A round-up of today's other Motor stories in brief
Mini goes for a more 'manly' look with its new crossover model
MINI enthusiasts have a whole new reason to get excited, now that the name of the company’s upcoming crossover has been released and the production vehicle has been spotted for the first time.
The Mini Crossman, previously referred to internally as the Colorado, will bring the brand firmly into new territory.
The Crossman rides higher than current Mini models, and has all-wheel drive, which makes it a potential choice for off-roaders.
With these new capabilities, Mini plans to expand its customer base to include young men, who want something a little more masculine than the current models.
This new vehicle will also mark the first time a Mini is assembled outside the UK.
Austrian manufacturer Magna Steyr will build the car for Mini, which is rapidly running out of space at its current facility. The Mini Crossman is scheduled for release in 2010. Mini vice-president Kay Segler says there are currently no plans for a fifth Mini model.
Chris Bangle bows out of BMW and the auto industry
BMW’s controversial design chief Chris Bangle is leaving the company, and the motor industry, after 17 years at the firm.
Bangle’s role involved being overseer at the eponymous brand along with design responsibility for Rolls Royce and Mini. He is being replaced by Adrian van Hooydonk, currently BMW’s head of design.
A BMW statement said Bangle was leaving to “pursue his own design-related endeavours beyond the auto industry”.
The American designer’s work with the brand was initially strongly criticised in the motoring press but it has proved to be a major commercial success. The flame-surfacing effect he drove through has become symbolic of the current BMW range.
Citroën DS to make a comeback
It was the car that seduced celebrities, saved a president and symbolised the rebirth of a country battered by war and economic gloom.
Now, more than 50 years after its pointed nose and power steering were introduced to the world, the Citroën DS is hitting the road once more.
A modern reworking of the legendary model is expected to be unveiled this week by bosses at Citroën, keen to draw on its enduring pulling power at a time of deepening crisis for the motoring industry.
According to the business newspaper Les Echos, a new range of cars bearing the DS badge will be presented today on the Champs Elysees, just minutes from the Grand Palais, where the original model made its debut in 1955.
The first of the new designs, predicted to be on sale from 2010, is described by industry insiders as a "concept car".
But although it will bear the same letters, the new car is expected to look very different from the distinctive vehicle that came to define French post-war innovation.
Porsche cuts Boxster prices
Porsche has dramatically cut Irish prices for its new Boxster range, with new prices for other models due later this week. The new Boxster will start at €54,950, rising to €64,950 for the Boxster S – nearly €25,000 less than the car was originally expected to cost.
The new price is likely to impact strongly on the residuals of existing cars. A 2007 used Boxster retails for around €70,000; a new one can now be bought for €54,950. The new car will also be incredibly competitive compared to its rivals, costing just €1,000 more than a 2.0-litre TFSI Audi TT Roadster. Porsche had a very poor start to the year, registering two units in January, compared to 23 in January 2008.