The Demo Site

Park Lane Rolls Royce MINI

People love to imagine bigger and better things for the long-running MINI. Whether it's a new Speedster version or a revived MINI Moke, the platform inspires daydreaming. Apparently, it aspires, too, to a more pimped-out existence. Rumors of a Rolls Royce-branded MINI have been floating around recently, stoked most recently by a series of pictures taken recently at London's famous Park Lane MINI dealership. Sadly, this is not a production Rolls-Royce MINI. Instead, this is a MINI made for "a recent dealer event," and a MINI spokesperson told theSwitchback that a MINI Rolls has not yet been approved for production. Sorry. Still, anyone who's going to do any speculation about the MINI/Rolls-Royce collaboration could use this car as inspiration: it's got magnolia-colored leather practically everywhere, including the roof lining and the air vent bezels. Everything else is covered in walnut wood and glossy piano-black trim. It may not be a production preview, but it sure is a pretty MINI.

Austrian motorcycle maker KTM stakes its reputation on the ability of its off-road motorcycles to tackle the toughest terrain on earth, and it's made a habit of proving these capabilities with both a factory team and a far-reaching privateer support program in the Dakar Rally each year. Up through 2009, that is - KTM has just announced that it's pulling out of next year's event.
The reason cited for the shocking decision is the French ASO's ruling that all motorcycles taking part in the Dakar race in 2010 must use engines displacing 450cc or smaller. KTM's entries all use engines displacing a little over 650cc and will therefore not qualify. Instead of waiting for next year to react, KTM "has decided to immediately accept the consequences and announces its withdrawal from the Dakar."
Whether this is nothing more than a case of sour grapes or an intentional move to limit KTM's chances of winning a ninth-consecutive victory at the Dakar Rally, it's disappointing to a whole bunch of fans with orange-colored blood running through their veins. For what it's worth, KTM says it will continue racing, just not in the Dakar. Make the jump to read KTM's official press release.

Currently the 2010 Volvo X60 is available with a 3.0L turbocharged T6 engine making 281-hp with a maximum torque of 295 lb-ft. Volvo announced today that it is adding a new version of the compact SUV, the 2010 Volvo X60 3.2.

Power comes from the same 3.2L engine that powers the base S80 sedan. Mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the 2010 X60 3.2 makes 235-hp and peak torque of 236 lb-ft. Fuel-economy is estimated at 27 mpg on the highway and 18 mpg in the city.

Pricing for the 2010 Volvo X60 3.2 starts at $33,245 for the front-wheel-drive model and $35,245 for the AWD model (prices include $850 destination charge).

Press Release:

Volvo announces pricing for the value laden 2010 XC60 3.2

Irvine, CA (June 5, 2009) - Volvo Cars of North America, LLC (VCNA) announced pricing today of its newest version of its acclaimed small premium utility the XC60. The 2010 XC60 3.2 will be offered with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive when the vehicle goes on sale this summer. A front-wheel drive XC60 is value priced at 32,395*. The new 3.2-liter with AWD is aggressively priced at $34,395*.

The XC60’s normally aspirated 3.2 is the same engine that powers the base S80 flagship sedan introduced in 2008 and comes standard with a six-speed automatic transmission. The inline 6-cylinder produces an energetic 235 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque across a wide power band that provides for the XC60’s quick, fluid acceleration.

Fuel economy for the 3.2-liter is nothing short of excellent with an estimated 27 miles per gallon on the highway and an estimated 18 miles per gallon in the city. Additionally, Volvo - a perennial leader in emissions control - offers two version of the 3.2 with either ULEV-II (ultra low emissions) or PZEV (partial zero emissions) systems.

This latest edition of what might be termed the world’s safest passenger vehicle incorporates more than 80 years of safety innovation including the Volvo invented 3-point seatbelt more than 50-years ago to the introduction of standard City Safety, a low-speed collision avoidance system, launched with the 2010 XC60 T6 AWD earlier this year.

Other safety features include Roll Stability Control (RSC), pretensioned seatbelts in all seating positions, an inflatable side curtain for front and rear passengers and a high-strength Boron steel roof structure, the XC60 combines both active and passive safety systems in one stunningly designed package. Additional standard safety features include Dynamic Stability Traction Control (DSTC), anti-lock brakes, WHIPS, Volvo’s whiplash protection seats, and the SIPS side-impact protection system.

Standard equipment on the XC60 3.2 includes: 17-inch alloy wheels; auto-dimming inside rearview mirror, Bluetooth with hands free capability, dual zone Electronic Climate Control, front fog lamps, HD Radio, high performance audio system with 8-speakers, a 4×40 amplifier, CD player with MP3 capability, cargo area load cover, power driver’s seat with memory function including the outside mirrors, Sirius Satellite Radio including a 6-month complimentary subscription and USB and auxiliary inputs.

The XC60 3.2 is also included in Volvo’s excellent Complimentary Factory Scheduled Maintenance program, which covers the first three years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first). Complimentary Factory Scheduled Maintenance helps reduce the cost of ownership by providing customers the first four maintenance visits to their Volvo retailer as complimentary. A wide range of services are covered by the program, including oil and filter changes, cabin filter replacement, complete fluid level top-offs and a check of the vehicle’s on-board diagnostic system.

Just yesterday, we reported that the Volkswagen BlueSport Concept is ready to take the giant leap into production. It was reported that the BlueSport could carry a starting price-tag of about $30,000 when it hits showrooms.

According to AutoCar, the BlueSport may not be sold as V-Dub. Apparently the big bosses at Audi don’t believe that someone would cash out $30,000 for a Volkswagen badged roadster. In order to make the two-seater more cost-effective, they may sell it as an Audi or Seat.

Yesterday, we told you that project leader Marco Fabiano, said that the 265-hp 2.0L turbocharged engine from the Volkswagen Scirocco R is also being considered besides the 180-hp 4-cylinder diesel. Well, he also told the AutoCar folks that the BlueSport is capable of taking a 6-cylinder engine as well.

Sources say that Porsche is unlikely to get a version of the car. Rumors that Porsche may use the BlueSport to revive the 914 have been refuted by Volkswagen insiders.

Around here, we are all big fans of the Acura TSX—the lean, frisky, three-time-10Best-winning, first-generation version, anyway. With respect to the larger, more substantial second-gen 2009 TSX introduced just last year, our camp is split. Some of us believe that even despite the car’s newer and larger (but just 130-pound-heavier) body, the high-revving 201-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder carried over is still a great match, offering an excellent blend of power and prudence, especially with the available six-speed manual. The rest believe that along with the newfound size and substance, Acura should have added a heap of horsepower—and rear- or all-wheel drive.

In regards to the former group, nothing has changed on the four-cylinder TSX for 2010: it’s still the happy, front-drive, near-luxe sedan it’s always been. For the power-hungry bunch, the 2010 TSX V-6 will alleviate the horsepower deficit when it goes on sale in July. By slipping in the same, 3.5-liter V-6 from the base TL—tuned in the TSX to 280 hp and 254 lb-ft of torque—Acura turns its smallest four-door into a very quick sports sedan, even if it comes only with a paddle-shifted, five-speed automatic transmission.

Keep Reading: 2010 Acura TSX V-6 - First Drive Review

We'll start off by saying that this spoof on General Motors' Re:invention commercial is not exactly fair and not exactly accurate... but it is funny. It comes from an Onion-esque type website with a decidedly sharp take on GM's situation, with story headlines like "GM Kicks Dog, Takes Candy from Baby" and "GM Kills Electric Car, Five Others in Shooting Spree." You can watch the original commercial and the spoof after the jump. Make sure you have your sense of humor switched on.
[Source: GM Retardation]

On Wednesday, we brought you the first pictures of Hyundai's new Transform, a Korean market derivative of the Verna hatchback that is a close relative of our stateside Accent, the automaker's lowest-cost offering. For 2010, the KDM Verna Transform model incorporates a unique front fascia and a controversial looking grille among other changes. The big question we had on our mind after seeing it was: Is this model bound for the U.S. - or was it simply another foreign Accent?
Well, we put exactly that question to Hyundai P.R. manager Dan Bedore, and he indicates that the Verna Transform is not representative of what we will see in the U.S. - on the contrary, our Accent successor "...will have a distinct, exciting new look of its own when it is introduced. The Verna Transform pictured here is a sport package for the KDM model Verna only."
Bedore went on to confirm that the next U.S. Accent is part of the company's 24/7 plan (which will see seven new model introductions over a 24 month period that began with the rollout of the Genesis Coupe). While we're not privy to the salacious specifics of Hyundai's product calendar, we expect to see the new Tucson crossover join the family next, followed either by the aforementioned Accent replacement or the Veloster-based 2+2 sporty coupe.