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In this instalment of John Murdoch's Drive Time, John highlights how the iconic MINI Cooper Convertible is back in production at its Oxford home for the first time since 2015, and reports that Spanish brand Cupra will launch their handsome new Terramar Sports SUV in the UK in the next few weeks. For the first time since 2015 the MINI Cooper Convertible is being built at the company’s factory in Oxford. The model joins the MINI Cooper 3-Door and MINI Cooper 5-Door, making MINI Plant Oxford the home of the MINI Cooper family. Announced in October, the fourth generation MINI Cooper Convertible includes a revised exterior design, sustainable interior materials, and innovative in-car technology. Stefan Richmann, head of MINI, said: "We are thrilled about the start of production of the MINI Convertible, which is now being produced again at the Oxford plant, the home of MINI. "Unique in its class, the MINI Convertible offers unparalleled, brand-typical driving fun, combined with boundless freedom and great emotions. "The iconic design combined with modern technology and connectivity makes this vehicle an unmatched open-air experience for our customers." A celebration of British production, all three UK BMW Group manufacturing sites contribute to the MINI Cooper Convertible. BMW Group Plant Swindon produces the body pressings and sub-assemblies while the latest four-cylinder petrol engines are built at BMW Group Plant Hams Hall in North Warwickshire. Finally, these parts come together at MINI Plant Oxford where body shell production, paint and final assembly take place. Markus Grüneisl, head of Plants Oxford and Swindon, said: “We are delighted with the launch of the new MINI Cooper Convertible at our Plants in Oxford and Swindon. "It’s an amazing achievement for our team to launch three new models at our Oxford Plant this year, and I am proud of our exceptional workforce. "We’re delighted to welcome the MINI Cooper Convertible back home to Oxford, the home of MINI.” Following the relaunch of the MINI brand in 2001, the first MINI Convertible was unveiled in 2004 and has remained an icon of the MINI family ever since with more than 100,000 sold in the UK to date. With 160,000 built at MINI Plant Oxford from 2004 to 2008, the first-generation MINI Convertible was known for its retro styling and iconic chrome roll-over arches behind the rear seats. The second generation, unveiled in 2009 with 165,000 built at MINI Plant Oxford until 2015, kept the iconic drop-down hinged boot but gained the evolved styling of the Cooper from that era. Production of the model was briefly moved to VDL Nedcar for the third generation, making room for the MINI Clubman at MINI Plant Oxford. More than 150,000 Convertible models were produced at Nedcar until production stopped in 2023, before production returned to MINI Plant Oxford. The new MINI Cooper Convertible is offered with a choice of two petrol engines, offering 163hp or 204hp respectively, and is priced from £26,200. In other motoring developments, the new Terramar sports SUV from Spanish brand Cupra will be priced from £37,605 when it arrives in the next few weeks. With a 12 model line up - including an America’s Cup limited edition - the range will top out from £51,790 for a First Edition plug-in hybrid version. Other engines include a 1.5 150ps eTSI DSG, a 1.5 204ps e- HYBRID as well as the 1.5 272ps e-HYBRID engine which has an all-electric range of around 70 miles. The Terramar will be available in V1, V2, VZ1 and VZ2 trims in addition to the First Edition and America’s Cup Special Edition models. A number of additional options can be added including upgraded copper alloys on VZ trims, a space saver spare wheel, Akebono performance brakes, panoramic sunroof, and a Sennheiser sound system. The 150ps powertrain gives the Terramar a 0 to 62mph time of 9.2 seconds while the 204ps set up is a second quicker. The Terramar VZ2 2.0 TSI DSG-auto 4Drive 265ps and the America’s Cup Edition model are the quickest with an acceleration time of 5.9 seconds to 62mph while the 272ps models are rated at 7.3 seconds. Prices for the America’s Cup models - of which only around 1300 will be produced - start from £50,850. They are available in an exclusive matt grey paint finish with 20-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, as well as an America’s Cup logo lasered logo on the door pillars. *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here . And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here .
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General Motors is set to revolutionize Formula One by introducing its Cadillac brand in the 2026 season, following an agreement with Liberty Media's sport. This ambitious move positions GM as the 11th team and a power unit manufacturer, joining the league of top engine producers like Audi and Ferrari. Partnering with TWG Global, GM brings the legendary Mario Andretti, the last U.S. world champion, aboard as the team's board director. This partnership, according to Andretti, reinvigorates his deep-rooted passion for Formula One. Amid past rejections, the renewed application, encouraged by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, signifies potential growth and U.S. interest in Formula One. GM's strategic entry, despite requiring a hefty anti-dilution fee and engine procurement, is set to showcase its engineering prowess on a global stage. (With inputs from agencies.)
Supreme Court to consider whether Catholic group is exempt from religious taxes
‘Strike while the iron is hot’: Cameo CEO reacts to new big-name account – Matt GaetzSAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks activated center Nico Sturm off injured reserve Monday and made room for him on the 23-man roster by assigning defenseman Jack Thompson to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda. The transactions mean that the Sharks currently have 14 forwards, six defensemen, and three goalies: Mackenzie Blackwood, Vitek Vanecek, and rookie Yaroslav Askarov. Sturm’s return to the Sharks’ active roster was believed to be imminent after he showed signs of improvement last week and practiced with the team on Sunday. He also took part in the Sharks’ morning skate on Monday, when he was officially considered a game-time decision by coach Ryan Warsofsky. The Sharks play the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night in the second game of a four-game homestand. Warsofsky did not say who his starting goalie would be. Warsofsky said he had a few players who were “nicked up” and considered game-time decisions, although it would be a surprise not to see Sturm, a mainstay as the Sharks’ fourth-line center, play against the Kings. Sturm, injured in the Sharks’ game earlier this month against the New York Rangers, is the Sharks’ faceoff leader by percentage and is one of the team’s leading penalty-killing forwards. Thompson has been on the Sharks’ roster for almost the entire season and played in 13 of the team’s 23 games. His five points are third-most among all Sharks defensemen, as he’s averaged just under 16 minutes of ice time per game. The Sharks have had three goalies on their roster since Nov. 18, when they recalled Askarov from the Barracuda. At the time, Vanecek was considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury, but Vanecek backed up Blackwood on Saturday in the Sharks’ 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Askarov made his Sharks debut on Thursday, making 29 saves in a 3-2 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues. It’s unclear how long the Sharks plan to keep three goalies on their active roster. Both Blackwood and Vanecek are pending unrestricted free agents, and speculation is that one could be dealt to another team before the NHL trade deadline on March 7. Kevin Weekes of ESPN and the NHL Network posted on the social media platform X on Monday that the Carolina Hurricanes “are exploring potential goalie options in the market.” Frederik Andersen is out eight to 12 weeks after knee surgery, and Pyotr Kochetkov left Saturday’s game at Columbus after colliding with defenseman Sean Walker. Kochetkov is now in concussion protocol.
UnitedHealthcare CEO's shooting opens a door for many to vent frustrations over insurance
Stock market today: Wall Street gets back to climbing, and the Nasdaq tops 20,000