Top 10: Car sales Q3 2011

The very capable Ford Fiesta remains the best-selling car in the UK. Data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders shows that Ford’s supermini has notched up 77,198 registrations to the end of the third quarter, which equates to just under 5% of the 1,553,094 market total.

Ford Fiesta: Still the UK's best-selling car.

Car registrations in September - the second most important month behind March, thanks to the registration plate change - ended up at 332,476. Encouragingly, that was just 0.8% behind the same month last year, but again it’s the comparatively healthy fleet and business sectors that are preventing a larger decline.



However, continued volatile economic conditions mean that the SMMT is predicting a difficult fourth quarter, and a total of 1.92 million cars are now expected to be registered during 2011.



The ten most popular models, and their order in the league table, are unchanged since Q2.

Top 10: Cumulative UK Car Sales Q3 2011
Position	Manufacturer	Model	Registrations
1	Ford	Fiesta	77,198
2	Ford	Focus	67,672
3	Vauxhall	Corsa	60,959
4	Volkswagen	Golf	50,013
5	Vauxhall	Astra	49,042
6	Vauxhall	Insignia	38,386
7	Volkswagen	Polo	36,655
8	BMW	3 Series	33,650
9	Nissan	Qashqai	30,763
10	Mini	Mini	28,097

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Mini Soho limited editions

Mini has announced a quartet of Soho special editions, based on the Cooper Hatch and Convertible.



Available in showrooms from now until March 2012 (so there’s no particular rush to get an order placed, then), the Soho gets unique White Silver metallic paint, 17” Black Star Bullet alloys, bi-xenon headlights, white indicators, an anthracite headlining for the cabin, Piano Black interior trim and a three-spoke leather steering wheel.

The Hatch versions are priced at £1,985 more than their equivalent standard Cooper models, while the Soho Convertibles carry a premium of £1,825.



On the face of it, those amounts seem like a lot extra. However, according the Mini options list, the metallic paint, steering wheel, xenon lights and the headlining alone would account for £1,050. Buy the wheels as accessories, and they’d add another £952 to the invoice - and that excludes the tyres.



So, Mini isn’t exactly chucking in a load more kit gratis, but the Soho doesn’t necessarily represent bad value, either.



UK on the road prices for the Mini Soho editions are:



· Cooper Soho Hatch £16,765

· Cooper D Soho Hatch £18,045

· Cooper Soho Convertible £19,060

· Cooper D Soho Convertible £20,135



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Top 10: Car sales Q2 2011

Mini Coupé undisguised

Top 10: Car sales Q2 2011

Figures just published by the SMMT show that 1,029,638 cars were sold in the UK to the end of Q2 2011, a reduction of 7.1% compared to the same period last year.



Despite the overall drop, the fleet sector remains fairly buoyant, with registrations up by 3.4% versus 2010. Combined fleet and business sales now account for just over 57% of the market.



As a result of that mix, almost half of all cars sold so far this year have been diesels. In turn, the shift away from petrol power will have undoubtedly contributed to average new car CO2 emissions falling to 138.9 g/km during Q2 2011. That’s the first time ever that a figure of less than 140 g/km has been achieved.



The ten most popular cars haven’t changed much since Q1, with the league table once again headed by the Ford Fiesta and Focus. Whether it’s a situation that will continue in the longer term remains to be seen though, as reports suggest Ford is prepared to sacrifice its top seller position in order to be more profitable.

Ford Fiesta: Still the UK's most popular car.

Top 10: Cumulative UK Car Sales Q2 2011
Position	Manufacturer	Model	Registrations
1	Ford	Fiesta	51,643
2	Ford	Focus	43,825
3	Vauxhall	Corsa	38,597
4	Volkswagen	Golf	33,118
5	Vauxhall	Astra	32,883
6	Vauxhall	Insignia	25,950
7	Volkswagen	Polo	22,897
8	BMW	3 Series	21,866
9	Nissan	Qashqai	19,992
10	Mini	Mini	18,619

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99 g/km diesel Audi A1

Audi has reduced the CO2 emissions from its A1 1.6 TDI to 99 g/km, thanks to the fitment of stop-start and energy regeneration systems.



That’s an improvement of 6 g/km, which might not sound a lot but it’s significant for UK buyers. It means the A1 will now qualify for zero-rated Band A Vehicle Excise Duty, and makes it eligible for a 100% discount on the London Congestion Charge.



Economy has been similarly improved too, with the combined cycle figure rising from 70.6 mpg (4.0 l/100km) to 74.3 mpg (3.8 l/100km). So, probably quite deliberately, the Audi now exactly matches the Mini Cooper D for fuel consumption and emissions.



It remains slightly slower though, with a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) acceleration time of 10.5 seconds and a top speed of 118 mph (189 km/h). By comparison, the Mini gets from rest to 62 mph in 9.7 seconds and can reach 122 mph (196 km/h).

UK on the road prices for the A1 1.6 TDI have been confirmed at £14,480 for the SE, £16,320 for the Sport and £17,865 for the S line.



And yes, they’re very much in the same ballpark as the Mini Cooper D, which costs £16,060.



However, one potential sales casualty of the revamped A1 could be the Polo BlueMotion 1.2 TDI from sister brand Volkswagen.



With only 73 bhp (55 kW / 75PS) compared to the Audi’s 103 bhp (77 kW / 105 PS), the Polo achieves a marginally better 80.7 mpg (3.5 l/100km) and produces 91 g/km of CO2. It’s a slower car though and, in three-door form, a price tag of £14,860 makes it actually more expensive than the SE spec A1.



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Mini Coupé undisguised

Technical specs for the forthcoming Mini Coupé were released earlier this month, along with some images of a still-camouflaged car.



But now the disguise has been lifted, plus a launch date and prices have been set.

Mini John Cooper Works Coupé. Scroll down for more images.

Sales are due to start on 1st October 2011 and, as expected, the less practical Coupé models are going to be more expensive than their Hatch equivalents:

UK Prices - Mini Coupé vs. Hatch
Version	Hatch	Coupé	Difference
Cooper	£14,780	£16,640	£1,860
Cooper S	£18,105	£19,775	£1,670
Cooper SD	£18,750	£20,510	£1,760
John Cooper Works	£22,330	£23,795	£1,465

All variants will come as standard with park distance control, DAB digital radio and air conditioning, as well as a rear spoiler that rises automatically at 50 mph (80 km/h) and then retracts at 37 mph (60 km/h).

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Mini Coupé revealed

Mini has released the first details of its new Coupé, including some technical specs and images of a still half-camouflaged car.

Mini Coupé Prototype. Scroll down for more images.

A two-seater, the Mini Coupé has roughly the same wheelbase, width and overall length as the existing Mini Hatch, but its distinctive three-box body sits 29 millimetres lower for a suitably sporty stance.



Of course, being a Mini, one of its strengths is going to have to be handling. To ensure it measures up, extra body stiffening has been added to give a more stable platform for the suspension to work with. Unsurprisingly, DSC stability control comes as standard across the range.



Four variants will be available, all of which carry the Cooper name. Every one comes with a range of fuel-saving technologies including automatic stop / start, brake energy regeneration, electric power steering, gear shift indicator and intelligent ancillaries.



There’s no entry-level ‘One’ specification for the Mini Coupé, at least not for now.

Mini Cooper Coupé
Engine	Four-cylinder petrol with Valvetronic variable valve management
Displacement	1,598 cc
Power	120 bhp (90 kW / 122 PS) at 6,000 rpm
Torque	160 Nm (118 lb/ft) at 4,250 rpm
Transmission	Six-speed manual (six-speed automatic with Steptronic optional)
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	9.0 seconds
Top speed	127 mph (204 km/h)
Average fuel consumption	52.3 mpg (5.4 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	127 g/km
Dimensions	Wheelbase 2,467 mm; length 3,728 mm; width 1,683 mm; height 1,378 mm
Wheels	15” alloy
Brakes	Front 280 mm vented discs / rear 259 mm discs

Mini Cooper S Coupé
Engine	Four-cylinder petrol with twin-scroll turbocharger and Valvetronic variable valve management
Displacement	1,598 cc
Power	181 bhp (135 kW / 184 PS) at 5,500 rpm
Torque	240 Nm (177 lb/ft) at 1,600 - 5,000 rpm (260 Nm / 192 lb/ft with Overboost at 1,700 - 4,500 rpm)
Transmission	Six-speed manual (six-speed automatic with Steptronic optional)
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	6.9 seconds
Top speed	143 mph (230 km/h)
Average fuel consumption	48.7 mpg (5.8 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	136 g/km
Dimensions	Wheelbase 2,467 mm; length 3,734 mm; width 1,683 mm; height 1,384 mm
Wheels	16” alloy
Brakes	Front 294 mm vented discs / rear 259 mm discs

Mini Cooper SD Coupé
Engine	Four-cylinder common-rail injection turbodiesel with variable turbine technology
Displacement	1,995 cc
Power	141 bhp (105 kW / 143 PS) at 4,000 rpm
Torque	305 Nm (225 lb/ft) at 1,750 - 2,700 rpm
Transmission	Six-speed manual (six-speed automatic with Steptronic optional)
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	7.9 seconds
Top speed	134 mph (216 km/h)
Average fuel consumption	65.7 mpg (4.3 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	114 g/km
Dimensions	Wheelbase 2,467 mm; length 3,728 mm; width 1,683 mm; height 1,378 mm
Wheels	16” alloy
Brakes	Front 294 mm vented discs / rear 259 mm discs

Mini John Cooper Works Coupé
Engine	Four-cylinder petrol with twin-scroll turbocharger and Valvetronic variable valve management
Displacement	1,598 cc
Power	208 bhp (155 kW / 211 PS) at 6,000 rpm
Torque	260 Nm (192 lb/ft) at 1,850 - 5,600 rpm (280 Nm / 207 lb/ft with Overboost at 1,700 - 4,500 rpm)
Transmission	Six-speed manual
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	6.4 seconds
Top speed	149 mph (240 km/h)
Average fuel consumption	39.8 mpg (7.1 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	165 g/km
Dimensions	Wheelbase 2,467 mm; length 3,734 mm; width 1,683 mm; height 1,384 mm
Wheels	17” ‘Challenge’ alloy with run-flat tyres
Brakes	Front 316 mm vented discs / rear 280 mm discs

The big question is whether buyers will go for a model that is less practical (and possibly more expensive) than the Hatch, or is the Mini Coupé a niche too far? Only time will tell, but it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to bet against queues of customers forming at Mini dealers.



Prices and market launch dates have yet to be confirmed.

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Top hairdressers’ cars

If a car becomes popular with a particular profession, it’s usually not too much of a problem. But ‘hairdresser’s car’ has become a pejorative term suggesting small, cutesy and not for anyone with a deluded sense of machismo.



So what do hairdressers actually drive? In response to that important question, UK insurance company Diamond has reviewed its database of 18,000 stylists, and the answer seems to be… anything small and cutesy.



Favourite is the Mini One, followed by the Vauxhall Tigra and Volkswagen Beetle. Completing the top five are the Ford Ka and Mini Cooper.

Hairdressers' favourite: The Mini One Hatch.

Doubtless certain owners of the Audi TT and Fiat 500 will be relieved that their cars didn’t make the list.



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Superchips Mini Cooper S

Superchips has launched an ECU remap for the post-March 2010 Mini Cooper S.



The modification lifts power from 181 bhp (135 kW / 184 PS) to 206 bhp (153 kW / 208 PS), a 14% increase that’s available from just 2,000 rpm onwards. Torque from the direct injection 1.6 litre turbo engine similarly rises from 240 Nm (177 lb/ft) to 272 Nm (200 lb/ft).



Useful improvements then, and enough to almost match the outputs of the Mini John Cooper Works which boasts 208 bhp (155 kW / 211 PS) and up to 280 Nm (206 lb/ft) of torque on overboost.

Unfortunately Superchips hasn’t released any performance claims, except to say that if driven normally owners won’t see any increase in their Mini’s fuel consumption.



The upgrade costs £455 including VAT. That works out at a very reasonable £18 per extra horsepower, and the ECU remap can be installed at eighty Superchips centres across the UK.



However, one problem with any modification like this is that the original manufacturer’s warranty is probably going to be compromised. To help get around the issue, Superchips offers a 12 month / 30,000 mile supplementary full vehicle warranty. That’s industry leading, but it still might not be long enough to tempt the owner of a brand new Cooper S.



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Volkswagen to enter WRC

Volkswagen has confirmed that it will be contesting the World Rally Championship from 2013. The announcement was made in Olbia - just ahead of the Rally d'Italia Sardegna - where a concept version of the firm’s Polo R WRC was also revealed.

A fourth manufacturer is good news for the series, and the arrival of Volkswagen Motorsport should provide some added competition for the existing entries from Ford, Citroën and newcomers Mini.



The catalyst for the WRC’s revitalisation has undoubtedly been new cost-saving regulations, introduced at the start of this season.

Like its rivals, the Polo R WRC will be powered by a 1.6 litre, turbocharged petrol engine with direct injection producing around 295 bhp (220 kW / 300 PS) and 350 Nm (258 lb/ft) of torque. Featuring all-wheel drive, bodywork alterations and various aerodynamic aids, the end package is going to have to comply with the minimum weight limit of 1,200 kilograms (2,645 lbs).



Although the car is just a concept at the moment, work on the first prototypes is planned to commence later this year ahead of a testing programme in 2012.

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New Mini is a… bicycle

Perhaps it’s meant as an antidote to the bulk of the Countryman, but the latest addition to the Mini range is a fold-up bike. Logically called the Mini Folding Bike, when collapsed it’ll even fit into the poky 160 litre boot of the Mini Hatch.

As many of the components including the frame, forks, seat post and handlebars are made from aluminium, the bike weighs only 11 kilos. Such lightness should mean it’s not too much of an effort to lug about in the supplied transport bag.



The eight gears are controlled via a grip shift and, sensibly, the drive chain - coloured neon yellow - is Teflon-coated to negate the need for messy lubrication.



Available only in matt black, the Mini Folding Bike goes on sale from August 2011. A UK price has yet to be set, but in the Eurozone it’ll cost €499 via the Mini website or selected Mini dealers.



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Mini WRC Team launched

The Mini WRC Team has been officially launched, ahead of a limited campaign in this year’s FIA World Rally Championship.

As previously announced, the pair of Mini Countryman John Cooper Works WRC cars will be crewed by Kris Meeke / Paul Nagle and Dani Sordo / Carlos del Barrio. Their first outing is going to be May’s Rally d’Italia Sardegna, the fifth event in the 2011 WRC calendar. A further five rounds are due to be contested this year, before the team commits to a full WRC programme in 2012.



Developed by Prodrive, customer versions of the Countryman rally car will also be made available to private teams in either S2000 or full WRC specification.

Mini Countryman John Cooper Works WRC 2011
Engine
Type	Four-cylinder, direct injection petrol, turbocharged
Capacity	1,600 cc
Power	Over 300 bhp (223 kW / 304 PS)
Torque	Over 400 Nm (295 lb/ft)
Maximum turbo boost	2.5 bar (absolute)
Transmission
Gearbox	Sequential Xtrac 6-speed
Drive	Permanent four-wheel drive
Chassis
Brakes	AP Racing, four piston, gravel 300mm / tarmac 355 mm (front and rear)
Suspension	Prodrive Öhlins Macpherson strut, 3-way adjustable dampers (front and rear)
Dimensions
Length	4,110 mm
Width	1,820 mm
Weight	1,200 kg (FIA minimum weight)

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Mini Cooper SD arrives

Perhaps the surprising thing about the Cooper SD is that it has taken so long for Mini to add a performance diesel to the range. After all, it’s a tactic that parent brand BMW has successfully used for years with models such as the 123d and 335d.

Available across all body styles - including the Convertible - Cooper SD variants get a N47 2.0 litre turbo diesel engine that produces 140 bhp (105 kW / 143 PS). Based on the 1.6 litre unit already found in the One D and Cooper D, the larger capacity motor boasts 305 Nm (225 lb/ft) of torque which is available from just 1,750 rpm.



Significantly, that figure beats the 260 Nm (191 lb/ft) that the John Cooper Works versions can muster. Combined with a standard lightweight six-speed manual gearbox, the result is decent - if not seriously quick - performance.



As expected, the Cooper SD benefits from Minimalism technology, the Mini equivalent of BMW’s Efficient Dynamics programme. Employing features such as stop / start, gear change indication, brake energy regeneration, a diesel particulate filter and electric power steering has kept both fuel consumption and emissions impressively low.

Model	0-62 mph (100 km/h) secs	Top speed mph (km/h)	Combined cycle mpg (l/100km)	CO2 g/km
Cooper SD Hatch	8.1	134 (215)	65.7 (4.3)	114
Cooper SD Clubman	8.6	134 (215)	64.2 (4.4)	115
Cooper SD Convertible	8.7	130 (210)	62.8 (4.5)	118
Cooper SD Countryman	9.3	123 (198)	61.4 (4.6)	122
Cooper SD Countryman ALL4	9.4	121 (195)	57.6 (4.9)	130

Available as an option will be a six-speed automatic transmission. This new gearbox will also be offered in the Cooper D although, for compatibility reasons, when specified the usual 1.6 litre engine is substituted for a down-tuned version of the 2.0 litre one.



Visually, the Cooper SD borrows its styling cues from the Cooper S. These include a bonnet air scoop, centrally-mounted twin tailpipes, a roof spoiler and a larger intake below the front number plate.



Scheduled for launch in spring 2011, pricing for the Mini Cooper SD line-up has yet to be confirmed. However, it’s reckoned that in the UK Cooper SD models will cost £850 more than their Cooper S equivalents.

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Business Car of the Year

UK publication Business Car has announced the winners of its 2011 Awards, which were voted for by readers rather than being decided by a jury.



It was a successful haul for the BMW Group as it took top honours in six out of the thirteen vehicle categories, as well as being declared overall manufacturer of the year. Clearly desirability, solid residuals, decent fuel economy and low CO2 emissions are all attributes that continue to keep both drivers and fleet managers happy.





Business Car Awards 2011 winners



Vehicle categories



Manufacturer of the Year: BMW



Business Car of the Year: BMW 5 Series

Green Model of the Year: BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics

City Car: Fiat 500

Supermini: Mini

Lower Medium: Audi A3

Upper Medium: BMW 3 Series

Executive: BMW 5 Series

Luxury: Jaguar XJ

Large 4x4: BMW X5

Small 4x4: Audi Q5

Mini-MPV: Volkswagen Touran

MPV: Ford S-MAX

Sporting Car: Audi R8



Service supplier categories



Service Supplier of the Year: Lex Autolease



Accident Management: The AA

Daily Rental: Enterprise

Fast-Fit: Kwik-Fit Fleet

Insurance: Aviva

Leasing and Fleet Management: Lex Autolease