99 g/km diesel Audi A1

Audi has reduced the CO2 emissions from its A1 1.6 TDI to 99 g/km, thanks to the fitment of stop-start and energy regeneration systems.



That’s an improvement of 6 g/km, which might not sound a lot but it’s significant for UK buyers. It means the A1 will now qualify for zero-rated Band A Vehicle Excise Duty, and makes it eligible for a 100% discount on the London Congestion Charge.



Economy has been similarly improved too, with the combined cycle figure rising from 70.6 mpg (4.0 l/100km) to 74.3 mpg (3.8 l/100km). So, probably quite deliberately, the Audi now exactly matches the Mini Cooper D for fuel consumption and emissions.



It remains slightly slower though, with a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) acceleration time of 10.5 seconds and a top speed of 118 mph (189 km/h). By comparison, the Mini gets from rest to 62 mph in 9.7 seconds and can reach 122 mph (196 km/h).

UK on the road prices for the A1 1.6 TDI have been confirmed at £14,480 for the SE, £16,320 for the Sport and £17,865 for the S line.



And yes, they’re very much in the same ballpark as the Mini Cooper D, which costs £16,060.



However, one potential sales casualty of the revamped A1 could be the Polo BlueMotion 1.2 TDI from sister brand Volkswagen.



With only 73 bhp (55 kW / 75PS) compared to the Audi’s 103 bhp (77 kW / 105 PS), the Polo achieves a marginally better 80.7 mpg (3.5 l/100km) and produces 91 g/km of CO2. It’s a slower car though and, in three-door form, a price tag of £14,860 makes it actually more expensive than the SE spec A1.



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99 g/km diesel Audi A1

Audi has reduced the CO2 emissions from its A1 1.6 TDI to 99 g/km, thanks to the fitment of stop-start and energy regeneration systems.



That’s an improvement of 6 g/km, which might not sound a lot but it’s significant for UK buyers. It means the A1 will now qualify for zero-rated Band A Vehicle Excise Duty, and makes it eligible for a 100% discount on the London Congestion Charge.



Economy has been similarly improved too, with the combined cycle figure rising from 70.6 mpg (4.0 l/100km) to 74.3 mpg (3.8 l/100km). So, probably quite deliberately, the Audi now exactly matches the Mini Cooper D for fuel consumption and emissions.



It remains slightly slower though, with a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) acceleration time of 10.5 seconds and a top speed of 118 mph (189 km/h). By comparison, the Mini gets from rest to 62 mph in 9.7 seconds and can reach 122 mph (196 km/h).

UK on the road prices for the A1 1.6 TDI have been confirmed at £14,480 for the SE, £16,320 for the Sport and £17,865 for the S line.



And yes, they’re very much in the same ballpark as the Mini Cooper D, which costs £16,060.



However, one potential sales casualty of the revamped A1 could be the Polo BlueMotion 1.2 TDI from sister brand Volkswagen.



With only 73 bhp (55 kW / 75PS) compared to the Audi’s 103 bhp (77 kW / 105 PS), the Polo achieves a marginally better 80.7 mpg (3.5 l/100km) and produces 91 g/km of CO2. It’s a slower car though and, in three-door form, a price tag of £14,860 makes it actually more expensive than the SE spec A1.



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Mini Coupé undisguised

Technical specs for the forthcoming Mini Coupé were released earlier this month, along with some images of a still-camouflaged car.



But now the disguise has been lifted, plus a launch date and prices have been set.

Mini John Cooper Works Coupé. Scroll down for more images.

Sales are due to start on 1st October 2011 and, as expected, the less practical Coupé models are going to be more expensive than their Hatch equivalents:

UK Prices - Mini Coupé vs. Hatch
Version	Hatch	Coupé	Difference
Cooper	£14,780	£16,640	£1,860
Cooper S	£18,105	£19,775	£1,670
Cooper SD	£18,750	£20,510	£1,760
John Cooper Works	£22,330	£23,795	£1,465

All variants will come as standard with park distance control, DAB digital radio and air conditioning, as well as a rear spoiler that rises automatically at 50 mph (80 km/h) and then retracts at 37 mph (60 km/h).

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Mini Coupé undisguised

Technical specs for the forthcoming Mini Coupé were released earlier this month, along with some images of a still-camouflaged car.



But now the disguise has been lifted, plus a launch date and prices have been set.

Mini John Cooper Works Coupé. Scroll down for more images.

Sales are due to start on 1st October 2011 and, as expected, the less practical Coupé models are going to be more expensive than their Hatch equivalents:

UK Prices - Mini Coupé vs. Hatch
Version	Hatch	Coupé	Difference
Cooper	£14,780	£16,640	£1,860
Cooper S	£18,105	£19,775	£1,670
Cooper SD	£18,750	£20,510	£1,760
John Cooper Works	£22,330	£23,795	£1,465

All variants will come as standard with park distance control, DAB digital radio and air conditioning, as well as a rear spoiler that rises automatically at 50 mph (80 km/h) and then retracts at 37 mph (60 km/h).

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Mini Coupé revealed

Mini has released the first details of its new Coupé, including some technical specs and images of a still half-camouflaged car.

Mini Coupé Prototype. Scroll down for more images.

A two-seater, the Mini Coupé has roughly the same wheelbase, width and overall length as the existing Mini Hatch, but its distinctive three-box body sits 29 millimetres lower for a suitably sporty stance.



Of course, being a Mini, one of its strengths is going to have to be handling. To ensure it measures up, extra body stiffening has been added to give a more stable platform for the suspension to work with. Unsurprisingly, DSC stability control comes as standard across the range.



Four variants will be available, all of which carry the Cooper name. Every one comes with a range of fuel-saving technologies including automatic stop / start, brake energy regeneration, electric power steering, gear shift indicator and intelligent ancillaries.



There’s no entry-level ‘One’ specification for the Mini Coupé, at least not for now.

Mini Cooper Coupé
Engine	Four-cylinder petrol with Valvetronic variable valve management
Displacement	1,598 cc
Power	120 bhp (90 kW / 122 PS) at 6,000 rpm
Torque	160 Nm (118 lb/ft) at 4,250 rpm
Transmission	Six-speed manual (six-speed automatic with Steptronic optional)
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	9.0 seconds
Top speed	127 mph (204 km/h)
Average fuel consumption	52.3 mpg (5.4 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	127 g/km
Dimensions	Wheelbase 2,467 mm; length 3,728 mm; width 1,683 mm; height 1,378 mm
Wheels	15” alloy
Brakes	Front 280 mm vented discs / rear 259 mm discs

Mini Cooper S Coupé
Engine	Four-cylinder petrol with twin-scroll turbocharger and Valvetronic variable valve management
Displacement	1,598 cc
Power	181 bhp (135 kW / 184 PS) at 5,500 rpm
Torque	240 Nm (177 lb/ft) at 1,600 - 5,000 rpm (260 Nm / 192 lb/ft with Overboost at 1,700 - 4,500 rpm)
Transmission	Six-speed manual (six-speed automatic with Steptronic optional)
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	6.9 seconds
Top speed	143 mph (230 km/h)
Average fuel consumption	48.7 mpg (5.8 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	136 g/km
Dimensions	Wheelbase 2,467 mm; length 3,734 mm; width 1,683 mm; height 1,384 mm
Wheels	16” alloy
Brakes	Front 294 mm vented discs / rear 259 mm discs

Mini Cooper SD Coupé
Engine	Four-cylinder common-rail injection turbodiesel with variable turbine technology
Displacement	1,995 cc
Power	141 bhp (105 kW / 143 PS) at 4,000 rpm
Torque	305 Nm (225 lb/ft) at 1,750 - 2,700 rpm
Transmission	Six-speed manual (six-speed automatic with Steptronic optional)
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	7.9 seconds
Top speed	134 mph (216 km/h)
Average fuel consumption	65.7 mpg (4.3 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	114 g/km
Dimensions	Wheelbase 2,467 mm; length 3,728 mm; width 1,683 mm; height 1,378 mm
Wheels	16” alloy
Brakes	Front 294 mm vented discs / rear 259 mm discs

Mini John Cooper Works Coupé
Engine	Four-cylinder petrol with twin-scroll turbocharger and Valvetronic variable valve management
Displacement	1,598 cc
Power	208 bhp (155 kW / 211 PS) at 6,000 rpm
Torque	260 Nm (192 lb/ft) at 1,850 - 5,600 rpm (280 Nm / 207 lb/ft with Overboost at 1,700 - 4,500 rpm)
Transmission	Six-speed manual
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	6.4 seconds
Top speed	149 mph (240 km/h)
Average fuel consumption	39.8 mpg (7.1 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	165 g/km
Dimensions	Wheelbase 2,467 mm; length 3,734 mm; width 1,683 mm; height 1,384 mm
Wheels	17” ‘Challenge’ alloy with run-flat tyres
Brakes	Front 316 mm vented discs / rear 280 mm discs

The big question is whether buyers will go for a model that is less practical (and possibly more expensive) than the Hatch, or is the Mini Coupé a niche too far? Only time will tell, but it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to bet against queues of customers forming at Mini dealers.



Prices and market launch dates have yet to be confirmed.

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Mini Coupé revealed

Mini has released the first details of its new Coupé, including some technical specs and images of a still half-camouflaged car.

Mini Coupé Prototype. Scroll down for more images.

A two-seater, the Mini Coupé has roughly the same wheelbase, width and overall length as the existing Mini Hatch, but its distinctive three-box body sits 29 millimetres lower for a suitably sporty stance.



Of course, being a Mini, one of its strengths is going to have to be handling. To ensure it measures up, extra body stiffening has been added to give a more stable platform for the suspension to work with. Unsurprisingly, DSC stability control comes as standard across the range.



Four variants will be available, all of which carry the Cooper name. Every one comes with a range of fuel-saving technologies including automatic stop / start, brake energy regeneration, electric power steering, gear shift indicator and intelligent ancillaries.



There’s no entry-level ‘One’ specification for the Mini Coupé, at least not for now.

Mini Cooper Coupé
Engine	Four-cylinder petrol with Valvetronic variable valve management
Displacement	1,598 cc
Power	120 bhp (90 kW / 122 PS) at 6,000 rpm
Torque	160 Nm (118 lb/ft) at 4,250 rpm
Transmission	Six-speed manual (six-speed automatic with Steptronic optional)
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	9.0 seconds
Top speed	127 mph (204 km/h)
Average fuel consumption	52.3 mpg (5.4 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	127 g/km
Dimensions	Wheelbase 2,467 mm; length 3,728 mm; width 1,683 mm; height 1,378 mm
Wheels	15” alloy
Brakes	Front 280 mm vented discs / rear 259 mm discs

Mini Cooper S Coupé
Engine	Four-cylinder petrol with twin-scroll turbocharger and Valvetronic variable valve management
Displacement	1,598 cc
Power	181 bhp (135 kW / 184 PS) at 5,500 rpm
Torque	240 Nm (177 lb/ft) at 1,600 - 5,000 rpm (260 Nm / 192 lb/ft with Overboost at 1,700 - 4,500 rpm)
Transmission	Six-speed manual (six-speed automatic with Steptronic optional)
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	6.9 seconds
Top speed	143 mph (230 km/h)
Average fuel consumption	48.7 mpg (5.8 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	136 g/km
Dimensions	Wheelbase 2,467 mm; length 3,734 mm; width 1,683 mm; height 1,384 mm
Wheels	16” alloy
Brakes	Front 294 mm vented discs / rear 259 mm discs

Mini Cooper SD Coupé
Engine	Four-cylinder common-rail injection turbodiesel with variable turbine technology
Displacement	1,995 cc
Power	141 bhp (105 kW / 143 PS) at 4,000 rpm
Torque	305 Nm (225 lb/ft) at 1,750 - 2,700 rpm
Transmission	Six-speed manual (six-speed automatic with Steptronic optional)
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	7.9 seconds
Top speed	134 mph (216 km/h)
Average fuel consumption	65.7 mpg (4.3 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	114 g/km
Dimensions	Wheelbase 2,467 mm; length 3,728 mm; width 1,683 mm; height 1,378 mm
Wheels	16” alloy
Brakes	Front 294 mm vented discs / rear 259 mm discs

Mini John Cooper Works Coupé
Engine	Four-cylinder petrol with twin-scroll turbocharger and Valvetronic variable valve management
Displacement	1,598 cc
Power	208 bhp (155 kW / 211 PS) at 6,000 rpm
Torque	260 Nm (192 lb/ft) at 1,850 - 5,600 rpm (280 Nm / 207 lb/ft with Overboost at 1,700 - 4,500 rpm)
Transmission	Six-speed manual
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	6.4 seconds
Top speed	149 mph (240 km/h)
Average fuel consumption	39.8 mpg (7.1 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	165 g/km
Dimensions	Wheelbase 2,467 mm; length 3,734 mm; width 1,683 mm; height 1,384 mm
Wheels	17” ‘Challenge’ alloy with run-flat tyres
Brakes	Front 316 mm vented discs / rear 280 mm discs

The big question is whether buyers will go for a model that is less practical (and possibly more expensive) than the Hatch, or is the Mini Coupé a niche too far? Only time will tell, but it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to bet against queues of customers forming at Mini dealers.



Prices and market launch dates have yet to be confirmed.

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Top hairdressers’ cars

If a car becomes popular with a particular profession, it’s usually not too much of a problem. But ‘hairdresser’s car’ has become a pejorative term suggesting small, cutesy and not for anyone with a deluded sense of machismo.



So what do hairdressers actually drive? In response to that important question, UK insurance company Diamond has reviewed its database of 18,000 stylists, and the answer seems to be… anything small and cutesy.



Favourite is the Mini One, followed by the Vauxhall Tigra and Volkswagen Beetle. Completing the top five are the Ford Ka and Mini Cooper.

Hairdressers' favourite: The Mini One Hatch.

Doubtless certain owners of the Audi TT and Fiat 500 will be relieved that their cars didn’t make the list.



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If a car becomes popular with a particular profession, it’s usually not too much of a problem. But ‘hairdresser’s car’ has become a pejorative term suggesting small, cutesy and not for anyone with a deluded sense of machismo.



So what do hairdressers actually drive? In response to that important question, UK insurance company Diamond has reviewed its database of 18,000 stylists, and the answer seems to be… anything small and cutesy.



Favourite is the Mini One, followed by the Vauxhall Tigra and Volkswagen Beetle. Completing the top five are the Ford Ka and Mini Cooper.

Hairdressers' favourite: The Mini One Hatch.

Doubtless certain owners of the Audi TT and Fiat 500 will be relieved that their cars didn’t make the list.



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New Mini is a… bicycle

Mini gets mini revamp