Rally fans will be able to see the latest Ford Fiesta model make its competitive debut this weekend.

The new S2000 version will enter the final round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in Scotland as a course car.

Ford took the wraps off its impressive new machine at its M-Sport headquarters in Cumbria and claimed that it has produced a “fantastic rally car”.

Malcolm Wilson, managing director of M-Sport, said: “This launch is a big step to seeing it out competing in rallies. It’s the first time in five years that we have been able to offer a Ford rally car that can challenge for overall victory in national championships across the world.”

The 280bhp, 192lb four-wheel drive creation has gone from the drawing board and onto the track in just nine months.

Autosport.com said that it is expected that Matthew Wilson will drive the Fiesta in Scotland having completed the majority of the testing in the machine.

Athletes, officials and staff at the 2012 London Olympic Games will be cruising around the city in Minis after a sponsorship deal was struck with BMW.

The German manufacturer has become the 24th sponsor of the event, which will see a fleet of 4,000 BMW cars, bicycles and Minis being used by the competitors.

As a top-level sponsor, BMW also becomes the game’s sixth sustainability partner, which means that it will be expected to meet a series of low-carbon and healthy-living challenges.

“BMW bicycles will be available for use by athletes in the Athletes Village and by London 2012 staff. BMW motorcycles will also be used in certain Olympic and Paralympic events,” a spokesman added.

Earlier this week, BMW reported that sales of its Mini car range had jumped 11.1 per cent year-on-year in October to over 19,000 units, mainly thanks to the success of its convertible model which saw a sales jump of over 300 per cent.

The BMW Group increased its global sales in October, with its Mini car performing particularly well.

A total of 115,252 BMW, Mini and Rolls Royce cars were delivered to customers last month, a two per cent increase on the same month last year.

The Mini’s popularity continued to grow, with the variety of different models available helping sales for the premium compact car brand increase by 11.1 per cent.

So far this year, 19,323 of the model have been delivered, compared to just over 17,000 in 2008.

The Mini Convertible also performed well, with worldwide sales rising by an impressive 336.1 per cent thanks to over 2,000 deliveries.

Mini also sold a large number of its Hatch and Clubman versions, with both showing impressive sales increases from the previous year.

A recent review of the new Mini Clubman by Auto Express magazine gave the model four stars, with experts praising the mix of the practical body style and the powerful engine.

People are flocking to buy the Ford Fiesta, with 100,000 being sold so far this year.

Nigel Sharp, Ford Britain’s managing director, said that reaching the figure was a “significant milestone” for the model, after it saw a ten per cent boost in sales in October.

The Ford Fiesta, which is What Car? magazine’s current Car of the Year, is top of the UK market, increasing its share to 16.2 per cent in the year to date.

Mr Sharp added: “Fiesta exemplifies our fresh and exciting product line-up which, together with an outstanding dealer network, has helped to increase our UK market share.”

Ford is doing well in the polls, with its Focus model ranking second behind the Fiesta and with the company overall having more than 26,000 scrappage registrations so far this year.

The Ford Fiesta 1.6 ZXi is now available in a special edition format, coming with leather upholstery and metallic accents on the interior trim.

The Fiat 500 has become one of the top ten best selling cars in the UK, for the first time since its launch last year.

The supermini vehicle has cracked into the ranking in car sales figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

A total of 2,989 of the Fiat 500 were sold in October, an increase on the 993 vehicles sold in September and enough to pull the vehicle into tenth place in the list.

Andrew Humberstone, managing director of Fiat Group Automobiles UK, said: “This is an incredible result for the Fiat 500 which we are, of course, delighted with. Interest in this car has been sky high ever since we launched it here less than two years ago.”

He expects this growth to continue, especially after the launch of the 500C this summer.

The Fiat 500 was recently voted the top city car of the year in the Green Fleet awards, for the latest start/stop model.

Ford has released its new line of Ford Fiesta cars, with the Titanium Individual hitting the market this week.

The new vehicle adds to the already extensive Fiesta range and comes with five engine options to choose from.

Petrol options come in 1.25, 1.4 and 1.6-litre options, while the diesel versions are available in 1.4 and 1.6 litres.
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The new Titanium Individual also comes in three and five-door versions, ranging in price from £15,145 to £15,445.

Ford has also added to its Mondeo range, producing a low-emissions vehicle which also has efficient fuel economy.

The carmaker was recently announced as the Brand of the Year by the Society for New Communications Research, which praised it for its use of social networking sites to communicate with stake holders.

Scott Monty, communications manager for Ford, said that the company was honoured to get the award, adding: “We are integrating social media into our marketing and communications efforts, and humanising the company at every turn.”

Ford has released its new line of Ford Fiesta cars, with the Titanium Individual hitting the market this week.

The new vehicle adds to the already extensive Fiesta range and comes with five engine options to choose from.

Petrol options come in 1.25, 1.4 and 1.6-litre options, while the diesel versions are available in 1.4 and 1.6 litres.
`
The new Titanium Individual also comes in three and five-door versions, ranging in price from £15,145 to £15,445.

Ford has also added to its Mondeo range, producing a low-emissions vehicle which also has efficient fuel economy.

The carmaker was recently announced as the Brand of the Year by the Society for New Communications Research, which praised it for its use of social networking sites to communicate with stake holders.

Scott Monty, communications manager for Ford, said that the company was honoured to get the award, adding: “We are integrating social media into our marketing and communications efforts, and humanising the company at every turn.”

The Fiat 500C has attracted the interest of supermodel Elle Macpherson.

Elle was impressed by the car after she asked if she could borrow one from the car manufacturer.

The star explained that she fell in love with the car.

She said: "I love the Fiat 500C, it has that sexy, cool, Italian thing going on!

"I like the way the car drives – it is perfect for cities with its small turning circle and the easy way it manoeuvres through London."

The manufacturer has high hopes for the new car, which could challenge for BMW Minis.

Elena Bernardelli, marketing director of Fiat Group Automobiles UK said she was delighted to hear that Elle enjoyed the car and looks forward "to seeing her driving a new 500C soon".

Jeremy Clarkson recently praised the Fiat car in a review in the Times.

He praised the vehicle for its styling and cheap price, as well as its size advantages over the Mini.