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Also in this episode: Ferrari stages an auction to raise funds for earthquake victims, the McLaren F1 turns 20 and strap in for a

2012 Mini Cooper S Roadster

Apparently the Mini Roadster has a radio, but we didn't bother using it.

Apparently the Mini Roadster has a radio, but I didn't bother using it. Instead, I lowered the roof and enjoyed the burbles, pops, and crackles emitted by the exhaust when the car is in Sport mode. Yes, this car sounds fantastic. Lift off the throttle and you'll hear a barrage of snaps and rumbles; rev the engine at a stop and you can create backfires that sound like a branch snapping. The Mini Roadster also is unbelievably fun to drive because it is light, nimble, and responsive.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Mini Cooper S Roadster - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Mini Cooper S Roadster - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

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PSA Peugeot Citroen led French light vehicle sales lower in May as the market contracted 17% for a ninth straight monthly decline, the country's main vehicle industry association said.

New car sales in Germany were off around 7% in May, given fewer trading days, Germany's association of international motor vehicle manufacturers VDIK told Reuters.

Chinese automaker Youngman Lotus Automobile has placed a fresh bid to buy bankrupt Saab, bidding against a group led by Japanese investment firm Sun Investment and Hong Kong-based National Modern Energy Holdings, a report said.

Chinese automaker Youngman Lotus Automobile has placed a fresh bid to buy bankrupt Saab, bidding against a group led by Japanese investment firm Sun Investment and Hong Kong-based National Modern Energy Holdings, a report said.

Spain's new car registrations fell 8.2% year on year in May, car manufacturers association ANFAC said on Friday, after a drop of 21.7% year on year in April.

Chrysler Group posted a 30 percent increase in sales last month and General Motors and Ford rebounded from April declines as the U.S. auto industry showed signs of a sharp recovery from weak results a year ago.

PPG Industries' automotive refinish operations in China has relocated to a plant in Songjiang, Shanghai.

Single copies of the May 28 Issue of Autoweek featuring the story of Carroll Shelby's life are available for $3.99, plus $3 shipping and handling.

Forecasts from research company Frost & Sullivan (F&S) project a vision of an increasingly urbanised world and one where mobility concepts are changing. As well as the growth of car sharing, F&S maintains that technology advances will lead to big changes in the provision of mobility services and the growth of multi-modal transportation. And that will create a big opportunity for 'mobility integrators'. Dave Leggett spoke to F&S partner Sarwant Singh to learn more.

Mazda Motor plans to cut 250 jobs, a quarter of its staff in Europe and the United States, in fiscal 2012, as it reorganises sales management in Japan and overseas, the Nikkei reported.

U.S. light vehicle sales -- helped by a surge at Toyota and Honda, and more healthy gains at Chrysler -- climbed 26 percent to 1.33 million last month compared with a weak May 2011. The seasonally adjusted sales rate hit 13.

Mystery fast Civic prototype wearing a huge rear wing breaks cover for the first time

Queen Elizabeth II has been on the throne since 1952 (yes, we know the coronation was not till 1953) and, to mark the 60th jubilee of accession, most of us here in Britain are about to enjoy an extended holiday weekend.

General Motors Canada was expected to confirm on Friday (1 June) the timing of 2,000 job losses at its car plant in Oshawa, east of Toronto, the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union told a local paper.

General Motors Canada was expected to confirm on Friday (1 June) the timing of 2,000 job losses at its car plant in Oshawa, east of Toronto, the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union told a local paper.

British automotive body, the SMMT, is calling for a pause in the regulation pipeline from Europe as continued economic uncertainty has seen speculation one or more countries could exit the Eurozone.

It's fitting perhaps, as we head into the Jubilee bank holiday(s) weekend - thank you Ma'am and congratulations on 60 years atop the throne - that British automakers, no longer British-owned, topped the news this week.

The Koreans are on a roll. No longer should it surprise us when we find one of their vehicles impressive. It's the norm anymore, regardless of the metric, from performance to quality to value.