SEAT Ibiza ECOMOTIVE does 100mpg

Gerhard Plattner achieved almost 100mpg in a SEAT Ibiza ECOMOTIVE But when press release came in from SEAT this afternoon telling us that a SEAT Ibiza ECOMOTIVE has just achieved a run, on real roads from Barcelona to Germany, of 1,562km and used just 45.53 litres of fuel, we had to get our calculators out (we’re so old now we can only see the reality of the achievement in mpg!). By our reckoning the Ibiza managed just a shade under 100mpg. Astonishing.

Porsche opens new Weissach design studio

Porsche has officially opened its new design center. Located at its Weissach development center, the facility includes interior and exterior design departments, plus a dedicated area for concept car construction. According to Porsche chairman, Matthias Müller, the architecture of the new studio has been designed to allow the firm's "creative developers to work hand-in-hand even more methodically than before." The new design center is one of three new buildings opened at the site, which have been built as part of a $200million investment at Weissach.

Jaguar Land Rover to spend additional £250 million a year with UK suppliers

JLR to spend and extra £1 billion with UK suppliers The Range Rover Evoque phenomenon continues with Jaguar Land Rover announcing an extra £250 million additional annual spend with UK suppliers. Just last week we had the news that Land Rover’s Freelander 2 had hit sales of 300,000 since its launch in 2007, but if the Range Rover Evoque continues selling the way it has that figure will be eclipsed in half the time by the Evoque. And it’s sales of the Evoque – Land Rover has sold 60,000 Evoques in the first seven months on sale – that’s driving the need to spend more with suppliers and the announcement today that UK suppliers can look forward to an extra £250 million a year being spent to support the Evoque’s production at Halewood.