The Mini is 50 years old today

  Today - 08/05/2009 - is the 50th anniversary of the first Mini rolling off the production line. To celebrate, and for a bit of free publicity (see, we’re playing the game) BMW has shipped the first Mini to roll of the production line back to Cowley to celebrate (picture at the bottom). 621 AOK, a Mini Minor, in Old English White, looks as fresh as the day it rolled off the production line half a century ago (although I wouldn’t mind betting it doesn’t have it’s original sills – they always rusted through – or copes with its original distributor and leads – one splash of rain and the car ground to a halt!).

Chevrolet Trax is a rebadged Opel / Vauxhall Mokka

Chevrolet Trax - arrives at Paris in September The Chevrolet Trax – a compact SUV – has been revealed and will make its debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.  We’ve already seen the Buick Encore in the US become the Opel and Vauxhall Mokka in Europe, and now it’s to morph again in to the Chevrolet Trax, a compact SUV for GM to sell under another brand. GM has revealed that Chevrolet take on the Encore/Mokka will arrive at the 2012 Paris Motor Show in September before going on sale in the UK and Europe – and 140 countries around the world – in spring 2013. With Chevrolet planning the Trax as a world car it seems likely that the engines on offer will be a mix of those found in the Buick Encore and the Vauxhall Mokka.

Kia cee’d Facelifted – launches at Frankfurt

Kia has facelifted the cee'd and will launch it at Frankfurt in September The Ki cee’d rides well, has a good choice of engine options and is well bolted together. It even comes with a seven year warranty, so even if it did fall apart – which it won’t – you’re covered. It is also getting Kia’s ISG (Idle, Stop, Go), which is Kia’s version of Stop Start.