Staff at the feline...
Staff at the feline firm"s factory in Castle Bromwich, Birmingham, are seen here celebrating the arrival of the very first new XK off the production line. Workers watched as the silver XK Coupé was handed over to the Jaguar Heritage Trust, which will keep it in a collection that includes the first and last E-Types, too.
It turns out that new...
It turns out that new chief Carlos Ghosn was less than pleased when he viewed the rather bland pre-production Twingo II - which this week"s mag has sensationally scooped thanks to colleagues in France. And with none of the flair of the Zoé concept-influenced car we revealed in issue 885, an unhappy Ghosn has ordered a redesign before the model makes an appearance in showrooms in 2007.
While the basic silhouette - with its large glass areas and tall roofline - is likely to remain unchanged, curvier panels will give the Twingo II a much more cheeky look, and the front and rear ends will be completely restyled.
Expect the Zoé-type headlights to become more prominent, along with a bold grille which integrates a large Renault badge. At the back, the design will be completed by larger, brighter tail-lights. Meanwhile, few changes will be made in the cabin. As we also reported back in Issue 885, the French manufacturer is still trying to investigate ways of making the Twingo II more profitable. Keeping costs low is vital - stiff competition from the Citroen C1, Peugeot 107 and Toyota Aygo joint venture means that the newcomer must start at around ÷£7,500.
But although the Twingo II will be a budget car, it is expected to be packed full of equipment, including an MP3-compatible stereo. Under the skin, it will use a modified platform from the new Clio, and there will be a choice of three petrol engines. Buyers can opt for 60bhp, 75bhp or new 100bhp 1.2-litre units - the last of these a turbo - as well as a 70bhp 1.5-litre diesel.