Last laugh

PITSTOP

The world's second largest car maker is pulling the plug on the only sports car in its line-up. Yes, as unbelievable as it may sound, Toyota is actually putting the MR2 out of production.

And to celebrate the car's exit, Toyota will sell the final 300 cars as TF300 special editions. Each of these will get custom leather and Alcantara upholstery, a twin sports exhaust and will be numbered in sequence down to the last to leave the production line.

That number will be stitched into each seat-back and each car will also get an authentication certificate.

Built as a light roadster, with an adequate 1800cc 138 bhp motor, the MR2 was never a blitzkrieg of an automobile. Instead, here was a car that was built on the "less-is-more" philosophy and was one of the most fun-to-drive cars on the planet.

A car that first debuted in 1984, the MR2 lasted for three generations and was one of the purest roadsters money could buy. Here's wishing Toyota replace the MR2 with something equally good.

Show reality

Skoda's concept car, the Roomster, has finally made it to production. The newest addition to the Skoda family, the Roomster is an MPV that doesn't really look like one.

While Skoda says that the Roomster is a modern expansion of their model range, we are just glad that they finally have a model that looks different from the current line-up. Anyway, the Roomster will be available with a choice of six engines "" from a 1,200cc, 70 bhp petrol engine to a range topping 1,900cc diesel with 105 bhp. While a five-speed manual is standard, a six-speed automatic is optional.

The car itself is pretty versatile and, thanks to its rather tidy packaging, boasts of huge interior space. Then there are the rear seats which, apart from being folded down, can be removed completely.

The Roomster also gets optional cornering lights that turn with the steering wheel to aid visibility. The car will be built in Kvasiny, Czech Republic, the same place where the Superb is built.

Incidentally, Skoda has also opened up an assembly plant in Russia to manufacture the Superb, the Octavia and the Fabia.