Skoda used the Motor...
Skoda used the Motor Show to announce prices for its new Octavia. The entry-level 1.4-litre Classic will cost í‚á£10,750, the Ambiente starts at í‚á£13,540, while the flagship 2.0-litre TDI PD Elegance is í‚á£17,420. It was also revealed that an RS version will arrive in 2006, using a 2.0-litre FSI engine with at least 200bhp.
It"s the spark we have...
It"s the spark we have been waiting for from BMW ò€“ the electric MINI
is here! These are the first official pictures of the battery-powered
hatch, and although it looks very similar to the standard car, under
the skin it couldnò€™t be more different.
The MINI E is powered by
an electric motor producing 204bhp and 220Nm of torque. Bosses claim a
0-60mph time of 8.5 seconds and a limited top speed of 95mph.
The
lithium-ion battery pack propels the car for 150 miles on a single
eight-hour charge. But owners will be able to slash this to only
two-and-a-half hours if they have MINIò€™s high-voltage ò€˜wallboxò€™ fitted
in their garage.
Each model in the initial production run will
get the colour scheme shown here, with the stylized yellow plug symbol
on the bonnet, roof and charging socket.
Inside, the rear seats
have been removed to create space for the sizeable battery pack. The
central gauge and battery level indicator are also new for the MINI E;
they feature yellow lettering against a dark grey background, and
display the remaining charge as a percentage.
After the car
debuts at the Los Angeles Motor Show in November, BMW plans to build a
fleet of 500 MINI Es, all of which will be leased to US customers next
year. This will enable the company to gather real-world feedback.
Eventually, the scheme will be rolled out across Europe before the car
reaches full production. The E will be made at MINIò€™s plant in Oxford.
BMW will then ship engine-less MINIs to Munich where they will be
fitted with the all-electric powertrain.