2019 Mini Cooper 3-DoorPeter Bleakney / Driving For many years, small hatchbacks have been characterized by their fun-to-drive nature, and most will agree nothing is more fun to drive than a car with a manual transmission.Mini agrees, and so its bringing back its manual transmission option for most of its vehicles after a brief hiatus.Starting early February 2020, customers will be able to resume ordering (two- and four-door) Mini hardtop and convertible models equipped with manual transmissions from March 2020 production, spokesperson Andrew Cutler told Car and Driver.With take rates for manual transmission vehicles landing in the lower echelons, Mini actually manages to garner more attention from purists than other brands. According to Mini, the Cooper Hardtop S has a manual transmission take rate of 45 per cent, which is astounding in this day and age. There is a segment of the customer base that prefers driving with a manual transmission, so we do want to maintain that for the component of our customers who expect that, said Cutler. We are going to continue to ensure that weve got manuals when and where possible.The reason for the hiatus in North America was an update to the fuel-delivery system, which enhanced efficiency. The testing that occurred left the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and the eight-speed automatic as the only options.Unfortunately, the transmission will not be returning to every model. Those left out will be models with all-wheel-drive and the John Cooper Works editions, which require a more stout transmission to handle their added
Origin: Mini is bringing back its manual transmissions
bringing
Mitsubishi might be bringing back the Lancer Evolution: report
2015 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Final Edition Back in 2015, we bid farewell to the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. The brand had released the Final Edition, sending a pretty clear signal we were at the end of an era. But a lot can change in four years. According to Autocar, Mitsubishi has plans to bring the Lancer Evolution back and reintroduce an eleventh-gen model into its line of performance cars. Autocar’s anonymous “Japanese-based sources” say the car will arrive in the styles of either a four-door saloon or a five-door hatch. The publication goes on to suggest the future Lancer Evolution will borrow mechanics from the Renault Mégane RS, including its 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo, dual-clutch gearbox and the S-AWC four-wheel drive setup, developed by Mitsubishi and used in the Evo X. In the top-end Mégane RS, that engine develops 296 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque, but there’s a chance Mitsubishi will boost power to around 350 horsepower by adding a hybrid system. Some Mitsubishi fans were not at all pleased when the brand resurrected the “Eclipse” nameplate on a crossover, giving birth to the Eclipse Cross. And while it seems the Evo has escaped this fate for now, it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see Mitsubishi stretch a version of the Evo XI to plop into the compact crossover segment. Official details to follow shortly, we hope.
Origin: Mitsubishi might be bringing back the Lancer Evolution: report
Audi’s bringing back its rear-wheel-drive R8 V10 for good
Dynamic photo, Colour: Florett Silver Audi is adding a rear-wheel-drive version of its venerable R8 supercar to its permanent lineup, and this time, you wont need to be on a waiting list to see if you get the privilege of owning one.Rear-wheel-drive in Audi R8s has been available only on special edition models up to this point, but now your regular Jolene (assuming theyve a fair chunk of change in their pocket) can own a more hair-raising version of the supercar, too.You still get a V10 with 532 horsepower and 398 lb.-ft. of torque, with the sonorous soundtrack coming frombehind your head; difference is the vehicle is 65 kilograms (143 pounds) lighter thanks to the omission of all the quattro parts. Down 30 horsepower and 15 lb.-ft. from the AWD model, the RWD version matches the special-edition RWS. To tell the RWD from the AWD, all you have to do is look at the distinctive side blades. The AWD versions will be painted all-black, while the RWD version sees blades body-coloured on the bottom with a black upper portion. As well as being distinctive, it also gives the car a much more cohesive look.Both coupe and spyder versions will be available, and since theyre missing the front-wheel-drive parts, theyre both cheaper than the standard R8. Only European pricing has been unveiled, but there it starts at 144,000 for the Coupe; and 157,000 for the Spyder, both representing a 22,000 discount from the AWD
Origin: Audi’s bringing back its rear-wheel-drive R8 V10 for good
Mercedes-Benz is bringing out an A250e plug-in hybrid hatchback
Mercedes-Benz is planning to add another product to its growing collection of EQ plug-in hybrids. Word is the fourth-generation A-class will get a PHEV hatchback variant dubbed the A250e. The gas-electric four-door will still run the same 1.3-litre turbocharged engine as the A200, good for 158 horsepower and 148 lb.-ft. of torque.The electric portion of the power comes from a motor mounted on the gearbox producing 101 horsepower and 221 lb.-ft. of torque. Those drivetrains in combination, says Benz, will lead to similar performance stats as the gas-powered A250. It’s expected Benz will use the same eight-speed automatic recently introduced in models like the new GLB, only tuned to handle the extra electric torque. Powering the electric motor is a 15-kWh lithium-ion battery with the capacity to deliver 60 km of pure electric driving and a top electric speed of 140 km/h. That battery sits beneath the rear seat, next to the hybrid’s fuel tank, which is 10 litres smaller than that of the standard A250. DC charging should be supported at a max rate of 22 kW, but we’ll have to wait until September for confirmation on that. The A250e is scheduled to be revealed in full at the Frankfurt auto
Origin: Mercedes-Benz is bringing out an A250e plug-in hybrid hatchback
China’s Wey bringing premium SUV range to Europe this year
Chinese premium brand Wey will launch into Europe at this September’s Frankfurt motor show, with a range of SUVs designed to rival the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The SUV marque, owned by leading Chinese firm Great Wall, was established just over two years ago. It has already sold more than 250,000 cars in its home country. Wey’s entry into Europe will be one of the most intriguing yet for a Chinese car maker given that it was set up with the express intention of global exports and is trying to position itself as a maker of quality and desirable SUV models. “Yes, we do have a global strategy,” said sales and marketing boss Liu Yan. “It’s too early to say today but we will launch in September at the Frankfurt show. We’re already doing preparation for products and the business model. Our founder Wei Jianjun says to be a successful brand you need to be a global brand.” Wey launched its new VV5 SUV at the Shanghai motor show, and that model will spawn an all-electric version in 2020 that’s understood to be key to Wey’s plans in Europe. Plug-in hybrid versions of its VV6 and VV7 SUVs are also set to be launched. The brand’s models cost from £14,800 to £30,800 on the Chinese market. Wey has so far only launched SUVs but has not ruled out other bodystyles in the
Origin: China’s Wey bringing premium SUV range to Europe this year
All about car 