While everyone is preoccupied at the Chrysler crisis, a small vehicle silently turned 50. The Mini Minor, finished in Old English White and carrying the registration number 621 AOK, is at the MINI plant in Oxford for the day to mark its birthday in style.

Plant Oxford built 602,817 Minis from 1959 to 1968, before production was moved to Longbridge.

Since 2001 more than 1.4 million new MINIs have been built at the production facility and in total, more than six million classic and new MINIs have been sold since the car first went on sale in 1959.

Dr Jürgen Hedrich, Plant Oxford’s managing director, said: “Little did anyone know just how popular Sir Alec Issigonis’s car for the people would be – or that half a century later it would be reborn as the MINI and once again be built in Oxford.

“This is a momentous day in the plant and car’s history. Everyone at the plant is proud to be part of both the heritage and the future of this car.”

Thousands of visitors from across the globe will also be celebrating MINI’s 50th birthday at MINI United, which is being staged at Silverstone from 22-24 May.

(Source) New Car Net

Tags: Chrysler, half a century, hedrich, heritage, managing director, mini minor, minis, new car, oxford, registration number, silverstone

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As part of their DAS brand campaign, Volkswagen of America announces a collection of 30-second TV spot ads entitled “Meet the Volkswagens”. The new spots again feature Max the Beetle but also introduce a brand new character named BUS.

Voiced by actor Thomas Haden Church, BUS is a talking ruby red 1963 Volkswagen Micro Bus who draws upon Volkswagen’s tradition and heritage while creating clever vignettes that make subtle competitive comparisons in order to highlight key messages like mileage, fuel efficiency, cost of ownership and safety.

The campaign will run for 8 weeks and will be supported online and at dealerships nationwide. A first for Volkswagen, the TV spots will direct viewers to Facebook where they will experience information and messaging surrounding the campaign and other brand initiatives.

(Source) Press

Tags: Beetle, brand campaign, church bus, cost of ownership, fuel efficiency, heritage, initiatives, micro bus, mileage, ruby red, spot ads, thomas haden church, tradition, tv spot, tv spots, vignettes, volkswagen, volkswagen of america, volkswagens

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While all the talk is about the future of motoring, a slight visit to the past would not hurt. Through the years, we have seen various models of cars from the greats like General Motors, Ford or Mercedes however, rarely would you find someone who would treasure them and keep them intact until this day.

Apparently there is one person who did that. It is located at the sprawling farmhouse in Mehrauli. Pro Bono Publico.

Pro Bono Publico is one of the country’s few vintage and classic vehicle museums, home to more than 70 old cars, which made international news recently when one of the cars, a Cadillac Coup de Ville – series 62 – manufactured in 1952, won the prestigious Cartier ‘Travel with Style’ Concours d’Elegance award in November.

It is owned by Delhi-based automobile collector and lawyer Diljeet Titus, the general secretary of the Heritage Motoring Club of India (HMCI).

“Humankind has been fascinated by cars since the first working model was developed in the 19th century and has grown to become one of the largest industries in the world,” Diljeet Titus, owner of the museum told IANS.

(Source) The Times of India

Tags: automobile, Cadillac, classic vehicle, General Motors, heritage, Mercedes, motoring club, titus, vintage cars

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Hyundai motors continues to introduce cheap cars in the market to which leading competitors, the Vauxhall Corsa and the Ford Fiesta may be raising their arms in disbelief. The reason? Cheaper price!

Pricing seems to be the driving factor for car buying these days. And with the unstable economy, it is not really surprising. As cheap to buy, cheaper to run and worth more when you sell it at the end of its life, the i20 has the value contest won already.

However, there is a drawback for the i20. What will make rivals sigh with relief is that, however cheap, well equipped and capable it may be, the i20 has nothing to offer more stylishly inclined buyers. Despite being designed in Europe, it is a visual non-event, the kind of car you leave in a car park and walk past five times trying to find again.

(Source) Times Online

Tags: automobile, Cadillac, classic vehicle, elegance award, General Motors, heritage, Hyundai, Mercedes, motoring club, old cars, titus, working model

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