NEW AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLE MINI COOPER YACHTSMAN REVEALED

MINI customers will be able to boldly go where no motorer has gone before when the all-new MINI Cooper Yachtsman makes its world premiere at the New York International Auto Show next week, right beside the Hudson River.Designed to bring MINI ownership to people who regard the 70 percent of the earth's surface covered by water as their home, the new MINI Cooper Yachtsman is a corner-carving crustacean that promises go-kart-like handling and a sensational combination of amphibious* and landphibious performance both on and off the water.Certain to be as popular in New York harbor as it will be at the Jumeira Palm marina or Monte Carlo harbor, the MINI Cooper Yachtsman is fitted with a shark-resistant undercoating as standard, and can carve through water at speeds up to 61 knots, while promising an equally rewarding driving (but not diving...) experience - on-road or off-land.

"Our exciting MINI Cooper Yachtsman is the ultimate extension of the MINI brand, expanding our line-up to seven models in the USA and offering consumers even more ways to enjoy MINI ownership in a manner best-suited to their individual taste and location," comments Jim McDowell, Vice President of MINI USA.

"The Yachtsman will become an instant status symbol, a car/boat combo that evokes ‘land/sea envy' in equal measure. Originally endorsed by the British Royal Navy**, the Yachtsman brings a new level of versatility to MINI ownership. So, if you're cruising along and someone yells 'Lake' - no worries. Simply downshift, grab a life-vest, hit the water and let Yachtsman take care of the rest!" adds McDowell.Showroom appeal of the MINI Cooper Yachtsman is matched by dockside allure as the 169.8 inch long craft sports Reef Blue metallic paintwork contrasting with silver alloy wheels and matching silver rudder. The exhaust snorkel is finished in body color and the extendable rooftop antenna comes with a ‘get-you-home' 20-ft white sail (in case of emergency) which can be deployed for zero-emissions sailing.With room to sleep two people, the cabin features waterproof rip-stop upholstery, seat cushions which double as flotation devices, and a Marine Chronometer for celestial navigation in the event of a sat-nav glitch. For junior ‘sailors', the glove box holds MINI-branded water wings, a pirate flag and eye patch.Standard equipment features a six-foot marlin rod with roller guides, an international trolling reel with 130-lb test line and (on the port side) the latest MINI safety technology - FLOAT (the Frantic Lever Operated Active Trim) adjuster. On the starboard side there is a spring-loaded herring chucker.

In line with MINI's customizable nature, a full range of unique accessories for this latest addition to the MINI product line-up includes a Customizable Klaxon (choice of sea lion, porpoise, sperm whale, dolphin, seagull or mallard duck), and personalized Under-Hull Messaging - recommended factory fitted graphic options such as ‘Suck eggs, Kraken' and ‘Mermaid Magnet' are sure to be popular choices.

On sale from April 1st as a model year 2013 vehicle, the Yachtsman combines typical MINI driving and boating fun with the same discerning craftsmanship, select materials, styling and all-round ‘typical British understatement' that are hallmarks of the world's leading boat builders.

For propulsion, each MINI Cooper Yachtsman is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with a twin-scroll turbocharger, direct injection and variable valve control to generate 181 hp. Outdrive to the constant-pitch propeller is managed by a specially-fitted gearbox mounted mid-ship with six forward speeds. Although the new model weighs 4,600 lb (fully laden), the sprint from 0 to 60 mph is completed in 6.6 seconds (on land) and in 2.4 minutes (on water). Top speed (on land) is 141 mph.

Developed after extensive testing of punt prototypes on the River Isis (near MINI's manufacturing facility in Oxford, England) and in the deep waters off Greenland (where The Kraken of legend lurks), the MINI Cooper Yachtsman is priced at US $236,000 and comes with a fully incomprehensible warranty that includes 3-year no-cost moorage, annual dry-docking and free barnacle removal, for the original captain.

You can see the MINI Cooper Yachtsman on the MINI Stand at the New York International Auto Show in the Jacob Javits Center from Wednesday April 4th.

"Bizarre as it may sound, a Mini entered the 1977 River Severn Raft Race. Longbridge engineers converted a standard Mini into an unsinkable four-paddle-wheel-drive amphibious vehicle which they christened ‘Aqua Min'. However, it was not the first Mini to swim. Nine years earlier, an amphibious Moke swam in the River Thames for the Sammy Davis Jr. film Salt and Pepper. Since the movie was a James Bond spoof, it was only right that the Moke should have machine guns fitted behind the headlights."

NEW TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGES CAR DEALERS -- AND BUYERS

NEW TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGES CAR DEALERS -- AND BUYERS

New cars are growing so complex — and owners manuals so voluminous — that automakers are encouraging dealers to add staff geeks or go high-tech to explain features.Lexus will announce today that it is creating two new positions at each of its 230 dealers around the country: a "vehicle delivery specialist" to show buyers how the cars work during purchase and a "vehicle technology specialist" to troubleshoot snafus after the sale.The learning gap underscores how automakers have become engaged in a tech war, seeing it as a key way to make their brand stand out.

Lexus' rivals in luxury cars, which typically have the most complex tech systems, are coming up with their own approaches to walking customers through the nuances of infotainment, navigation and communication systems, not to mention how to set the air conditioning:

 Cadillac. General Motors' upscale brand has developed an iPad app explaining use of its new CUE infotainment systems, coming first on the XTS sedan. The app is for dealer use now, but customers will be able to get it, too, at the Apple App Store.

  Infiniti. Salespeople use iPads to show customers technology features and coach them in their use.

    BMW. The German automaker uses a website to tell clients whether their smartphones can be paired with their cars but relies on the old-fashioned approach for the rest, making sure salespeople are fully versed in models' innards.

Sure, there are owners manuals, which nowadays can run to more than 800 pages, but "We're finding customers won't take the time to read through that," says Vince Salisbury, a Lexus dealer training manager. "They've paid for the features on their car, and they should be educated on how they work."

Lexus took the action after seeing how successful some dealers have been in hiring specialists just to handle technology issue so that customers don't have to rely on salespeople or service advisers.

One dealer, Sewell Lexus in Dallas, recruited its tech specialist, Alex Oger, from a local Apple Store. His mission: "How to take this car that has so many capabilities" and explain features "so it's something the customer wants." He says many have a "eureka moment" when they figure out a task.

MAZDA'S MANLY TAKERI DIESEL FORETELLS SOME U.S. FEATURES

Mazda's first concept vehicle powered by a clean-burning diesel engine is at the New York International Auto show. Mazda has said it plans a diesel for the U.S., but hasn't given specifics; the Takeri concept vehicle could offer some hints.

It could, in fact, foretell the next-generation Mazda6; the automaker is identifying it as a concept version of a midsize sedan.

It was on display late last year in Japan, but full details weren't announced. The U.S. showing will catalog the technology.

The diesel is one part of what Mazda calls its Skyactiv technology, an array of features designed to not only cut fuel consumption but improve driving fun.

The first Skyactiv model in the U.S. is the CX-5 small crossover, and the Test Drive review of it is here.

Mazda says "Takeri" is derived from the Japanese word for "male."

The vehicle's Skyactiv suite includes the 2.2-liter diesel, auto-stop to shut off the engine at long red lights, and a regenerative braking system. The regen braking stores electricity generated while using the brakes in a capacitor, rather than a heavier battery, and uses it to power accessories, reducing the drag the alternator places on the engine and thus boosting mileage.

Some features of the Takeri "could undoubtedly make their way into a future production vehicle," the automaker says.

Mazda has been losing money and is hoping that the Skyactiv concept -- more mileage without compromising fun -- will draw more interest in its vehicles.

BMW UNVEILS I8 SPYDER PLUG-IN SPORTS CAR FOR NEW YORK

BMW, having gotten quite a bit of attention from its i8 concept in Europe, is bringing the same car to the U.S. with a difference: no top.

This is the i8 concept Spyder, a plug-in hybrid, two-seat sports car. Combining its gas engine with electric motors, it puts out the equivalent of 354 horsepower. Among its many features, it has laser headlights -- as in laser beam. It won't burn a hole through oncoming drivers, but it will allow you to see better at night, BMW says.

The Spyder, too, has upward lifting doors, sometimes called Lambo doors. But we're sure BMW doesn't call them that. The car is sure to be seen at next week's New York Auto Show.

PEUGEOT, RENAULT SALES SLUMP AS FRENCH CAR MARKET CONTRACTS IN MARCH

New registrations of Peugeot and Renault cars fall 30% or more

-Overall new car registrations fell 24% in March

-Car industry group still sees second-half rebound, with full-year registrations down 8% and 10%

PARIS (Dow Jones)--Registrations of new cars made by PSA Peugeot Citroen (UG.FR) and Renault SA (RNO.FR) fell 30% or more in March compared with the same month a year ago as the French auto market continued to contract amid sluggish demand exaggerated by a government subsidy on replacing old vehicles phased out last year.The overall French market, Europe's biggest after Germany, shrank 24% to 197,033 vehicles compared with a 20% drop in February, the French car maker association CCFA said. Adjusted to take into account one fewer working day in March 2012, the market contracted 20%. New car registrations over the first quarter fell 22% on the year.

The slump in demand for new cars confirms declining sales across most of the region so far this year which has piled on pressure on many of Europe's volume auto manufacturers, notably Peugeot. The family-controlled company last month announced an emergency EUR1-billion capital increase in tandem with a wide-ranging cost-sharing alliance with General Motors Co. (GM). GM itself is in talks with labor unions about restructuring its Opel/Vauxhall unit which could involve the closure of one or two factories in Europe, according to people will familiar with the negotiations.Peugeot's registrations fell 33% in March to 59,290, while local rival Renault suffered a 30% drop to 42,908 cars, with a particularly sharp fall in registrations for its low-cost Dacia brand, down 57%. GM's registrations fell 26% to 11,680 cars.

As well as an unfavorable comparison with last year's data boosted by a car scrappage subsidy, which applied for cars registered until the end of March 2011, France's stubbornly high unemployment rate of near 10% and uncertainty ahead of France's presidential elections due later this month are putting customers off from making big-ticket purchases like cars, said Dominique Barbet, an economist at banking group BNP Paribas SA (BNP.FR).The French car makers' association said the worst might be over for the French market. It is sticking to a forecast of an 8% to 10% decline in the market this year to around 2 million new cars.Year-on-year comparisons will no longer be distorted by the sales related to the scrappage scheme, consumer sentiment is improving in France, and Peugeot and Renault will be refreshing their line-ups of new models later in the year, CCFA spokesman Francois Roudier said. The French national statistics bureau Insee last week said its index of consumer expectations in March was at its highest level in more than a year.

France's two auto makers suffered more in March than foreign car makers which registered a decline of only 12% from March last year. Peugeot's French market share fell to 30% from 35% a year before. Renault's market share fell slightly to just below 24%.

Registrations of Hyundai and Kia cars made by South Korean manufacturer Hyundai Motor Co. (005380.SE) rose 43% to 5,838 cars while registrations for Daimler AG's (DAI.XE) Mercedes-Benz brand jumped 29% to 4,745 cars.