Mini E Racer (2010) takes on the Nurburgring,car,car information,about car information,about car,

Mini E Racer (2010) takes on the Nurburgring

By Chris Chilton

First official pictures

14 April 2010 11:57

In these days of 7min laps, rounding the Nurburgring in 10min hardly classes as electric. Unless you’re in a Mini E. A battery-powered baby BMW driven by ex-DTM racer Thomas Jäger turned in a 9m52 lap, hitting a heady – but presumably near silent – 116mph on the way. That’s its top speed of course, not a lap average.

Far from standard, the green Mini E in question featured a lighter body, a roll cage and uprated brakes, tyres and suspension. No need to rip out the back seats – there aren’t any in the Mini E because the cabin is stuffed full of the 5088 lithium ion battery cells needed to power the 201bhp electric motor.

Saab's Mini rivalling 9-2 scooped by CAR By Tim Pollard (artist's impr essions by Motor Forecast/R Varicak),car,car information,about car,latest car

Saab's Mini rivalling 9-2 scooped by CAR

By Tim Pollard (artist's impr

essions by Motor Forecast/R Varicak)

Spyshots

09 April 2010 06:00

At last month's Geneva motor show, new Saab owner, Spyker CEO Victor Muller, told CAR of his desire to build a new Saab 9-2. Today we publish two new artist's impressions revealing Saab's Mini rival and a dossier on the latest news of the 9-2 project.

Muller has shown selected journalists, including CAR's Gavin Green, his own hand-drawn sketch of the 9-2 he envisages – and these are our interpretation of those drawings. Our CGIs depict a modern take on Saab design, mixing some cues from the past but a healthy dose of modern attitude.

Suzuki Swift (2010) scooped at the Nurburgring,car,car information,about car,new car,latest car,

Suzuki Swift (2010) scooped at the Nurburgring

By Tim Pollard

Spyshots

14 April 2010 11:27

Development on the new 2010 Suzuki Swift is stepping up a gear – our spies have captured the new Swift supermini on tyre test at the Nurburgring track in Germany.

It's going to be a busy scoop spell in the next few weeks as the testing season ramps up at Europe's most challenging road circuit.