO sales in Germany.

Shuanghuan's German importer China Automobile Deutschland denied that the CEO infringes BMW's design rights.

Managing Director Karl Schloessl told Automotive News Europe that although the CEO was a different car from the X5, it was possible that some elements of its design could resemble other cars on the market. "Even when you look at some BMWs and some Audis, there are similarities,"
he said.

Schloessl said that he planned to appeal against the court ruling.

"It is a one-sided judgment, but of course it was made in Munich. It's a BMW city," he said.
Shuanghuan spokesman Zhang Rui said the carmaker could not comment because it has not yet been notified about the ruling.

VW feels pinch from raw materials

Volkswagen is stepping up efforts to cut costs in the face of rising raw materials prices but still expects to feel the pinch, Europe's biggest carmaker said today.

"From today's perspective the impact resulting from (cost-cutting) will not compensate for current market prices," a spokesman said.

VW's comments came amid a sell-off in European car sector stocks given renewed concerns over raw material prices, ongoing worries over the outlook for the U.S. economy, and the euro's strength against the dollar.

Volkswagen and other carmakers typically lock in steel prices via long-term contracts but face price increases as these contracts have to be renewed.

BMW, the world's biggest premium carmaker, reiterated that it expected the burden from higher materials costs to rise 12 percent this year versus 288 million euros ($448 million) in 2007 and 178 million the year before.

Shares in Daimler retreated on market talk -- which the company denied -- that it was lowering its 2008 guidance for higher operating profit from ongoing operations.

Daimler stock was down 4.9 percent at 12:47 CET, while Volkswagen shed 2.1 percent and BMW fell 3.7 percent.

BMW Workers Take Time Off For Soccer

BMW factories across Germany will stop Wednesday so workers can watch the country's soccer team in its European Championship semi-final game against Turkey.

Workers at BMW's plants in Leipzig, Munich, Regensburg and Dingolfing will all finish their shifts a few hours earlier so that they can get home to watch the game.

Late shifts at the plants normally end between 10 pm and midnight, but the game kicks off at 8:45 pm Central European Time. So the late shift will end at 7:00 pm Wednesday.

Michael Rebstock, a Munich-based spokesman for the automaker, said that the company wanted to find a solution so that "every employee can get home to catch the game on television."

Rebstock said that 1,700 Turkish nationals work at BMW's Munich plant, where the 3 series is built.

"Both German and Turkish workers will be so excited about the game it makes sense to stop production," Rebstock said.