BMW X1 built...by kids

A clan of 800 extremely enthusiastic children aged between 5 and 13 took four days to build this BMW X1 from mostly yellow LEGO bricks. Danish company, LEGO has been giving joy to children from around the world for 50 years. The model was built to scale of 1:1 which means it measures 4.5 metres long, 1.8m wide and 1.5m high.

BMW started the artwork to raise funds for socially disadvantaged children. For every built-up LEGO block, the company will donate money to the Children's World "Die Arche" in Munich. Rumour has it that a total of about 165,000 LEGO bricks were used.

The car will be on exhibition at the BMW Welt ("BMW World" in German) building in Munich from 25th November.

2012 Mazda MX-5/Miata to be smaller & lighter

The next Mazda MX-5 will be smaller and lighter than the current car in an attempt to duplicate the spirit of the original, according to Mazda insiders.


Mazda’s R&D team is working on making the new car as light and compact as the original MX-5/Miata, which was launched 20 years ago. A Mazda source described the current car as “just too heavy”; with a 2.0 litre petrol engine, its kerb weight is 1,098kg, compared with the original’s 970kg. So engineers are targeting a kerb weight of 1,000kg, same as the current Mazda2. That would give the new car a figure similar to that of the recent 980kg MX-5 Superlight concept, the first of a series of design studies that will define the direction Mazda will take with the new car.

Much of this weight loss will be achieved through a smaller and lighter engine, likely to copy the original’s 1.6 litre capacity. “We are testing both 1.6 and 1.8 litre engines, which undercut our current 2.0 litre unit but deliver the same 160-170bhp power range,” said our source.

The dimensions of the car’s platform and wheelbase will stay much the same but Mazda is known to be looking at reducing the front and rear overhangs.

Lightweight construction techniques will also be used. Mazda is experimenting with using new steel construction methods that enable less metal to be used in its bodyshells. Mazda is also employing the chief engineer of the first MX-5, Takao Kijima, as a special advisor for the new car.

The new MX-5 is due to be unveiled in 2011, possibly at the Tokyo motorshow. Sources suggest that the price could come down, too, to reflect the new MX-5’s more simple appeal.

Volkswagen launches new Passat edition (UK)

Volkswagen has introduced a better-equipped Highline Plus version of the Passat.

The Highline Plus spec is based upon the Highline model and the new car can be identified by the chrome grille surround. Inside Bluetooth connectivity and VW’s new RNS 310 satellite navigation system, featuring a 5 inch colour touch-screen. This new system will soon be available as an option on other Passat models, priced at £795.

The Highline Plus will be available with most Passat engines, from the 1.8 litre TSI 160 to 2.0 litre TSI 170, with or without Bluemotion. The Highline Plus offers all the features of the standard Passat Highline, like ABS, ESP, six airbags, 17 inch alloy wheels, semi-automatic climate control, cruise control and leather upholstery.

The Highline Plus carries a £750 premium over the standard Highline; prices start at £20,515 for the 2.0 litre TDI 110 PS.

The Highline Plus is available to order now, ready for deliveries in January 2010.

Tata could sell Nano rights

Tata Motors is set to allow other firms to build and sell its Nano under their own brand, according to its vice chairman, Ravi Kant.

He said at an awards ceremony in India that Tata was considering letting other firms build up to 10,000 Nano’s a year at their own production facilities. He said the manufacture wouldn't have to sell it under the Tata brand and they could sell it under their own name as part of the agreement. "We call it Nano, they don't have to," said Kant.

The Tata Nano is the world's cheapest car and it went on sale in India in July with specific variants for other markets set to follow within the next three years. Tata is currently building a new assembly plant, which will allow it to produce up to 250,000 Nano’s per year. It is currently assembled at one of the firm's existing plants.

Toyota Prius III to be launched in India (IN)

Toyota has confirmed that it will launch the new Prius III sedan in India, during Spring 2010 after it is unveiled at the Delhi Auto Expo in January. Toyota is not expecting the Prius III to be sold in large volumes, but instead wants to use its world-renowned hybrid as a showcase for its hybrid technology.

The price for the Toyota Prius is not yet decided, however, internal sources suggest the hybrid could end up costing more than £25k/$40k. The hybrid, which starts at just over $20,000 in Japan, will cost nearly double that in India because of the high 105% import duty the hybrid, which is a completely built up (CBU) unit, will attract.

Toyota is hoping that the Indian Government will give special concessions to eco-friendly vehicles so it can price the Prius cheaply.

Eco labels launched for used cars (UK)

First used on brand-new cars and now launched on used cars. A new 'green' labelling system for used cars has been launched with the support of over 2,000 dealers. The colour-coded system is similar to the one already applied to new cars, with the labels making it easy for buyers to tell how economical the car is.

The label gives details of a car's make and model, as well as:

• The car's CO2 emissions in grams per kilometre

• The official mpg figure

• The estimated fuel cost based on 12,000 miles driving

More economical cars are distinguished with green labels while cars with high fuel consumption and CO2 emissions get red labels.

Dealers that sign up for the scheme can choose whether to label cars up to two years old or whether to label cars that have been registered since 2001, when the modern scheme of CO2 banding was first introduced.

However, 94% of participating dealers have opted to label old cars, too. Minister for Transport, Sadiq Khan MP, said: 'I hope as many dealers as possible will participate and I encourage used car buyers to look for the label when they consider what to buy.'

From its launch over 2,000 garages have signed up to the scheme including franchised dealers, independent garages and car supermarkets. Over 200 Ford Direct centres are using the label, however, Ford plans that all 350 members of its franchised network to sign up as soon as possible.

Previous tax band table shown above

RHD Polos have higher CO2 emissions than LHD Polos (UK)

Right-hand-drive Volkswagen Polo diesels will have slightly poorer fuel economy and higher CO2 emissions than the left-hand-drive models sold in Mainland Europe.

This is because the oxidation catalyst and diesel particulate filter in the exhaust system have been moved to allow the controls to be switched to the right side of the car. The switch means that the 1.2 litre Polo Bluemotion, which has the lowest CO2 figure of any diesel car on sale in Europe at 87g/km, can't make the same claim in the UK.

The Polo's emissions in the UK are 90g/km, while fuel economy dips from 85.6mpg to 83.1mpg. The two 1.6 litre Polo diesels (74bhp and 89bhp) are also 3g/km worse off in right-hand-drive form, while the official fuel consumption figure falls from 67.3mpg to 65.7mpg. The Polo CO2 emissions in the UK are 112g/km, compared to 109g/km for Mainland Europe.

The good news is that both road tax and company car tax are unaffected by the right-hand-drive car's drop in efficiency – it's not significant enough to move the Polos up a tax band.

Other VWs are not affected by the transformation from left to right-hand drive because there is more bonnet space under the hood to re-route the controls.