News watch August 2011: today's auto industry news

Come to CAR Magazine's news aggregator as we round up the daily stories in the auto industry. Top tip: news summaries are added from the top hour-by-hour Wednesday 31 August 2011• The two millionth Mini today rolled off the production line at Plant Oxford. British prime minister David Cameron drove the landmark car off the line (Mini)• Volkswagen says it will sell more than 2 million cars in China this year.

Concept Car of the Week: Mazda RX500 (1970)

Developed by the Toyo Kogyo Company's advanced design and engineering team, the Mazda RX-500 was described as a ‘mobile test bed for high-speed safety'. Looking at its design, the team's childlike enthusiasm has shone through, resulting in a very cool concept.  From the rakish front to the wraparound windscreen and on to the bread van rear, everything communicates high-tech and ‘70's futurism while also channeling a little of the Star Wars X-Wing. Thanks to plastic body panels, the concept weighs only 850kg and is powered by a 491cc rotary engine delivering 247bhp fitted behind the cabin, in front of the rear axle.

SEAT IBE EV Concept at Paris

SEAT IBE Paris Concept How good’s your memory? Does the SEAT IBE Concept ring a bell? It should, because SEAT rolled out the IBE at the last major European Motor Show back in March at Geneva.