New car sales up for 28th consecutive month

THE STEADY ADVANCE of new car sales shows no sign of slowing down. There were 228,291 new registrations in June, a 6.2% rise on the total for June 2013, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said. Last month was the 28th consecutive month of growth and means that sales for the year so far have reached more than 1.28 million - a 10.6% rise on the first six months of last year.

MINI Clubvan: Debut at 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed

The MINI Clubvan – a MINI Clubman with blocked out windows and no back seats – arrives as a production model and debuts at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The MINI Clubvan arrived as a concept at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, but there was no chance MINI were going to pass up the chance of filling yet another MINI niche, which makes it no surprise this morning sees the arrival of the production version of the Clubvan. Looking exactly like what it is – a MINI Clubman with polycarbonate panels over the back windows and no back seats – the MINI Clubvan aims to do for trendy delivery businesses what the MINI did for trendy Estate Agents - make their ubiquitous presence a real annoyance.

Landwind Fashion

Chinese manufacturer Landwind are entering the heated midi-MPV market with the Fashion, which is available with either five or seven seats. This pitches it directly against the Renault Megane Scenic and the Opel Zafira, which in particular is enjoying buoyant sales. The Fashion will hope its low starting price of about US$16,000 will help it steal some of those customers, though taller ones may be put of by a tail-gate that only opens to face height.