BMW throws even more cash at MINI

The rotating prop is tossing £40 million at the winged black gumball (the best I could do, OK?) for use in its British factory in Swindon, which makes all of MINI's body panels. Although there are no current plans to expand the central Oxford plant, BMW is obviously happy with MINI's successes, and hopes to keep things popping. One other example is BMW's interest in the Mark 3 MINI (Mark 3 = third-generation), which should surface in 2007. The Mark 3 will use BMW-designed engines and, as reported by Autoblog a few days ago, could come in wagon and MPV incarnations.