Orion Coastal Alerter Kit on 2040-parts.com

MINI Countryman to be built in India

MINI sells worldwide – even in the US – and, despite claims it was a step too far for the brand, the MINI Countryman has been a big hit for MINI, offering as it does most of MINI’s charm but in a bigger, more family friendly package and with the option of All4 4WD for a degree of off-road ability (well, certainly the ability to treat boot sale car parks with disdain). Now, for the first time, BMW is to build the MINI outside Europe with a new MINi assembly facility coming on stream in Chennai, India, where BMW already makes 3 and 5 Series models as well as the X1 and X3. The plan is part of BMW’s plan of ‘Production follows the market’ where BMW aim to make their cars where they’re sold, so with the MINI brand showing strong growth in India since its launch it makes sense to build them there.

Alfa Romeo 4C finally on sale in 2013?

It seems the Alfa Romeo 4C may finally arrive in production guise at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, and on sale soon after. First seen at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011 – when we expected it to go on sale in 2012 – the 4C has been rolled out by Alfa Romeo a few times since – even complete with ‘teasers’ when all that had changed was the colour – to keep up interest in a car that holds much promise but didn’t seem to be heading anywhere. But now, according to Autocar, Alfa Romeo has confirmed that a production version of the Alfa 4C will arrive at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show before going on sale – at least in Europe – later in the year.

Audi Q7 V12 TDi concept

By Ben Oliver Motor Shows 08 January 2007 04:15 A V12 diesel? You read that right; Audi has unveiled the first road car to be fitted with its Le Mans-winning V12 diesel engine. The Q7 V12 TDI is still officially a concept; Audi revealed the road-going version of its race engine at last year’s Paris motor show and hasn’t confirmed when it will go into production, but it will almost certainly be offered in both the Q7 and the A8.