Geneva '08 Preview Magna Steyr MILA Alpin concept

Three years ago, Magna Steyr debut what it called the Mila concept car -- Magna Innovation Lightweight Auto. Conceived as a pure driver's car, it was an environmentally-conscious single-seater that ran on natural gas up to 120 mph. Last year around this team, Magna followed up the Mila CNG with the Mila Future, a further evolution of the concept that bore two seats, completely covered wheels and an impossibly complicated folding hard top.

For the next evolution of the MILA, Magna apparently thought that no one was serving the mountain climbing concept car market and stepped up to the challenge. The Mila Alpin is a chunky little off-road number that can climb 45-degree angles, runs on CNG, has 3+1 seating and what looks to be a seriously small turning radius. We hope the Magna stand in Geneva has a model Matterhorn so we can try it out.

© Source: autoblog
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MINI Confirms Ute; Magna To Build

Back in 2001 it was a matter of pride for BMW that it was building the all-new MINI in the U.K., home of the original city car that was launched in August 1959. Using the former British Leyland plant at Cowley, Oxford, gave the car credibility even though it was a German project. But that was before the cute car became a global sales phenomenon, spawning a cabriolet and now the Clubman estate.

The next stage, as widely predicted, is a MINI Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV), and there's simply not room at Cowley to build it. The answer has come in the form of Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria.

"The vehicle concept has been entrusted to Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik for series development and for later production," said a BMW statement. "The co-operation with Magna Steyr is an efficient way for BMW Group to ensure the planned profitable growth through new model launches set out in the company's strategic alignment."

There's no official details on the car yet, nor when it will appear in showrooms. The smart money could be on a debut in August 2009, exactly 50 years after the launch of the original version and surely an anniversary BMW will want to celebrate somehow.

No concept version has been seen yet, but insiders say many of the features that appeared on the various Traveller prototypes that previewed the Clubman do provide clues. These include fold-down exterior storage panels and integrated roof bars.

BMW says the move means Cowley can use its annual production capacity of 260,000 units to meet demand for the three core models. But in reality outsourcing is the only way of extending the family. Magna Steyr has worked with BMW before, producing the X3 compact SUV.

© Source: thecarconnection
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