Car production increases again

THE SOCIETY of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said UK manufacturers built 91,282 cars in August, up 16.2%, or 12,705, on the same period in 2012, leaving year-to-date volumes 3.1% ahead of 2012, at 984,545. The figures showed 20,298 cars were made for the home market this year, up 21.1%, while 70,984 were for export, up 14.8%. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: "The past 12-months has been one of the most productive since late 2008." Samuel Tombs, of consultancy Capital Economics, said the CBI figures showed the manufacturing sector "continuing to go from strength to strength".

Range Rover Evoque Convertible NOT going in to production. Thankfully.

It seems Land Rover is having second thoughts about making the Range Rover Evoque Convertible – shown at Geneva 2012 – in to a production model. But the one model we really couldn’t find a lot of positives in was the Range Rover Evoque Convertible – which arrived as a concept at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show – looking like the ultimate statement of Chav central for Tango’d ‘Ladies’ who lunch, from Brentwood via Surrey and up to Cheshire. We understood Land Rover’s impetus – they thought there’d be a market for a drop-top Evoque – but it really was a step too far for Land Rover to go.

McLaren MP4-12C Spider (2012) first teaser photo

McLaren today issued this first teaser photograph of the second model in its fledgling road-car line-up: the new McLaren MP4-12C Spider. No prizes for spotting it's a convertible version of the existing MP4-12C coupe. Expect it in showrooms later in 2012, priced to compete with the £198,936 Ferrari 458 Spider.