Posts Tagged ‘automotive’
Becoming Too Common At World Automotive
Spy photos of the upcoming, 2-seat MINI Cooper Coupe have been leaked onto the internet…by MINI!
In a trend that is becoming far too common in the automotive world of late, the BMW-owned brand has released photos showing the car undergoing testing, partially obscured by a camouflage wrap.
First revealed as a show car at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, it’s clear from the photos that the production Coupe remains faithful to the concept’s “helmet roof” design and three-box silhouette, despite the fact that it is a hatchback. It will also be the only model in the company’s line-up available only as a 2-seater, although it is built on the same platform and shares an identical wheelbase with the standard MINI Cooper Hardtop.
While it will be a few more months before the car is revealed in all of its glory at this September’s Frankfurt Motor Show, along with the photos MINI has revealed the major mechanical specifications of the Coupe, which largely mirror those of the other small cars in the company’s lineup. Three versions will be available: Cooper Coupe, Cooper S Coupe and John Cooper Works Coupe, featuring 1.6-liter normally aspirated and turbocharged four-cylinder engines with outputs of 121 hp, 181 hp and 208 hp respectively. Six-speed manual transmissions are standard, while six-speed automatics will be optional on the Coupe and S Coupe.
Pricing and fuel economy information has not been released, but both numbers will likely be a little higher than those of the Hardtop, which starts at $20,100 and gets 37 mph highway.
The BMW Group achieved the best quarter in history
BMW Group has had a great start in the new financial year. We generated record earnings and sold more cars than ever in the first quarter.
The strong growth in sales volume and the strict implementation of the Strategy Group’s Number ONE was key factors behind our successful performance, Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of BMW AG, on Wednesday in Munich.
The brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce achieved new record sales volume in the first three months of the year. Other factors that contributed to the large increase in profits in the automotive segment, including a combination of the high-value sales, improved efficiency and attractive sales prices. The first-quarter earnings increased 34.7% with an amount of EUR 14.373 million (2010: 10.672 million Euros).
The EBIT increased to Euro 1.708 million (2010: 291 million Euros) and achieved an EBIT margin of 11.9% in the premium car segment. Earnings before taxes rose to EUR 1.605 million (2010: 220 million Euros). Free cash flow in the automobile segment increased to 1.624 million Euros (2010: negative cash flow of 306 million Euros).