First Evora is Delivered to Customer

Matthew Melling of Twickenham, UK received the keys of a Storm Titanium Lotus Evora from Luke Bennett, Director of Lotus Cars Limited at the Lotus Headquarters where the new mid-engined 2+2 sportscar is hand built.

Many Lotus dealers around the world have already received their demonstrators and Lotus has, so far, received orders for the next 5 months of production. Demand for Lotus’ award winning Evora has meant that 150 extra new manufacturing staff have been recruited to support assembly operations in Norfolk, UK, a very positive sign at a time when the global motor industry faces huge challenges. Full production is expected to reach the maximum rate by the end of November 2009.

Luke Bennett, Director of Lotus Cars (left) hands over the keys of the first customer Lotus Evora to Mr Matthew Melling at the Lotus Headquarters in Norfolk, UK.

Luke Bennett, Director of Lotus Cars (left) hands over the keys of the first customer Lotus Evora to Mr Matthew Melling at the Lotus Headquarters in Norfolk, UK.

Luke Bennett, Director of Lotus Cars Limited said, “It is quite an emotional time to deliver the first Lotus Evora to Mr. Melling. The whole team has worked incredibly hard to design, engineer and produce such a stunning and high performing sportscar and it is a great feeling to hand over the keys to the first customer today. The Evora has won many awards around the world already so we are not surprised that there is high demand for the car and I am sure that each customer who receives their car will be delighted with their purchase.”

Matthew Melling, a customer of Stratton Motor Company, in Norfolk said, “I was determined to be the first in the world to get my hands on an Evora so with Stratton Motor Company’s help, I laid down my deposit within seconds of the order books being opened last year. I have read all the press reviews of the Evora and am so excited about getting behind the wheel – what a great start to September!”

MINI for Kate Perry

When fashion and music come together at the Life Ball, the result will always be something fascinating and unique – the new Life Ball MINI created in Katy Perry style by American designer duo The Blonds.

MINI is supporting the Life Ball for the ninth year in succession in 2009. The 17th Life Ball – taking place on 16 May 2009 – marks the beginning of a four-year cycle, the elements water, earth, air and fire representing both metaphorically and in their artistic embodiment the fundamental symbols of life. Europe’s biggest AIDS charity event offers MINI an outstanding platform on which to underline its socio-political commitment.
P90046815
The Life Ball MINI will be offered in a prize draw for the first time in 2009.
Becoming the owner of the new Life Ball MINI has never been easier for all MINI, Life Ball and Katy Perry fans. A ticket costs 10 euros and can be purchased at all Life Ball events, from all BMW and MINI dealers in Austria, directly from the Life Ball, from the official distributor of Austria’s “class lottery” Prokopp and, of course, over the Internet. Go to www.mini.at for detailed information on the various sources. All the proceeds from the draw will go to the Life Ball and projects fighting HIV/AIDS.

The “Life Ball MINI 2009 designed by The Blonds for Katy Perry”.
MINI handed American creative double-act The Blonds the latest addition to the MINI family – a new MINI Convertible – to serve as the canvas for their inspiration. The brains behind The Blonds are Puerto Rican Phillipe and US designer David Blond. The Life Ball MINI 2009 is dedicated to their friend Katy Perry. The singer has been in the music business since 2001 and achieved her international breakthrough in May 2008 with the worldwide hit “I Kissed a Girl”. Its success was then surpassed by the follow-up single “Hot N Cold”. Katy will escort “her” MINI down the Blue Carpet at the Life Ball.

The Blonds specialise in stand-out couture oozing sex appeal and glamour. Their outfits are striking, richly decorated and complemented by knock-out accessories: sparkling, dazzling, dramatic. Stars such as Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Shakira, Madonna, Britney Spears and Dita von Teese have all worn creations by The Blonds at big occasions.

“MINI is a long-standing Life Ball Partner with an exceptionally fine understanding of how to incorporate creativity into the fulfilment of a partnership,” said Life Ball organiser Gery Keszler. “Year after year, the Life Ball MINIs created by the designers of the Life Ball Fashion Shows provide stunning evidence of this. The Life Ball MINI 2009 will be a special edition reflecting a life in the limelight; after all, international pop star Katy Perry and New York’s The Blonds – the designers of this year’s Life Ball Fashion Show – are responsible for the Life Ball MINI. The signature features of the pop princess and the cutting-edge designers are sex appeal and maximum glamour, set off by striking, richly decorated, knock-out accessories. I wish the future owner lots of fun with the Life Ball MINI.”

Mazda MX-5 Hits Showrooms

• 2009 Mazda MX-5, available in showrooms now, offers improved specification and
updated styling priced from £16,340 to £21,690 (on-the-road)
• Fuel economy improvements of up to 8 percent delivering up to 40.4mpg
• CO2 emissions reduced by up to 7 percent
• New ‘PowerShift‘ six-speed sequential paddle-shift transmission with full auto mode

The 2009 Mazda MX-5 range is now available in showrooms ready for the rush of open-top
sports car fans this Spring.  Both the soft-top and Roadster Coupe bodystyles have been
updated for 2009 to echo the design language seen on the all-new Mazda3, on sale from
May, the Mazda RX-8 R3 and the award-winning Mazda2 supermini.

Thanks to enhanced chassis modifications, the 2009 Mazda MX-5 remains unrivalled both as
a rewarding driver’s car and an open-top roadster that can be used for everyday motoring all
year round.

Fine-tuning of the engines coupled to aerodynamic drag reduction have achieved significant
reductions in CO2 emissions down to 167 g/km for the 1.8i SE model, from 174 g/km. Add to
that improved fuel consumption – just 40.4 mpg for the 1.8i SE, up from 38.7 mpg – all
contributing to reduced  running costs over the outgoing model.  In addition, the whole sports
car ownership experience is supported by Mazda’s renowned reliability and durability.

“The latest exterior, interior and technical upgrades to the 2009 Mazda MX-5 range will
ensure that the soft-top will continue to offer pure, fun-to-drive, open-top motoring thrills,
while the Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe offers both open-top motoring as well as a  more
coupe-like, premium experience,” commented Mark Cameron, Sales & Marketing Director,
Mazda UK.m_3975_en_jpg72

The sportscar driving experience of the Mazda MX-5 2.0i with manual transmission is further
enhanced by raising its rev-limit by 500rpm to 7,500rpm and retuning the engine to develop
peak power (160ps) at 7,000rpm (up 300rpm).  For models with the six-speed gearbox, the
engine is fitted with a new Induction Sound Enhancer (ISE) which gives the power unit an
even sportier sound.

Prices for the 2009 Mazda MX-5 soft-top range start from £16,340 (on-the-road) for the
126ps, 1.8i SE with a five-speed manual gearbox.  Every Mazda MX-5 now comes with
leather trimmed steering wheel, gear knob and hand-brake, alloy wheels, plus an
MP3-compatible audio system with six speakers and a new auxiliary (AUX) input jack for
MP3 and iPod connection.