Autoblog UK

Advertising should attract attention but you can go too far. In a new advert on TV, Volkswagen shows a man who kills himself simply because he didn't get to own the new Scirocco.

The main character in the British Volkswagen commercial has lost everything. At the casino, he put his money on black and red came up. He moved into gold just as the clever money moved out, and now he's ruined both financially and mentally. He decides to end his miserable life.

That's a summary of the storyline of a new VW Scirocco commercial broadcast on the famous British motoring magazine show Top Gear. The message is clear: if only the man had waited for the launch of the new Scirocco, things would have gone better and he wouldn't have topped himself. To quote from their ad: "Life is not so bad!" The producers of the commercial think that their work is plain and straightforward. Tasteless and provocative, say many British viewers about the depiction of suicide on screen. Find out for yourself. Take a look at the new Scirocco TV clip. Should something like this be broadcast? Top Gear presenter and humorist Jeremy Clarkson seems to think so...

From November, the West Midlands constabulary will be setting an example to us all in terms of eco-friendly motoring when they become the first police force in the UK to send their officers out on patrol in the MiEV (Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle). According to Mitsubishi, this electric motor on wheels was a huge hit at the National Police Show staged in September. The crime-busting version of the MiEV reaches a top speed of 80mph (130 km/h) and can cover a patrol beat of 100 miles before needing a recharge. So the bobbies should be well equipped for hot pursuits through the pedestrian zones in Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Coventry.

What initially may sound like a joke is in fact part of the Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator project with which Mitsubishi hope to woo the British public for its progressive e-class. The Japanese manufacturer has already seen the first fruits of its campaign, with the MiEV being acclaimed as Electric Vehicle of the Year in the 2009 GreenFleet Awards.

With the new Polo, Volkswagen have brought a small car onto the market that has very little in common with the original (rather Spartan) model of the same name. Providing you can dispense with a couple of centimetres in length and a modicum of comfort, you are probably better off with a Polo than with big brother Golf – plus you are going to save a lot of money. The 1975 Polo was a makeshift solution adapted from the Audi 50. This infant came on by leaps and bounds, 10.6 million having since rolled off the production lines. After the Golf, the Polo stands on equal footing with the Passat as the third pillar of Volkswagen's success. This fifth edition is set to compete with the Golf (Europe's most popular car by sales volume) as never before. We present a historical record of how the VW compact has developed over the decades.

Indian manufacturer Tata Motors Ltd, who bought the legendary British marques Jaguar and Land Rover for 2.4 billion US dollars in 2008, have just announced that they will shut at least one of their factories in England by 2014. The manufacturing plant in Castle Bromwich, where 2,100 workers currently build Jaguars, and the neighbouring former Rover factory in Solihull near Birmingham, where 5,000 are employed in the production of the Land Rover, are under threat. Tata spokesman Paul Chadderton disclosed that 800 new jobs would be created at the Halewood plant near Liverpool to produce the new Range Rover LRX.

The three factories are running at only 60% capacity due to a decline in orders. Since September 2008, around 2,500 employees have already lost their jobs. The final decision as to which factory will close will be taken early next year.

The Goodwood Revival is a nostalgic trip back to the 1950s and 1960s. Between 18th and 20th September, 134,000 people turned up at the West Sussex estate of the Earl of March to enjoy this annual festival. The event is to racing drivers what Wimbledon is to tennis players and Ascot to jockeys. Although competitive races are no longer staged at Goodwood, no other motorsport venue can compare for razzamatazz or eccentricity.

The Revival ranks alongside the Le Mans Classic and the Mille Miglia in the racing panoply. It's not just the more than 400 racing cars from the 1948 to 1966 era that make this is a star occasion but the visitors themselves. Many of them turn up in period costume consisting of Tweed jackets, knickerbockers, cocktail dresses, petticoats and – in particular – hats from the Fifties and Sixties.

Elegance and comfort will become the hallmark of the new Vauxhall Astra. The tenth generation Astra is 17cm longer, and, at 4.42 Meter it is now considerably longer than its Wolfsburg competitor and is almost as big as a VW Passat. This 5-door-Golf competitor can be seen for the first time at the IAA in Frankfurt from the 19th-27th September. The Astra will have a wheel base, which is seven centimetres longer, a wider track and a new chassis. As an option, the electronic FlexRide system with three settings is offered: Standard, Sport und Touring. It adjusts the damper settings continually to your driving style and the speed at which you corner. Amongst other innovations, which the Astra adopts from the Insignia are: the next generation xenon lights, AFL+ (Advanced Forward Lighting), having nine different settings, which adjust intensity and range to suit road conditions. Likewise taken from the Insignia, 'traffic sign recognition' gives a warning, should you change lanes by mistake. These items are, of course, only available as extras.

The Astra has also had a make-over on the inside. A wide curved section extending out from the crescent-shaped dashboard cocoons driver and passenger. The mid-section console then runs down from there to meet the gear lever at a shallow angle of 30 degrees, which entirely befits its flowing silhouette and the sporty look of this Golf adversary. The cockpit colours Spice Red and Ocean Blue are new additions to the interior and complement the black base colour available in all levels of trim.

The impressive Alfa Romeo MiTo will certainly turn your head. It's the same with an attractive woman. In both cases, we often say, "What a beautiful body...!" When a powerful engine wrapped in a fascinating form drives past, it's a feast for the eyes and a delight to the senses. Jeans are often the perfect wrapping for a woman's long legs. With that in mind, the two fashion designers, Bjork and McElligott, who are based in London and have already created a number of outfits for a variety of personalities, have now brought out a limited edition MiTo collection. The result is perfection...

Dany T. Bahar has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the British sports car manufacturer, Lotus, effective from1st October 2009. He replaces Michael J Kimberley, who retired in July. Bahar was formerly Senior Vice President at Ferrari. In his role with Ferrari, Bahar was responsible for worldwide sales and after-sales, all marketing activities, including Formula1, as well as licensing, and merchandising. Bahar, who is Swiss, worked previously as an executive for drinks giant, Red Bull.

BMW intends manufacturing two new Mini models at its factory near Oxford. Chief Executive Norbert Reithofer said in an interview with the Financial Times, that a coupe version of the Mini and another new model are to roll off the production line in the British factory. New jobs would be created and money invested. Reithofer didn't reveal any definite figures or any time frame. Around 3,500 staff are currently employed at the factory, which, according to the newspaper, is working almost at full capacity with a yearly output of 200,000 – 220,000 vehicles. We might expect the second model to be the roadster, which will also be launched at the IAA in Frankfurt.

Here it is – the new big cat. First impressions confirm that Jaguar have taken a giant leap into the 21st century. The front looks fabulous, and when you go round the back, you will barely believe your eyes. The Jaguar XJ is like an untamed beast, poised for attack. Head of Design Ian Callum, who also drew the XF, can be well satisfied with his latest offspring.

The world premiere of the new Jag was compèred by Jay Leno. The American comedian and chat show host, who has a worldwide reputation as an auto freak and collector of classic cars, carried off the occasion with his usual wit and aplomb. According to Leno, the Jaguar is a "sexy car". You can see photos from the launch in the gallery below.