Sat S Cpe 2002 Antenna 459541 on 2040-parts.com

MINI: Meet the MINI Family Video

MINI sends us a 2011 family video Many moan that MINI has become a parody under BMW, but the truth is that it’s just become an enormous success with BMW doing what BL tried to do a generation ago – and failed. BL failed to grow and develop the Mini beyond the 1960s, although it had success in the ’60s with badge-engineered Minis (Riley Elf, Wolsely Hornet), Mini Coopers and Countrymans, and even a grown-up Mini – the Austin/Morris 1100. So BMW are really only carrying on what BL did in the ’60s, just in spades.

Auctioned Chevy Trax provides Man Utd charity boost

A CHEVROLET Trax that had been autographed by the 2012/13 Premier League-winning Manchester United team has helped raise more than £17,500 for charity. The car, bearing signatures from players including Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand, sold via an eBay auction for £14,301 as part of a wider auction of Manchester United memorabilia donated by Chevrolet. The money will go to the Manchester United Foundation to support its Ability Counts football programme, which offers disabled people the opportunity to play or coach with Manchester United and has more than 150 players aged from eight to 40 years old.

Nissan’s EV onslaught continues with Townpod

Nissan’s Townpod will be the company’s third electric vehicle (a battery-powered version of the NV200 commercial vehicle will slot in after the Leaf) and is slated for a late 2012 arrival in the UK. Looking remarkably like a character from Pixar’s Cars film, the Townpod takes the lithium-ion battery-powered drivetrain of the Leaf and cloaks it in urban friendly sheetmetal. The long wheelbase and zero overhangs results in a huge cabin, accessed by some trick doors – rear-hinged rear doors and a vertically split rear door.