Dorman 620-608 Condenser Fan Assembly on 2040-parts.com

MG Design Centre opens in UK

The opening of MG's new design center this week at the historic production site of Longbridge, Birmingham, England was both an incredible and credible occasion. Incredible, because the brand looked dead in the water after the debacle of MG Rover's collapse in 2005 and even after various Chinese takeovers, its UK operation seemed destined to play no more than a tokenistic bit part. And thankfully credible too, because now all of MG's global design will genuinely be led from this new facility in the epicentre of England's traditional motoring heartland.

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!).

VW L1 diesel-hybrid concept at 2009 Frankfurt motor show

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 15 September 2009 10:30 This slender concept car is VW’s new L1, a diesel-electric hybrid unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show. Made from aluminium and carbonfibre it weighs just 380kg, and is capable of 189mpg while emitting just 39g/km CO2. Let’s start with the aerodynamics.