BREAKING: MINI Officially Confirms Series-Production of Coupe and Speedster Models!

BREAKING: MINI Officially Confirms Series-Production of Coupe and Speedster Models!

We've yet to see the MINI Coupe Concept in the flesh - let alone it's Speedtser twin that has yet to be revealed, but parent company BMW officially confirmed today that both models will enter series production and that they are to be built at MINI's Oxford Plant in the UK. The important announcement was made by Dr.Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management, BMW AG, during his two-day visit to the firm's UK operations earlier this week.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson commented: "The production of the two new MINI models is very good news for Oxford, and for the UK car industry. British drivers have had a long love affair with the MINI and I'm sure that this will continue for many years to come."

The company said that the start dates for the production of the two new sporty MINIs that will join the existing line of Hatch, Clubman and Convertible models, all of which are made at the Oxford plant, will be confirmed at a later date.

The two seater coupe and its drop-top sibling will most likely be available with the 1.6-liter turbocharged MINI John Cooper Works power train that pumps out 211HP and a peak torque of 260Nm (192 lb-ft) or 280Nm (206 lb-ft) with the overboost function.

However, we wouldn't be surprised if MINI also offers the standard MINI Cooper S' 175HP 1.6-liter turbocharged petrol while a high-performance diesel option should be considered a possibility.

Expect more details to be announced during the presentation of the two new MINIs at Frankfurt Motor Show on September 15.

BREAKING: MINI Officially Confirms Series-Production of Coupe and Speedster Models!

BREAKING: MINI Officially Confirms Series-Production of Coupe and Speedster Models!

We've yet to see the MINI Coupe Concept in the flesh - let alone it's Speedtser twin that has yet to be revealed, but parent company BMW officially confirmed today that both models will enter series production and that they are to be built at MINI's Oxford Plant in the UK. The important announcement was made by Dr.Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management, BMW AG, during his two-day visit to the firm's UK operations earlier this week.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson commented: "The production of the two new MINI models is very good news for Oxford, and for the UK car industry. British drivers have had a long love affair with the MINI and I'm sure that this will continue for many years to come."

The company said that the start dates for the production of the two new sporty MINIs that will join the existing line of Hatch, Clubman and Convertible models, all of which are made at the Oxford plant, will be confirmed at a later date.

The two seater coupe and its drop-top sibling will most likely be available with the 1.6-liter turbocharged MINI John Cooper Works power train that pumps out 211HP and a peak torque of 260Nm (192 lb-ft) or 280Nm (206 lb-ft) with the overboost function.

However, we wouldn't be surprised if MINI also offers the standard MINI Cooper S' 175HP 1.6-liter turbocharged petrol while a high-performance diesel option should be considered a possibility.

Expect more details to be announced during the presentation of the two new MINIs at Frankfurt Motor Show on September 15.

First Lotus Evora Coupe Delivered to Customer, Full Production to Start in November

First Lotus Evora Coupe Delivered to Customer, Full Production to Start in November

Matthew Melling of Twickenham, UK, is the first customer to take delivery of the all-new Lotus Evora. He received the keys to the mid-engined 2+2 coupe from Luke Bennett, Director of Lotus Cars Limited, at the British firm's Hethel headquarters in Norfolk where the sportscar is hand built.

"I was determined to be the first in the world to get my hands on an Evora so with Stratton Motor Company's help, I laid down my deposit within seconds of the order books being opened last year," said Meling. "I have read all the press reviews of the Evora and am so excited about getting behind the wheel – what a great start to September!"

Lotus said that many dealers around the world have already received their demonstrator Evoras and that so far, the company has taken enough orders to cover production for the next five months.

First Lotus Evora Coupe Delivered to Customer, Full Production to Start in November

First Lotus Evora Coupe Delivered to Customer, Full Production to Start in November

Matthew Melling of Twickenham, UK, is the first customer to take delivery of the all-new Lotus Evora. He received the keys to the mid-engined 2+2 coupe from Luke Bennett, Director of Lotus Cars Limited, at the British firm's Hethel headquarters in Norfolk where the sportscar is hand built.

"I was determined to be the first in the world to get my hands on an Evora so with Stratton Motor Company's help, I laid down my deposit within seconds of the order books being opened last year," said Meling. "I have read all the press reviews of the Evora and am so excited about getting behind the wheel – what a great start to September!"

Lotus said that many dealers around the world have already received their demonstrator Evoras and that so far, the company has taken enough orders to cover production for the next five months.

Cadillac to Launch 5 New Models Including BMW 3-Series Rival and CTS-V Coupe by 2011

Cadillac to Launch 5 New Models Including BMW 3-Series Rival and CTS-V Coupe by 2011

GM President and CEO Fritz Henderson confirmed today that Cadillac is developing five new models through 2011 including an entry-level luxury sports sedan that will compete against the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4 sedans in the segment below the CTS. The announcement was part of a general relaunch of GM that will present a total of 25 new models from now until the end of 2011.

Back to Cadillac's 3-Series rival, GM said that the new sedan that will be offered with high-tech engines, rear-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive will take on the best in the segment.

"We are determined to repeat what CTS has already achieved in design, quality, driving dynamics, performance and fuel economy to grow our presence in this high-volume and highly competitive segment," Henderson said.

Aside from the new entry level sedan and the already revealed SRX compact crossover and the CTS Sport Wagon, Henderson confirmed that the firm will introduce the production version of the CTS Coupe concept which will be offered in a "V" guise boasting the same 556HP 6.2-liter supercharged V8 as the CTS-V Sedan.

Automotive News also reported that Cadillac's plans include a common replacement for the flagship rear-wheel drive STS and front-wheel drive DTS models that will share its underpinnings with the Buick LaCrosse and be offered with all-wheel drive. For the record, GM did not disclose any details on this vehicle.

*Correction Cadillac will introduce five new models and not 10

Cadillac to Launch 5 New Models Including BMW 3-Series Rival and CTS-V Coupe by 2011

Cadillac to Launch 5 New Models Including BMW 3-Series Rival and CTS-V Coupe by 2011

GM President and CEO Fritz Henderson confirmed today that Cadillac is developing five new models through 2011 including an entry-level luxury sports sedan that will compete against the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4 sedans in the segment below the CTS. The announcement was part of a general relaunch of GM that will present a total of 25 new models from now until the end of 2011.

Back to Cadillac's 3-Series rival, GM said that the new sedan that will be offered with high-tech engines, rear-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive will take on the best in the segment.

"We are determined to repeat what CTS has already achieved in design, quality, driving dynamics, performance and fuel economy to grow our presence in this high-volume and highly competitive segment," Henderson said.

Aside from the new entry level sedan and the already revealed SRX compact crossover and the CTS Sport Wagon, Henderson confirmed that the firm will introduce the production version of the CTS Coupe concept which will be offered in a "V" guise boasting the same 556HP 6.2-liter supercharged V8 as the CTS-V Sedan.

Automotive News also reported that Cadillac's plans include a common replacement for the flagship rear-wheel drive STS and front-wheel drive DTS models that will share its underpinnings with the Buick LaCrosse and be offered with all-wheel drive. For the record, GM did not disclose any details on this vehicle.

*Correction Cadillac will introduce five new models and not 10

Chevrolet to Reveal 10 New Models, Buick and GMC another 10 through 2011

Chevrolet to Reveal 10 New Models, Buick and GMC another 10 through 2011

The new General Motors announced today that it is going to launch 25 brand-new models into the market by the end of 2011 including five new entries for Cadillac, 10 for Chevy while Buick and GMC will add another 10 new models. We've already told you about Cadillac's entries here, so let's concentrate on the three other brands of the "revitalized" General Motors.

Starting with Chevrolet, the brand's most important introduction is of course the Volt plug-in hybrid that's expected to achieve triple-digit fuel economy according to a new methodology used by EPA (see here). In addition to the Volt that will arrive in US showrooms in late 2010, Chevy's relaunch will be include the Spark city car, the Cruze compact-size sedan, a replacement for the Aveo and quite possibly, the Convertible version of the Camaro.

Moving on to Buick and GMC, the Detroit automaker said that the two brands will present a total of 10 new entries through 2011.

Buick's range will be enhanced with the 2010MY Buick La Crosse as well what appears to be a rebadged version of the Saturn Vue compact crossover in 2010 followed in 2011 by a plug-in hybrid variant plus two more sedans, one based on the Opel Insignia / Buick Regal (Chinese market) and the other on the Chevy Cruze / Opel Astra Delta platform.

As for GMC, aside from the new Terrain SUV that was unveiled in New York in April, it is reported that General Motors will present a smaller crossover model.

We suspect that GM will release more details on its new model portfolio later on in the year.