scrap car vehicles: June 2010

the San Diego Auto Museum has one of the 6 existing AMX 3 concept cars, head over and see it for yourself!

Thanks to Marisela and Chris for their time and effort to allow me to photograph the AMX 3 so well!

The variety in the few AMX3 concept cars made, 10 total I've read, but interestingly not alike in tail lights, and rear deck

Above image 2007 Meadow Brook Concours

Above images 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed by Ilya Holt and from 2007 Meadow Brook Concours

Above 4 images were taken in 2004, at the Bizzarini Expo in Brussels by Dirk de Jager and all the above photos are from http://www.supercars.net/cars/2982.html

Notice the above museum car has a side marker light behind the rear wheel that only one of of the following do.

Lower door racing stripe and AMX 3 callout looks really good, and the rear deck styled partition with air foil over the tailights

Really don't like the above rims.

images from my many posts on the AMX 3... I hope you take a moment to see the differences in these different models, the bottom one having the coolest looking wheels, but I bet it's a mock up with no real car parts, and it looks like the model is in the design studio for a photo op.

Notice it doesn't have a gas cap like the yellow model directly above it, and the rocker panel is black with the AMX 3 call out looking really nice. Different tailights too.

From the Supercars website story on the AMX3:
Giotto Bizzarrini, of ex-Ferrari fame, was specifically responsible for making a production worthy AMX/3 out of the show queen AMX/2. What would have been a challenging build for AMC, was easily handled by Bizzarrini who was very familiar with race car design
and construction, particularly on a tight budget.

Bizzarrini's final AMX/3 featured the hallmark of sports engineering, a mid-mounted engine and rear transaxle. The Italian firm Melara developed the new gearbox while BMW completed final testing on the roadworthy AMX/3. It seemed AMC was serious about production. From a design standpoint, the AMC/3 was remarkably similar to Ford's DeTomaso Pantera which debuted just one day after the AMX/3. Such timely releases made it unclear exactly who copied who, but in any case, the casual observer can easily mistake the AMX/3 with a Pantera.

Due to the successful launch, and low price of the Pantera, AMC scrapped the AMX/3 project. Bizzarrini was ordered to destroy all six cars, which he, of course, did not.

Mazda MX-5 Miyako

Mazda must be very keen to commemorate the 20th birthday of its MX-5. Not satisfied with having just the 20th Anniversary Limited Edition that’s already on sale in the UK, the range is now being joined by the Miyako special edition which, according to Mazda, ‘continues’ to celebrate the occasion.

So what are the differences? Well, the 20th Anniversary Limited Edition is available only as a soft top, powered by the 124 bhp (92 kW / 126 PS) 1.8 litre engine. Costing £17,300 on the road, its specification includes unique finish 17" alloy wheels, front fog lights, a strut brace, individually numbered Limited Edition scuff plates, special floor mats, body-coloured dashboard decoration panel, aluminium pedals, manual air con, leather steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake lever. Paint choices are Aurora Blue, True Red and Crystal White Pearlescent.

Similarly, the Miyako special edition also features 17" alloy wheels, front fog lights, a strut brace, and special floor mats. Additionally, though, it gets unique Medici premium perforated black leather trim with a red underlay and stitching, climate control air con and the obligatory special badging.

Unsurprisingly, the extra equipment makes it a bit more expensive than the 20th Anniversary Limited Edition. Mazda is charging £18,385 for the 1.8i Miyako soft top, which comes in either Aluminium Silver Metallic or Velocity Red Mica.

For the first time, a special edition of the MX-5 is also available as a roadster coupe (the one with the folding powered roof). However, that version of the Miyako can only be had with the 157 bhp (117 kW / 160 PS) 2.0 litre engine, and it costs £20,885. Colour choice is restricted to just Aluminium Silver Metallic.

To put those prices into context, a standard 1.8i SE soft top with air con is £17,795, while the 2.0i SE roadster coupe would set you back £20,295. Given that leather trim and metallic paint alone come to £1,115 on the Mazda options list, the £590 premium being charged for the Miyako looks like good value.

The MX-5 Miyako special edition is on sale from the beginning of July, with 500 examples of each version being produced for the UK market. And, in case you were wondering, they are named after the Japanese holiday island of Miyako-jima.

Mini gets mini revamp

Details of the 2011 Mini range have been announced. Visually, the changes aren’t that radical, the main alterations being revised bumpers, LED lights at the rear, five new colours and five new alloy wheel designs.

On the inside the centre console, steering wheel and air conditioning and audio controls have all been modified to improve the quality feel and work better ergonomically. Other changes include new upholstery and fascia trim choices. DAB radio is now standard on all models across the range, except for the entry-level Mini First.

The big news though is under the bonnet. Following the introduction of new petrol engines back in March, it’s now the turn of the diesels. Available as either a Cooper D with 110 bhp (82 kW / 112 PS) or One D with 88 bhp (66 kW / 90 PS), the new diesel engines feature light weight aluminium construction, common rail direct injection and turbochargers with variable turbine geometry.

Amazingly, both the Cooper D Hatch and One D Hatch both achieve 74.3 mpg (3.8 l/100km) on the combined cycle, while producing just 99 g/km of CO2. That means they’ll be eligible for the 100% Greener Vehicle Discount, if proposed changes to the London Congestion Charge are approved. Adding to their green credentials is the standard fitment of a diesel particulate filter and oxidation catalyst.

The 110 bhp unit will also feature in the Cooper D Convertible, the first time ever that a Mini soft top has been available with diesel power. Meanwhile, the Clubman line-up will include the One D and Cooper D. However, it’s worth noting that only the Hatch achieves sub-100 g/km CO2 emissions: