Igrip Smart Grip'r Xtra Kit (mount & Holder) T5-40130 on 2040-parts.com

What defines a car’s nationality, Batty asks

Is the Mini German or British? Batty's not so sure – but what do you think? Click 'Add your comment' and let us know By Batty Motoring Issues 04 December 2008 12:41 CAR Online reader Batty ponders what gives a car a national flavour.

Is the Volkswagen BlueSport Roadster back on?

There was talk that VW needed at least three of its brands to take the BlueSport project in to production, and there was talk not just of a VW Bluesport but also a SEAT BlueSport, one from Skoda, another from Audi and even a Porsche BlueSport. But in the end, not a single part of VW’s vast group seemed enamoured enough with the BlueSport to take the project forward. But it now looks as though the idea of the BlueSport is far from dead, with VW’s design boss, Walter de Silva, declaring that he’s a big fan of the BlueSport project, and he’s far from the only one in the VW Group who feels the same.

Saab finds a buyer

Bankrupt automaker Saab has found a buyer. But instead of picking up where the Swedish firm left off, the buyer plans to use Saab's resources for the production of electric cars. The new owners of Saab, a Chinese-Swedish investment group with Japanese backing called National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB (NEVS), did not release details on how much it paid for Saab or how much it planned to invest in the company.