Are you the next-gen Chevy Cruze?

Judging by these spy shots, the Chevrolet Cruze is getting ready for a makeover. What's more, it appears the Chevy brand may be in line for a new corporate face of sorts.

Assuming these shots are the real deal, the 2015 Chevy Cruze will sport a completely redesigned fascia that still wears two distinctly separate grilles and a big golden Bowtie, but doesn't look anything at all like the Cruze it replaces. Instead, the lower grille has been enlarged and given a more pronounced set of angles, while the upper grille is narrowed and pulled tight against the swoopier headlights. There's little doubt in our minds that this new Chevy look will be likened to the corporate face of arch-rival Ford.

Moving down the car's flanks, we see a well-defined shoulder and an arch in the bodywork over the rear wheels that mimics that of the latest Impala. At the rear, the new Cruze looks fairly plain, with the lone flourish being some brightwork that underlines and connects the taillight clusters. Inside, the upscale accommodations of the current Cruze are carried over in a slightly more modern way, with a large LCD screen dominating the center stack.

The next Cruze will ride on the latest version of GM's global compact platform, codenamed D2XX. We can't say for sure what will power the new Cruze here in the States, but we'd put our money on a continuation of the 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. According to auto.sohu.com, the Chinese site these spy shots originate from, the 2015 Cruze will debut at the Beijing Motor Show in April.

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BMW designs new subway for Kuala Lumpur

Between the unfortunate saga of flight MH370 and the grand prix this weekend, Malaysia has been on our radar more than usual lately. And now the Southeast Asian country has popped up again, once more related to transportation issues, as Kuala Lumpur is working on a new subway system. Which isn't something we'd normally care about, but this subway just happens to have been designed by BMW.

Or one of its divisions, anyway. While BMW makes all manner of automobiles and motorcycles and even has a background in aviation, its subterranean transportation business is handled by DesignworksUSA, a network of design studios that fall under the BMW Group umbrella. The California studio recently designed a refresh for San Francisco's BART trains, and has now turned its focus on the Malaysian capital.

The trains penned by BMW DesignworksUSA are based on the Metro Inspiro system engineered by Siemens and will be built in Malaysia by domestic constructor Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd. The 58 driverless, four-car trains feature LED lighting, handicapped access and contrasting-color doors for easy embarking and disembarking. Larger wheels make it ride quieter and after their planned 30-year life-cycle, they'll be 95 percent recyclable. But our favorite part (whether it makes it onto the finished product or not) is the signature BMW racing stripes flanking the stainless steel coachwork... you know, because racing.

A new metro for Kuala Lumpur.
BMW Group DesignworksUSA designs new Siemens metro for Kuala Lumpur. Train head with modern light concept. (03/2014)

Munich/ Kuala Lumpur. Klang Valley, the metropolitan region around Malaysia`s capital Kuala Lumpur, is home to around four million people. In order to strengthen the appeal of this fast growing region and to prepare for the urban transit challenges of the future Kuala Lumpur will rely on the innovative Metro Inspiro by German train manufacturer Siemens. Being build by Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd a total of 58 trains will be in service as of 2017 on one of the most frequented lines of the city. BMW Group subsidiary DesignworksUSA developed the design for the new underground passenger trains.

Identity through Design.
A metropolis' identity is notably determined by the quality and visual impression of its local public transport system. Identity also was a key driver in the design development of the new Metro Inspiro for Kuala Lumpur: The cityscape is characterized by a mixture of cultures and religions manifested in a rich architectural diversity. Tradition and progress are at the heart of the people's pride and self confidence and also inspired the design concept for the new metro. Under the name "Guiding Light" the design of the Metro Inspiro takes a bow to the rich heritage of Kuala Lumpur and makes a strong statement towards the future.

"The exterior design is a bold statement of dynamism and strength. It symbolizes self confidence, technological leadership, progress and safety," says Laurenz Schaffer, President of BMW Group DesignworksUSA. The light concept in the front of the train bears a strong graphical character. It is a reference to the facetted architecture of the capital. In the train interior the interplay of past and future continues: The lively colour concept with varying shades of blue and traditional symmetrical patterns is a fresh interpretation of the vitality and cultural diversity of Kuala Lumpur. Color contrasts in the door areas help guide passengers and enable an easy entrance or exit. The train interior features an LED lighting system. The use of indirect light beneath the seats creates a feeling of spaciousness and safety and enables easy maintenance of the trains.

Metro Inspiro for people and environment.
When operational a total of 58 driverless trains will be in service allowing a frequency of one train every 3.5 minutes during peak hours. With a spacious layout each four-car trainset will have a capacity of 1.200 passengers improving the daily ridership target of the operator. The train design also takes into consideration the needs of disabled people: Six specific areas in each train are equipped with hand-rails which offer sufficient space to allow wheelchair-bound passengers to be seated in their rides. The doors will emit a beeping sound and light to guide disabled passengers when the train doors are closing and opening.

The new metro for Kuala Lumpur also has a convincing environmental record: The trains which have a 30-year life-cycle are approximately 95 percent recyclable. They consist of light weight stainless steel car bodies, weight-optimized components and employ highly efficient air conditioning and lighting systems which substantially reduce energy costs. The trains have high-efficiency traction and train control systems and due to large wheel diameters they will be substantially quieter than their predecessors. With all these features the new Metro Inspiro will reflect the dynamism, elegance and technological progress of Kuala Lumpur and also take on responsibility for the people of the metropolitan region Klang Valley.

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Zenos E10 coming to America priced from $39,500*

Tired of seeing all the coolest track toys just beyond your reach, across the pond in the UK and Europe? Well we've got good news for you, because as promised, Zenos is coming to America.

For those unfamiliar, Zenos Cars is the outfit started by former Caterham boss Ansar Ali and his engineering partner Mark Edwards. After working at Lotus together and leaving Caterham, Ali and Edwards (which sounds to us more like a boxing match than an engineering duo) struck out on their own and have been developing a line of lightweight sports cars.

The E10 is the first of them, and was unveiled a few months ago at the Autosport International show in Birmingham (England, not Alabama â€" or any of the other US states that have a town by that name). It's built around an innovative carbon and aluminum backbone and packs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine from Ford with 200 horsepower on tap that, thanks to its low 1,430-pound curb weight, is enough to send it to 60 in 4.5 seconds.

The startup has now set up Zenos Cars USA and will begin delivering the E10 to American customers next year. Pricing will start at $39,500 (*plus destination and taxes), with the Launch Edition encompassing many of the options for $43,750. That, for reference, puts the Zenos E10 at about the same level as the entry-level Caterham Seven 280 (which starts at $40,900), but significantly less than even the cheapest Radical (the SR4 Clubsport that starts at $65k).

With the distribution channels already established, Zenos has an E11 convertible and E12 coupe in the works based on the same architecture. Feel free to read more in the press release below.

Zenos Cars announces USA importer Zenos Cars USA, LLC

Zenos Cars announced today that its range of lightweight high performance sports cars will be sold in the USA market by its partner Zenos Cars USA, with the first model, the Zenos E10 making it into customer hands in early 2015.

The Zenos E10 made its first public appearance at the UK's prestigious Autosport International Show in January 2014 and received wide public acclaim and industry plaudits for its innovative E-platform chassis architecture, contemporary design, and unrivalled value for money for its sector leading performance. The E10 is a road legal, track focused, step-in two seater sports car with Lotus Elise type proportions. A 200hp mid-mounted transverse naturally aspirated 2.0-litre Ford GDI engine (customer supplied) drives the rear wheels and with a curb weight of just 1430 pounds, a power to weight ratio of 300hp/ton has been achieved. The low vehicle mass is achieved thanks to the innovative integration of a single 'backbone' aluminium extrusion with a carbon composite monocoque; this architecture delivers optimal torsional rigidity, and by utilizing recycled carbon fiber with a novel thermoplastic core for the tub material, the Zenos platform delivers world class mechanical efficiency without the production â€" and replacement â€" costs normally associated with carbon-based supercars.

Keeping to the theme of affordability, the front suspension connects directly to the spine/backbone â€" minimizing cost and mass â€" while the engine is encased in a rear extruded sub-frame that is removable to facilitate assembly and repairs. Given the performance of the car, driver and passenger safety is paramount: a fully encased steel safety cell comprising twin roll-hoops and side-impact bars is integrated within the carbon monocoque.

The E10 has been designed from the driver out, so simplicity and functionality is the order of the day. The cockpit's ergonomics accommodate persons ranging from 5'1 to 6'3 in height with both driver and passenger seated in bespoke Zenos seats. The E10's driver focus is further accentuated with a visual display directly behind the steering wheel that communicates essential driving information, while in the middle of the dash is another larger screen that will include a choice of road or track data display.

Chief Executive of Zenos Cars, Ansar Ali said, on making the announcement of Zenos Cars USA, "We have always hoped the essence of the Zenos brand and its products would sit easily with the US motoring community of "light is right" aficionados. Randy and Joe are the very epitome and we are delighted to be helping them establish Zenos Cars in the US."

"There is something special about the people that appreciate a pure driving experience and who understand what low vehicle weight translates to on the street or track. I can't think of a car that will more perfectly fit this niche than the Zenos E10. Ali and the team at Zenos also are truly car guys who get it. We are thrilled to be partnered with them" said Randy Chase, CEO of Zenos Cars USA.

The E10 will be first sold in a special Launch Edition which includes as standard, a Limited Slip Differential, In-board Bilstein dampers, 4 point racing harness, bespoke Zenos composite seats, quick release steering wheel, Launch Edition Red paint, and more. Pricing for the E10 will start at $39,500 plus domestic shipping and taxes and the E10 Launch Edition will start at $43,750 plus domestic shipping and taxes.

About Zenos Cars
Zenos Cars, co-founded by Ansar Ali and Mark Edwards, who previously were senior executives at both Lotus and Caterham Cars, specializes in the design, manufacture, and retail of lightweight razor sharp handling sports cars.

During Ali's and Edward's time successfully leading Caterham through a recession and then taking it into F1, and prior to that their time at Lotus Cars, they have observed increasing vehicle weights, higher entry prices, escalating repair costs and distant customer relationships; all this leading to the needs and wants of the true driving enthusiast being increasingly overlooked. So Zenos Cars intends to deliver thrilling, engaging and affordable lightweight sports car experiences that go beyond simply driving a car; the driver, the customer, the enthusiast, the supporter will be at the heart of Zenos.

The Zenos principle is to design, assemble, and retail high performance, ultra-lightweight and affordable sports cars, courtesy of intelligent vehicle engineering, efficient material technology, the application of 'form from function' design, and the adoption of a direct Customer Intimate sales and marketing approach.

About Zenos Cars USA

Zenos Cars USA was co-founded by Randy Chase and Joe Schroeter. Randy previously founded ChaseCam, a global supplier for rugged data and video recording products. He has been active in the online community founding Lotustalk.com and Britishspeed.com and is also involved with SCCA motorsports. Joe is Managing Director of The Adrenaline Gallery, an integrator and dealer for Russell Savory Engines, Sadev transmissions, Life ECUs, and more. Together they saw the need for a pure sportscar that was both light weight and affordable and Zenos delivers on all of these fronts.

Zenos Cars USA has offices on both coasts and intends on being active in community based car events.

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Peugeot returning to Dakar next year with 2008 DKR [w/video]

Racing fans may have been disappointed when Peugeot shut down its Le Mans racing program, but don't think that the Lion marque has hung up its driving gloves for good. It's just refocusing itself. Instead of committing itself and its resources to a major circuit-bound racing series, Peugeot has been tackling one-off, off-road events. It took the record at Pikes Peak with Sebastien Loeb and is targeting the same at Goodwood. It recently released the new 208 T16 for privateer rally teams. And now it's heading back to Dakar.

We say "back" because this won't be Peugeot's first rodeo, so to speak. It won the famously grueling rally four years in a row from 1987 through 1990, first with the 205 and then with the 405. For next year's rally, it appears to be preparing a competition-version of its 2008 crossover, and has brought Total and Red Bull on board as partners to regroup the same parties that teamed up for Loeb's Pikes Peak campaign.

Lest you think Loeb will be driving the Peugeot 2008 DKR, however, the French automaker has instead hired 2010 Dakar winner Carlos Sainz and five-time Dakar motorbike winner Cyril Despres, who is making the jump to four wheels, as its drivers for the start of a multi-year campaign. Scope out the teaser video and the press release below for more details.

ANOTHER EXCITING CHALLENGE FOR PEUGEOT: DAKAR COMEBACK IN 2015!

After their extraordinary adventure in 2013, which saw them smash the record for the celebrated Pikes Peak Hill Climb, Peugeot Sport, Red Bull and Total have again joined forces for another exacting yet equally exciting challenge: the Dakar. To take on the 10,000km of the world's longest and toughest cross-country rally 25 years after the French car manufacturer last contested the event, the team has recruited Carlos Sainz and Cyril Despres.

Last June's memorable new record of 8m13.878s for the ascent of Pikes Peak confirmed that Peugeot Sport had lost none of its taste for motorsport. After emphatically showcasing its expertise on the celebrated climb's steep, demanding course, the team could easily have contented itself with last year's one-off foray. However, its passion for competition needed feeding with further stimulating new challenges and the next one will be the infamous Dakar.

Following last year's intense adventure in the lofty mountains of Colorado, USA, Peugeot Sport, Red Bull and Total have decided to set their sights on the wide open spaces of South America which provide the backdrop for the toughest cross-country rally of them all. Inevitably, the decision recalls a particularly successful period in the history of the French team which made an indelible mark on the Dakar by winning the legendary competition four years running from 1987 until 1990, first with the 205 T16 Grand Raid, then with the equally iconic 405 T16 Grand Raid.

In between times, the Dakar has traded the dunes of northwest Africa for the tracks and trails of Latin America which are every bit as punishing for competitors and their machines. It is here, a quarter of a century after its last participation that Team Peugeot Total will take on its next challenge with a new car, the 2008 DKR. After last June's 20-kilomètre asphalt sprint, it's a two-week 10,000km marathon that will put Peugeot Sport's all-round skills to the test in January 2015.

The Dakar will naturally be the chief focus of Peugeot's new, multi-year programme which will also include a certain number of other events in order to help it to prepare for the annual South American marathon. The team's driver line-up stars the 2010 Dakar victor Carlos Sainz, who brings his extensive experience and car-development skills to the table, as well as the event's five-time winner on two wheels, Cyril Despres, who has chosen Peugeot to kick off a new career on four wheels.

Both drivers are eager to discover their car which was concocted by the same team that was behind the development of the 208 T16 Pikes Peak. More information about the car will be revealed at the Beijing Motor Show on 20 April.

Peugeot and the Dakar: a taste for adventure

Peugeot's relationship with the Dakar in the past extends well beyond the cold, if impressive statistic of its score of four victories from four starts. On the contrary, it is founded on the many, occasional improbable-sounding tales the French make has to tell after contesting some 48,125km of competitive action in northwest Africa between 1987 and 1990...

On January 1, 1987, all the ingredients were in place to maximise Peugeot's chances of success on the 'Paris-Alger-Dakar' at the first attempt. Its driver line-up included a certain Ari Vatanen whose 205 Turbo 16 was fittingly allocated number '205', an ideal way of promoting the brand's emblematic model. Unfortunately, an accident on the event's short Prologue near Paris saw his car suffer serious damage and the Peugeot star fell to a lowly 274th overall! The rally had only just started, but the incident provided the team with a timely reminder of the Dakar's uncompromising nature, however accustomed Peugeot Sport may have been to the ups and downs inherent in rallysport. Days later, team-mate Shekhar Mehta learned the same lesson while leading when the carefully-prepared game plan for his 205 T16 was spoilt by an inexplicable engine problem. Thankfully, Ari Vatanen's thrilling fight-back enabled him to recover top spot and eventually collect Peugeot's first Dakar triumph after some 13,000 kilometres of competition.

The 1988 event served to confirm the famous rally-raid's unpredictability when an unbelievable misadventure troubled the plans of then Team Principal Jean Todt and the best-placed of the two 405 T16s which were entrusted with defending's Peugeot's colours. After 13 stages, Ari Vatanen arrived in Mali's capital Bamako in front, but his 405 T16 was stolen during the night! It was eventually recovered but too late & the Finn was disqualified. The win eventually went to the 205 T16 of teammate Juha Kankkunen who had been recruited to serve as Vatanen's rapid assistance driver!

The 405 T16 Grand Raid finally got its chance in 1989 after an enthralling battle between team-mates Ari Vatanen and Jacky Ickx. To make sure their duel didn't end in tears and scupper Peugeot's chances, the team decided to settle the issue by tossing a coin at the overnight halt in Gao, Mali. The result favoured Ari Vatanen who went on to claim victory, despite rolling twice.

The following year, the Finn managed to build up a safety margin of two hours at the top of the order, which was just as well since he had a troubled day on the leg from Niamey and Gao, again in Mali. The stage placed the emphasis on navigational skills, but Vatanen's codriver was poorly and his compass was faulty. To crown it all, the Peugeot driver punched a big hole in the bodywork of his 405 when he hit a tree! That failed to faze the Finn, however, and he survived to collect Peugeot's fourth straight Dakar win.

Four questions to Maxime Picat, Peugeot CEO
"Our aim is to win the Dakar in 2015"

What is the reason for Peugeot's Dakar comeback?
Maxime Picat: "It obviously follows in the wake of our Pikes Peak victory in 2013. That was a very special moment which showcased what Peugeot Sport is capable of achieving in association with Total and Red Bull. It was a win that gave us wings and led us to take a close look at what other motorsport programmes we could do together. The result of that process was the decision to return to the Dakar."

Is Peugeot's Dakar programme as ambitious as last year's Pikes Peak operation?
Maxime Picat: "Our Pikes Peak programme was a success because we succeeded in bringing together an outstanding driver, a remarkable team and a car of the very highest quality. We have set our sights high for the Dakar, too, and the team will once again be able to count on all the necessary talent and skills. Our intention is to have everything in place for next year's Dakar, even though our strategy is based on a longer term than was the case for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, since we will be involved for several years. We are perfectly aware that the Dakar is a very difficult event but our aim is nonetheless to win at first attempt in 2015."

How important an event is the Dakar for Automobiles Peugeot?
Maxime Picat: "We are delighted to be returning to the Dakar because it's an event which enjoys extensive coverage globally. It is well known in Europe, as well as in such important markets as South America and China. It takes place in South America, with much of the action in Argentina where Peugeot has traditionally enjoyed a strong foothold."

Why did you decide to compete with the 2008?
Maxime Picat: "The 2008 conveys a strong image on every continent. It is our latest crossover and is proving a big hit in Europe, ahead of its launches in China and Latin America in 2015. The 2008 DKR stood out as the obvious choice."

Three questions to Bruno Famin, Director of Peugeot Sport
"We are very proud to have Carlos and Cyril in the team"

Peugeot Sport can look back at an excellent record on the Dakar. Will your past results be of help for your new challenge?
Bruno Famin: "The Dakar has changed a great deal in the past 25 years but you still design cars in the same way. We still have a certain amount of data from the late 1980s which we will be able to use. Above all, though, we have built up considerable experience of designing rally cars. Cross-country rallies and conventional rallies are effectively slightly different, but the approach and know-how are exactly the same. And that know-how is something we have."

What guided your choice of drivers?
Bruno Famin: "First let me say how proud the team is to be able to count on the services of two such hugely talented drivers as Carlos and Cyril. Their respective profiles are perfectly complementary. Carlos has an incredible record in motorsport and his car development skills are well documented. In all the teams he has worked with, he has contributed to producing winning cars. His experience will be an important asset for the team, while his enthusiasm and will to win are just as exceptional. Cyril has an impressive record, too, although on bikes, of course, and he is looking forward to discovering the world of motorsport on four wheels. Judging by the way the two are getting along together, I am sure it won't be long before Cyril is competitive."

How did the staff at Peugeot Sport respond to the news of this comeback?
Bruno Famin: "The reaction of everyone at Peugeot Sport has been very good. The announcement of a programme for the medium term is obviously excellent news after the difficult years we have experienced recently. At the same time, the Dakar is an integral part of Peugeot's history and everyone is very proud to be involved in this event again. We actually still have some people who were part of the original adventure, and one of them has already started working on the new project."

Three questions to Carlos Sainz
"A proposal that was too good to resist"

What made you decide to join Peugeot?
Carlos Sainz: "I have often competed against Peugeot Sport in the past and I have known for years just how passionate it is about motorsport. I also know that when they decide on a programme, they put everything into it. I'm the same. Given how much I love the Dakar, it was too good a proposal to resist when Peugeot asked me to be part of its line-up for its comeback to this unique adventure."

Peugeot hasn't done the Dakar for 25 years. Do you see that as a handicap?
Carlos Sainz: "I don't think so, because Peugeot has never stopped making cars of a very high standard for disciplines like rallying and endurance racing. The new 208 T16 R5 is a fine example. At the same time, I have already won the Dakar and I will be able to bring my own experience of the event in four-wheel and two-wheel drive cars to the table. We are ready for the challenge."

Do you believe the team can be competitive quickly?
Carlos Sainz: "In motorsport, you can never take anything for granted. The level of competition on the Dakar today is very high and it's an event that really isn't easy to win. We won't have much time before our first attempt, either, but I feel confident because the team is clearly extremely motivated and we will work hard to try to win."

Carlos Sainz in brief
- Born April 12, 1962, in Madrid, Spain. Lives in Madrid, Spain.
- Winner of the Dakar in 2010
- Seven previous Dakar participations: one victory (2010), one 3rd place (2011), one 9th place (2007), one 11th place (2006) and three retirements (2009, 2013 and 2014)
- Winner of the Cross-Country Rally World Cup in 2007
- Two-time World Rally Champion (1990 and 1992) and four-time runner-up
- 26 World Rally Championship victories

Three questions to Cyril Despres
"The beginning of a new life for me"

You enjoyed a highly successful career as a biker, with five Dakar wins to your name. Why have you decided to switch to four wheels?
Cyril Despres: "It was a natural process. When you do the Dakar on a motorbike, you can spend up to 10 hours on your own every day, so you have plenty of time to reflect on different things. In fact, the idea dawned on me during last January's Dakar, then Peugeot and Red Bull came up with this incredible opportunity. I am very proud. I didn't take me long to weigh up the pros and the cons! For me, it's a dream come true and the beginning of a new life."

How are you approaching this new challenge?
Cyril Despres: "I am aware that this is a tremendous opportunity to join the car guys at the sharp end, and with a competitive and professional team like Peugeot. I'm not sure I would have made the same jump for another team. I have strong recollections of Peugeot winning the Dakar when I was a kid and I can't wait to get a chance to drive the new car..."

Certain successful bikers have gone on to win the Dakar on four wheels. What is your objective?
Cyril Despres: "To begin with, my aim will be to learn and help as much as I can. I should be able to make good progress in a team like Peugeot and with a teammate like Carlos Sainz. That's so stimulating. I really want to familiarise myself with the way these cars function and how to drive them, as well as with how to work with a co-driver. Sharing so much time with someone sitting next to you will be difficult because I've been accustomed to being on my own for the past 15 years!"

Cyril Despres in brief

- Born January 24, 1974, in Fontainebleau, France. Lives in Andorra.
- Five-time Dakar bike winner (2005, 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2013)
- 14 previous Dakar participations on two-wheels: five victories, three 2nd places (2006, 2009 and 2011), one 3rd place (2004), two 4th places (2003 and 2014), one 13th place (2001), one 16th place (2000) and one retirement (2002)
- Cross-Country Rally World Champion (2003)
- World Team Enduro Champion (2001)

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Report: Feds investigating 2010-11 Mazda CX-9 CUVs over braking issues

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating 62,000, 2010-2011 Mazda CX-9 models over brake problems. The government safety watchdog says it has received seven complaints of an observed loss of power braking power to stop the crossover, according to the The Detroit News.

The NHTSA complaints say that the problem causes a hard pedal, increased braking effort and reduced braking effectiveness. Some complaints allege that they hear a hissing noise during braking similar to the sound of air leaving the tires. No injuries or crashes have been reported.

"As always, we are fully cooperating with NHTSA on their investigation. We cannot comment further at this time," said Mazda spokesperson Tamara Mlynarczyk to The Detroit News.

Should it get to that point, this would not be the first recall for the CX-9. The 2010 CX-9 was recalled due to faulty seat heaters. It also recalled about 31,000, 2007-2009 trucks for a fault in the power driver's seat. NHTSA also investigated (but didn't recall) the 2008 CX-9 for loss of braking effectiveness after a high number of warranty claims affected approximately 37,000 crossovers. Mazda found that there was a possible manufacturing defect with the brake master cylinder that might have caused it. We will watch the investigation and keep you updated if it develops into a recall.

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Report: Morgan readying updated Plus 4 for Geneva

Porsche is often mocked for only slightly evolving the look of the 911 over its 50 years of history, but compared to the cars from the Morgan Motor Company, the Germans look like constant innovators. For the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, Morgan plans to bring the most powerful version of its Plus 4 ever, along with the upgraded 2014 Three Wheeler.

A countdown on Morgan's website presages the full reveal, but it is expected to retain a four-cylinder engine, which has always been a part of the car. A Morgan spokesperson told Autocar it will be "by far the most powerful Plus 4 ever." Currently the old-school sports car uses a 2.0-liter Ford four-cylinder with 145 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque connected to a Mazda five-speed manual, which gets it to 62 miles per hour in about 7.5 seconds, with a top speed of 118 mph.

The Plus 4 first entered production in 1950 as a more powerful alternative to the 4/4. Production of the original Plus 4 models ended in the '60s, but Morgan saw a niche in the market in 1985 and brought the car back with an upgraded chassis but classic looks until 2000. It brought the name back again in 2005.

The Three Wheeler gets its European premiere in Switzerland, too, with a raft of upgrades to improve steering and driving comfort. It's a great time to be interested in Morgan.

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Porsche 911 GT3 RS facing delay over GT3 fire problems?

Porsche has never been afraid to introduce variants of its cars. However, its even higher spec, next-generation 911 GT3 RS may be delayed from its planned launch this summer while the engines in the standard GT3s (pictured above) are replaced.

A delay isn't certain, but executives want to make sure the high-strung mill is no longer a problem before they press forward with another model using it. Germany's Auto Motor und Sport asked Porsche CEO Matthias Müller about pushing back the launch, and he responded that it was too early to say. The company's current focus is making sure the engines get fixed and working on internal measures to prevent this kind of flaw in the future.

When fires claimed two 911 GT3s in Europe, Porsche initially stopped the model's sales and asked owners to stop driving them. It finally diagnosed the blazes as being caused by a loose screw on a connecting rod, which then resulted in crankcase damage and an oil leak. The company is replacing the engines on all 785 affected cars. A source told Autoblog that under 200 customers were actually affected, and the other cars were either at port or dealer lots. Hopefully, the recall doesn't postpone the road-going GT3 RS too far because we want to see what Porsche has up its sleeve.

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Latest Jaguar XJ snaps show old versus new

It is a rare day when automakers line up their current models and test cars right next to each other and allow us to compare them directly. However, Jaguar ending up doing just that during cold weather testing of the face lifted XJ, providing the perfect chance to see just what the company is changing.

We spotted the refreshed XJ testing last year, and it hasn't evolved much since then. The updated model sports clear turn signals and a slightly revised front air dam. The modifications are similarly minor at the rear. The bumper appears to dip down slightly further on the new sedan. Thankfully, those gorgeous taillights are still draped over the back of the car. The exhaust outlets have switched to oval shapes rather than the current parallelograms. This alteration could just be chalked up to it being a test car, but the previous tester we saw had a similar design. It's possible that the camouflage could be hiding other revisions, but don't expect anything radical from the facelift.

Our previous report indicated that Jaguar is also planning some interior upgrades with new infotainment and ambient lighting. The company seems to feel that there isn't a point in messing with the XJ's design just yet, since all of the changes we see here are very subtle. No problems, here â€" to our eyes, the big Jag is still one of the prettier sedans on the road today.

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Mercedes to offer SL, GL platforms to Aston Martin?

The agonizingly slow courtship between Aston Martin and Mercedes-Benz has been a regular topic of conversation ever since the 2009 Lagonda Concept debuted, riding on a Mercedes GL chassis. Beyond that one polarizing concept, though, nearly every other attempt to pair the two brands up in a major way has fallen through. Only the technical partnership between Mercedes and Aston for certain components from AMG, which was negotiated back in July, has held up so far.

That may finally be set to change, according to an excellent profile of the two brands' relationship from Automobile, which claims that two platforms will unite the Germans and Brits. The first tie up is, not surprisingly, a sports car.

As Aston Martin's VH platform - which underpins every car that comes out of Gaydon - continues to age, the pressure will well and truly be on Aston to find a next-gen replacement to underpin the successors to the Vantage, Vanquish, DB9 and Rapide. Automobile claims Mercedes has just such an architecture, in the form its new modular sports car platform. This new platform is slated for the next-generation SLK and SL and is still in its design infancy.

Automobile claims that this fact, along with MSA's versatility - MSA can handle just about any body style - makes it a logical replacement for VH. The fact that it's being designed with plug-in and autonomous technology in mind is a big bonus as well.

As for the other platform, well, it's an SUV. It is not, however, a production version of the Lagonda Concept. Instead, Automobile claims this will be a proper, big, high-riding SUV in the same vein as a Range Rover. Despite previous reports, the Aston SUV would likely end up riding on the next-generation GL platform, which is codenamed X167, although it's still far from a done deal.

"Dieter [Zetsche] is quite chuffed about the Aston thing and he is willing to let them in on X167," an anonymous Mercedes board member told the mag. "Money, however, is a big issue. Aston's 500 million pound ($833.5 million) four-year investment plan is just not enough when you need to renew your entire model range and think about adding an SUV."

According to the board member, to make sharing X167 palatable to Mercedes, Aston will need to hand over another batch of stock, increasing the five-percent share already owned by MB.

The entire profile of Aston's future with Mercedes is available over on Automobile. It really is worth a read. What are your thoughts, though? Should Aston be handing over stock to gain access to additional platforms? Is a car that rides on the bones of an SLK really a proper Aston? Have your say in Comments.

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European car sales up 8% in February

Three weeks ago an analyst increased projections for European car sales this year, expecting them to climb three percent compared to last year instead of 2.7 percent. That number is a postive sign after years of hard times but it turns out February was especially good, overall European sales climbing eight percent on a wave of southern European recovery and discounts - and this comes after five months of gains including January's 7.2-percent jump over the year before.

The only country of Europe's five largest markets to post a decline was France, just as it did in January, Germany, the UK and Italy posting solid double-digit numbers, Spain rocking the charts with an 18-percent increase because of a government program to encourage trade-ins.

The only brand to miss the wave was Volkswagen, dropping 0.8 percent as it watched the double-digit growth at sister brands Audi, Seat and Skoda lift the Volkswagen Group sales up by seven-percent. Peugeot overcame flat sales at Citroën to improve the group by 3.5 percent, BMW and the Mercedes-Benz/Smart combo rose by four percent, the Fiat group jumped 5.8 percent, Ford was up 11 percent, the Renault Group 11.5 percent, General Motors 12 percent and the Toyota clan by 14 percent.

But every silver lining has a dark cloud, in this case it's the level of discounting that's pumping up sales. One analyst compared the current situation in Europe to the profit-killing discounting carried on by GM and Chrysler before bankruptcy, another - less dire - cautioning patience instead of touting recovery. Even so, said another analyst, "Demand has been depressed for so long that it can only go up."

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Lapo Elkann calls out Renault Twingo for copying Fiat 500 [w/poll]

Small cars are becoming big business, especially for European automakers that are amping up the style. But is each new Euro city car's style unique?

Lapo Elkann is calling that into question. The brother of Fiat chairman John Elkann and the grandson of his late predecessor Gianni Agnelli is known as much as a style icon as he is for his work within the Fiat Group, which he has served in various capacities. He's combined the two by birthing various special editions of the Fiat 500 like the Gucci edition (to say nothing of his own denim-clad Ferraris), but now his eye is fixed on another European city car: the new Renault Twingo.

Posting photos of both vehicles on his Facebook page, Lapo is calling Renault out for what he sees as copying the Cinquecento's design.

For our part, we'd really have to squint to see the resemblance, but we can't help but see the irony. For one thing, you might say that it was Fiat who "copied" Mini by bringing a retro revival hatchback to the market in the first place. Setting style aside for substance, though, Renault may have "copied" the original Cinquecento's rear-engine/rear-drive layout with the new Twingo, but when Fiat itself revived the 500, it went for a more conventional front-engine/front-drive layout (just like Volkswagen did with the Beetle). So what do you think, is Renault guilty of copying Fiat?

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Bentley shifting W12 engine production to UK

Who would you think would be the largest producer of 12-cylinder engines in the world? Mercedes? BMW? Ferrari? Think again: as you might have guessed from the headline, it's Bentley. The thing is that, while all Bentley automobiles are manufactured in the UK, its engines aren't: while the 6.75-liter V8 in the Mulsanne is made at home, the innovative 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12 engine in Continental models so equipped (like the newer 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8) is shipped in from Germany. But that won't be the case any longer.

Bentley has just announced that production of the W12 engine is moving to its home base in Crewe by the end of this year. The shift in production (which follows the migration of the Flying Spur from Dresden to Crewe in 2007) will create 100 jobs in the UK â€" a country which employs some 142,000 workers in the automotive sector â€" and produce as many as 9,000 engines per year. That in and of itself would account for the vast majority of the 10,000-plus cars Bentley made last year, but will also make Bentley an exporter of engines for the first time in its history.

Right there at the factory, Bentley will fit the engines into twelve-cylinder versions of the Continental GT, GTC and Flying Spur, and send some back to Germany for use in the Audi A8. Applications within the Volkswagen brand itself like the Phaeton and Touareg no longer use the W12 engine, but could conceivably use it again in the future â€" they'll just have to bring them in from England is all.

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY MADE IN BRITAIN

- Bentley to become centre of excellence for W12 engines
- Bentley to export engines for the first time in its history
- 100 jobs across the business to be created

(Crewe/London, 19 March 2014) Bentley has firmly reinforced its position as the world's largest producer of 12 cylinder engines after announcing its Crewe headquarters will become the centre of excellence for the Volkswagen Group for all W12 engine production from the end of 2014 onwards. With this decision, Bentley will export engines for the first time in its history, creating around 100 jobs across the business.

Dr. Wolfgang Schreiber, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors, said: "This is an important step, not just for Bentley but also for the UK manufacturing sector. This W12 centre of excellence is recognition of the long standing engine manufacturing expertise we have that has resulted in performance improvements across the model ranges over recent years. The production of this advanced engine and its future generations will bring new technologies and skills to Crewe."

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "Our world beating car industry employs 142,000 people in the UK and is worth £11.2 billion to our economy.

"With more than four out of every five cars made in the UK exported to the rest of the world, the news that Bentley will now export engines as well is another feather in their cap. The Government's Industrial Strategy is supporting world-class companies like Bentley to create highly skilled long term jobs and promote exports."

The W12 engine is an advanced 12 cylinder high performance engine in a unique 'W' configuration. The engine offers high levels of power and torque. Bentley expects to produce up to 9,000 engines per year at peak times.

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Weight loss tips for real women - in the real world

Real women live in the real world. It is therefore not realistic, possible and/or feasible to have unrealistic weight goals due to time and cost constraints.

However, here's how to make the best of what you have with the following tips:

1. Eat a high fibre breakfast cereal or porridge at least five mornings per week

This fills you up and keeps you regular.

2. Eat regularly

It has been shown that ”grazers” (those who eat small regular meals), weigh less than those who skip meals, especially breakfast, and/or follow an erratic eating pattern.

3. Drink six to eight glasses of pure water each day to remain well hydrated

If you do not enjoy drinking good old tap water, have sparkling or soda water. However, remember that flavoured waters are not energy (kilojoule) free. 

4. Other fluid recommendations:

Do not drink carbonated beverages on a regular basis. They add to the inflation around your waistline. 

Aim for less than four cups of coffee per day and less than eight cups of tea per day. Drink your coffee or tea with low fat (2% fat) or fat-free (skim) milk and watch how much sugar you add as less is always best.

5. Do not add sugar, margarine or oil to vegetables during or after preparation or cooking

Although this adds flavour, it also adds energy (kilojoules) to your veggies. The best method for cooking vegetables is to steam them for a short time period of time in very little water and to flavour them with herbs. Should you add oil, margarine or sugar for extra flavour, again the rule is that less is best. 

"

The best method for cooking vegetables is to steam them for a short time period of time in very little water and to flavour them with herbs

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6. Choose low fat protein sources and remove visible fat and chicken skin before cooking

7. Concentrate on eating slowly

8. Make an extra effort to increase your daily activity levels

No problem if you are not a gym member. You can become active by implementing non-gym related habits like the following:

• Using the stairs instead of the lift or escalator: ALWAYS!

Walking somewhere instead of driving (if the distance is realistic and the area  is safe).

• When walking, increase your pace or time yourself when walking for recreational purposes in order to cover the same distance, but at a faster pace.

• Parking a distance away from your destination (such as the local shopping mall). Don’t waste time by driving around for hours in order to deliberately snare the closest possible parking spot.

• Getting up every now and then during long bouts of sitting like meetings.

• Contracting you’re your muscles or moving any part of your body while sitting or standing for long periods e.g. during an aeroplane flight

• Gardening

• Dancing, with or without any other body!

• Washing your car/washing your partner’s car/washing the neighbour’s car.

• Playing actively with your children/grandchildren/other people’s children and pets (the latter does not refer to partners or husbands).

• Plan active family holidays or weekend outings such as hiking trips.

• Walking around your building, inside and outside during your lunch hour and tea break.

• Clock up short bouts of exercise during the day. In other words, five minutes here and ten minutes there should get you to the recommended 60-90 minutes per day.

Above all, repeat after me: “Thow shall not weigh thyself more often than once a week”.

Even better: “Thow shall abandon the scale and monitor thow weight by how comfortably your clothes fit”.

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Mini might not replace Paceman, Coupe, Roadster

Nobody could argue at this point that Mini (like its parent company BMW) has not mastered the art (if you could call it that) of filling every niche with its own model. But with the third generation of Mini now upon us, some of the company's strategists are asking themselves what the point is of it all.

The outgoing second-generation Mini spawned too many variants to count. So far the new model has only surfaced in hatchback form, but the brand may roll out quite as many variants this time around. Instead it is looking at its lineup in terms of pillars.

The quintessential hatchback we've already seen would be one pillar. The Countryman crossover would be another. And the production version of the new Clubman concept which Mini displayed in Geneva would be a third. A convertible based (like the existing one and the one that came before it) on the hardtop hatchback is likely to follow, but don't expect too many other versions.

That would mean that many of the brand's quirkier two-door models could face the axe â€" or rather simply not be replaced by new versions. That would likely include the Coupe, the Roadster and the Paceman crossover. While some of us are more partial to the roadster than the cabriolet, and despite them all being relatively good to steer, we have to say that we'd hardly miss any of them.

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Volvo already planning road-going V8 Supercar?

After decades of cat-and-mouse battle waged between Holden and Ford, Australia's V8 Supercars series has expanded considerably. Mercedes and Nissan both joined the grid last season, and Volvo has followed suit this year. So when 2014 championship kicked off earlier this month in Adelaide, everyone was watching to see who would come out on top.

The answer is Holden, which took first place in all three of the weekend's races. In fact the General Motors division locked out the podium in the first and third races and took first and third places in the second race, letting just one other manufacturer onto the podium the entire weekend â€" and that was Volvo. The Polestar S60 scored second place on its first race weekend, beating all the Nissan Altimas, the Mercedes E63 AMGs, the Ford Falcons and most of the Holden Commodores.

Now that's hardly winning the championship, but it's a very solid debut. And that point was not lost on the people back at headquarters in Sweden, who are already thinking about making a roadgoing version of the race-spec V8 Supercar.

Speaking with Aussie car site Motoring.com.au, Volvo R&D chief Peter Mertens hinted that such a project is being developed, although it likely wouldn't be based on the current S60. Instead it would have to wait on the next-gen model that will share its Scalable Product Architecture with the upcoming new XC90. That could take some time, but we're sure that the engineers at Polestar aren't wasting any time getting it ready. In the meantime the S60 Polestar with its 345-horsepower turbo six will just have to suffice.

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Jeep Renegade pricing to start at $18,595?

While there's no shortage of excitement surrounding the new Jeep Renegade, one of the limiting factors to the little trucklet will be its price. With the Kia Soul starting at $14,900 and the Nissan Juke kicking off at $18,990, the Renegade can't afford to stray away from that price bracket.

And judging by some potentially leaked pricing info, it won't. A quick Google search of "Jeep Renegade Price" reveals (at least for now) that the Italian-built Jeep will start at $18,595. The "as shown" price of $25,895 seems to indicate the Trailhawk model shown on Jeep's consumer page.

If the $18,595 figure is correct, it's likely for the base, two-wheel-drive Sport model, with the Latitude and Limited trims falling somewhere between there and the $25,895 as-equipped price of the Trailhawk.

Not to burst everyone's bubble, though, but this pricing information could be a bit of a fluke. See, that starting figure is identical to the current Jeep Compass. It seems possible that someone behind the Jeep website or at Google may have plugged the Compass' pricing in by mistake. Of course, it would also make sense for the Renegade to pick up where the Compass left of; time will tell.

Considering this, we reached out to Todd Goyer, head of brand communications for Jeep, to see if we could get anything official on pricing. "I can't comment on pricing. It will be announced closer to launch," Goyer told Autoblog.

While that's a disappointment, what Goyer added isn't. We can confirm that the Renegade should arrive in European showrooms during the fourth quarter of this year, while the US dealers can expect to see the new Jeep during the first quarter of 2015.

It is still extremely early for pricing on the new Renegade, but if this figure is correct, we think it's rather reasonable. If we get any official information on pricing between now and the Jeep's European arrival in Q4, we'll be sure to let you know.

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GM ignition switch flaw traced back to 2001

General Motors' ignition switch problem goes back even farther than first imagined. In a statement that the automaker submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it said that it found a case of the faulty ignition switch going back to 2001 in a pre-production Saturn Ion (pictured above). Previously, the earliest known affected vehicles were from 2004.

NHTSA received the GM letter on March 11, and it came as part of the timeline it released to explain the widened recall. The report includes a case of a pre-production Ion where engineers found a problem with the ignition switch's "passlock" system. The engineers diagnosed it as "low detent plunger force," and a design change fixed the issue.

The same report documents a case in 2003 where a service technician was driving an Ion, and the car stalled. The mechanic said: "'[t]he owner had several keys on the key ring,' and stated that '[t]he additional weight of the keys had worn out the ignition switch,'" according to the letter. The worker replaced the vehicle's ignition switch.

GM said that it received customer complaints to its warranty and technical assistance offices around this time of customers not being able to start their vehicles, and some of these included reports of stalling.

For the Ion alone, GM says in the new report that it has found eight frontal crashes of 2003-2007 models where the ignition switch fault may have played a role. Among these accidents, there were four fatalities and six injuries. It also has evidence of three frontal impacts of 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHRs where the switch might have been responsible, and they resulted in three injuries.

This latest letter to NHTSA comes in addition to the 107 questions the automaker has to answer for the regulator by April 7. The company is also facing a hearing before the US House Energy and Commerce Committee, but a date hasn't been set yet. The entire 10-page letter can be viewed as a PDF here. Much of the new information comes on page nine.

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How you can be part of an open-source Le Mans racer

Open-source software isn't a new thing, even in the world of racing. Just take a look at the gorgeous Project Cars video game to see what we mean. What is, unusual, though, is an open-source car. And we aren't just talking about any car - we're talking about an open-source Le Mans prototype. Oh yes.

The brainchild of the UK's Nicolas Perrin, the open-source project, called Perrin MyTeam, allows just about anyone to contribute to an attempt to bring a hybrid-powered Le Mans prototype to the 24-hour race in 2015. Participants will have access to everything from CAD information on the car Perrin - an engineer and designer who previously worked in Formula One and sports car racing - designed to budgets, drawings, liveries and even team outfits. According to Perrin, there will be so much data available on the car itself that those with the means would actually be able to produce a miniature 3D print.

"From my extensive time in F1 and even when I was designing sports cars for others, I saw how secretive motorsport really is, preventing fans, enthusiastic students and engineers from getting involved and learning," Perrin said in a statement. "It doesn't have to be like that. We can create a true 'people's team' and by opening everything up, we aim to not only build up a fan base that gets involved to improve the car but also attract backers who share our values."

We'll admit, it's all a very, very intriguing idea. Whether it will ultimately be successful, though, is tougher to figure out. Take a look below for the official press release from Perrin MyTeam, and if you're interested in contributing your time and experience, head over to the team's website.

FIRST-EVER 'OPEN SOURCE' RACE TEAM OFFERS OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE TO GET INVOLVED IN 2015 LE MANS RACE CAR PROJECT

Perrinn myTeam offers schoolchildren, students, engineers, enthusiasts and fans unprecedented access to contribute and share data and ideas for top flight Le Mans hybrid race car.

A new British race car constructor is offering members of the public a unique way to become involved in a project to develop, build and run a sports car which aims to compete at Le Mans in 2015. Through its interactive open source website, www.perrinn.com, students, schoolchildren, fans and engineers will, for the first time, have access to every element of the racing project including drawings, CAD model and even financial budgets. With everything from livery design and team wear right through to driver choice, suspension and aero data available on line, Perrinn myTeam's pioneering approach will enable everybody to contribute no matter what their experience. So much data about the car will be available that it will even be possible to 3D print a model of the race car or download a version of the car to drive on the PC or simulator.

The novel project is the brainchild of Yorkshire-based race car designer Nicolas Perrin. Perrin, an engineer, who has worked in F1 and sports car racing, came up with the open source idea for the LMP1 racing car he designed as an alternative way to find backing for his £8.5 m project for the next two years. Unlike other open source ideas such as myfootballclub, Perrin's myTeam is not crowd funded and is free for followers. Perrin hopes this alternative and interactive way of going racing will encourage sponsors and investors to back the project, who are particularly attracted by the unique opportunities it offers. myTeam is an innovative platform via which organisations can communicate their own values of openness and transparency as well as to engage with an enthusiastic community with a common goal.

"From my extensive time in F1 and even when I was designing sports cars for others, I saw how secretive motorsport really is, preventing fans, enthusiastic students and engineers from getting involved and learning," says Perrin. "It doesn't have to be like that. We can create a true 'people's team' and by opening everything up, we aim to not only build up a fan base that gets involved to improve the car but also attract backers who share our values. We are not an established brand, so we have to do something different. This is a very different way but I believe we can, together get a result."

With over 10 years' experience of designing and engineering sports cars, Perrin has already been able to complete a full set of blueprints for his 4WD hybrid LMP1 challenger that would face Porsche, Audi and Toyota at Le Mans and the World Endurance Championship. Component drawings, CAD models and set up data will be available on the Perrinn myTeam site for to access and find areas for improvement that can be fed back to the team. As the project expands, Perrinn will release the commercial aspects including salaries, operating costs and strategies. "For too long motorsport has not embraced its fans nor nurtured future generations who want to work in motorsport to know what really goes in a team," claims Perrin. "We can do things differently and show people what is really needed to get a car to Le Mans."

Continuing the innovative approach and unlike other motorsport launches that take place at race tracks and auto shows, Perrinn myTeam will take its car direct to the public this summer, running a European tour that will see the car on show in London, Paris and Zurich before returning to Yorkshire for the Tour de France stage.

The unorthodox approach continues with rivals from other LMP teams as well as engineers in F1 expressing their support to Perrinn, believing it is time for a step change in how motorsport engages with its fans. "To date, everyone, including competitors has been hugely supportive and wants the project to proceed, believing it will help them to open up more and increase the appeal to their own fan bases," adds Perrin.

The project has received substantial support from private investors to complete the design but Perrinn's task now is to find backers who will enable him to build and test the first car by the end of 2014. "Our fully open book financial model shows we are looking for £2.5m in the first year. It is all planned and costed. At this stage everything is possible, including naming the car and team. Backers will have access to our sharing community and be part of a concept not seen anywhere else, I think that is very special." concludes Perrin.

Full details can be found on the www.perrinn.com website

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Followup: Brazil contemplates safety exemption for VW Kombi as it goes out of production today [w/poll]

Brazil: the country of carnivals, indescribable beauty adjacent to abject poverty, Ayrton Senna and old Volkswagen models. Only they're not old â€" they're new, they're just based on old designs. The original Beetle continued production there long after it had been phased out elsewhere, but the original Kombi van has lasted much longer. That ends today, however, with the iconic VW Microbus ambling out of production on the last day of 2013.

VW kept making the van in Brazil with the original air-cooled 1.2-liter boxer four until 2005, after which the original design was updated with a 1.4-liter water-cooled engine. Today, however, it ultimately falls prey to safety regulations that mandate that all vehicles â€" no matter how old their design â€" need to have airbags and ABS, forcing Volkswagen do Brasil to cease production of the Microbus after a 56-year production run. But the latest word is that the Kombi (as it's presently known) could get a stay of execution â€" or at least a resurrection in short order.

According to reports, the Brazilian government is looking into granting the Type 2 Microbus an exemption from said safety regulations, reasoning that the van was designed long before the advent of airbags and ABS. If the measure goes through, the Kombi Last Edition (pictured above) could prove not to be the last at all. So what do you think, should the Microbus get an exemption from Brazilian safety regulations for nostalgia's sake? Vote in our poll below, then have your say in Comments.

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Report: Is the $1.4M LaFerrari sold out?

If you look at the stratospheric sticker prices on the latest generation of hypercars and wonder how an automaker could possibly justify it, bear in mind a few factoids. For one thing, even when the sticker prices start lower, they quickly balloon past the million-dollar mark. For another, automakers charge that much because they can, and don't seem to have much trouble selling them all.

Case in point: the new LaFerrari. While presenting the state-of-the-art supercar on CNBC, Ferrari North America CEO Marco Mattiacci revealed that all 499 examples that will be made of the hybrid hypercar â€" including those 120 earmarked for North America â€" have already been spoken for. This despite the $1.4 million asking price that makes it the most expensive Ferrari ever made.

Or the most expensive new Ferrari, we should say, because prices for the most collectable machines ever to roll out the gates at Maranello continue to rise. Figure you'll save a little and get LaFerrari's predecessor? Trading hands these days at prices approaching $2 million (around three times its original $660k MSRP), the Enzo is even more expensive. And that's just the scarlet tip of the iceberg.

A classic 250 LM recently sold at auction for $14 million, a 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder for $27.5 million and the most recent 250 GTO to have changed hands sold for a reputed $52 million. Heck, even a wrecked Dino 308 GT4 sold for a quarter million, which suddenly makes LaFerrari seem like a bargain. Shame they're all spoken for...

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ETC: DMC.Concept takes DeLorean back to the future [w/video]

The DeLorean DMC-12 was, for a brief but shining moment, the dream of the 1980s motorist. Eventually failed in the cold, hard, reality of bad business deals and sketchy engineering, the gullwing DeLorean has nevertheless refused to go away. The injection of stardom from Back to the Future and the motoring media's near sycophantic obsession with the wild life of John Z. DeLorean have given the brand legs that wouldn't have been believed in the darkest days of 1983.

The iconic bodyshell of the DMC-12 has played host to powertrains ranging from high-output mills to electric motors; toys based on the car still crop on the regular; the model makes occasional appearances on screens of all kinds.

It's not shocking then, that the DeLorean is still inspiring young designers, as well. We ran across this rather interesting new take on the DMC brand recently, a DMC.Concept that imagines a car positioned as a luxury coupe in the 2014 marketplace. Designer Alex Graszk may not have anything like a path to production for his evocative machine, but we still like the cut of his cloth. The concept does not so much ape the DMC-12 styling that we're all so fond of, but it does strike us as a realistic, modern interpretation of the values that guided the first car.

Tell us how the fanciful DMC.Concept strikes you in Comments after scrolling below for a brief video.

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Martini Racing officially returns to F1 with Williams

As a car culture, we throw the word "iconic" too much, but if there's anything it has ever applied to â€" when it comes to racing liveries especially â€" surely it's the legendary stripes of Martini Racing. The Italian vermouth brand has sponsored everything from Porsche endurance racers to Lancia rally cars. It's followed Ford into the WRC and Alfa Romeo into DTM. It's even sponsored offshore racing powerboats. But when it comes to Formula One, it's come and gone over the years.

Martini Racing started out sponsoring the unsuccessful Italian squad Tecno in 1972, then switched to the World-Champion Brabham racing team run by Bernie Ecclestone. It sponsored Lotus in 1979, then disappeared from the scene for decades until its logo showed up on the Ferrari 248 F1 in 2006, only to vanish again into the history books. But now it's back.

As promised, Martini has penned a new deal with the Williams F1 team to see its stripes adorn the Mercedes-powered FW36 which Felipe Massa and Finnish newcomer Valtteri Bottas will be driving in the 2014 FIA Formula One World Championship. The rechristened Williams Martini Racing has just revealed its car in full race livery â€" complete with those red, navy and light blue stripes draped over white bodywork â€" ahead of the Australian Grand Prix that will open the season in Melbourne next weekend.

The partnership gives Williams the best-looking livery and highest-profile sponsor since Rothmans in the 1990s, and gives us one more reason to pull for the plucky underdogs that have been outshining the frontrunners in pre-season testing.

WILLIAMS MARTINI RACING PUTS THE STRIPES BACK ON THE GRID
Iconic MARTINI® Brand Returns to Formula One™ Racing as Title Partner of the Legendary Williams™ Team

LONDON, March 6, 2014- MARTINI®, the world's leading vermouth and best-selling Italian sparkling wine, in partnership with Williams, today announced a multi-year agreement that unites two of the most iconic brands in Formula One™ racing, creating WILLIAMS MARTINI RACING. The announcement was made during an event held here, as part of the 2014 team launch.

"We are thrilled to welcome MARTINI to the Williams family and officially launch WILLIAMS MARTINI RACING," said Sir Frank Williams, Founder and Team Principal, Williams. "Williams and MARTINI share a rich history in the world of motorsport, and the values of our two brands and our shared passion for racing make this partnership a natural fit. It will be great to see the distinctive stripes of MARTINI Racingâ„¢ return to Formula Oneâ„¢ once again in unison with Williams."

"The decision to partner with Williams was a natural one for us as it provides an unparalleled opportunity for the MARTINI brand to connect with consumers through one of their lifestyle passions, Formula Oneâ„¢ racing," said Andy Gibson, Chief Marketing Officer of Bacardi and President of Bacardi Global Brands, who oversees marketing for MARTINI other premium brands in the Bacardi portfolio. "MARTINI will give consumers a taste of life in the fast lane, bringing a renewed sense of Italian style and glamour to the track and beyond. WILLIAMS MARTINI RACING provides a powerful, integrated marketing platform and delivers dynamic opportunities that will strengthen the MARTINI brand."

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The Fiat 500 Cult celebrates the little car's success with a new top model

The Fiat 500 has proved to be a huge success since first being introduced in 2007. In that time, Fiat claims that it has sold over 1.2 million units worldwide. For the 2014 model, the Italians are celebrating with a new top-spec version called the 500 Cult at the Geneva Motor Show, but it likely will be limited to the European market.

The Cult is available as both a hatchback and convertible and each receive their own, unique color. The coupe is available in a light mint green called Lattementa Green that recalls the 500s from the 1960s, and the convertible is offered in Three-layer White. Both models get gloss black trim around the taillights, and the bumperettes and tailgate handles are finished in chrome. Buyers can choose between black or chrome trim for the door mirrors, both presenting a very retro look.

Inside, the Cult gets standard leather and a dashboard painted the same color as the body. A new 7-inch TFT display sits in the middle of the instrument cluster, which manages the media player, telephone, trip computer and displays warning messages. Automatic climate control and rear parking sensors are standard, and coupes get a sunroof.

These top 500s are available with a full range of engines, including a 95 horsepower 1.3-liter MultiJet II turbodiesel, a 69 hp 1.2-liter petrol engine and 85 hp or 105 hp tunes of the 900cc TwinAir Turbo.

Geneva sees the début of the Fiat 500 MY 14 and its ultimate expression: the exclusive Cult version

Star of the Swiss Motor Show's 84th edition, the Model Year 2014 of the iconic Fiat 500 introduces important new product features in terms of style and technological content

3 new body colours - Lattementa Green, Three-layer White and Italia Blue, the latter exclusive to the S trim level - 3 new alloy wheels, 15" or 16", as standard depending on the trim level

New interiors in fabric or leather, with specific combinations for each version

The début of the innovative instrument panel with 7" TFT display developed with Magneti Marelli
5 engine versions: 105HP 0.9 TwinAir Turbo, 95HP 1.3 MultiJet II, 69HP 1.2, 85HP 0.9 TwinAir Turbo, the last two also with Dualogic robotized gearbox, and the 69 HP 1.2 dual-fuel (petrol/LPG)

The new 105HP 0.9 TwinAir Turbo shows off the 'metropolitan' vocation of the 500 MY to best effect, recording top speed of 188km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100km/h in 10 seconds, together with low consumption (4.2litres/100km) and CO2 emissions (99g/km) in the combined cycle

MY 2014 innovations include the new top-of-the-range Cult version, in saloon and cabrio configurations, which offers an exclusive level of style, technological content and performance

New Lattementa green body colour and, on the cabrio version, also the brand-new Three-layer White

New chrome treatment for front 'whiskers', luggage compartment handle and mirror covers

New 16" alloy wheels and new leather-upholstered seats

Exclusive Mopar® accessories available, as well as all the quality of the assistance services, warranties and maintenance plans offered by the Mopar Vehicle Protection range

The entire Fiat 500 MY 2014 range will be in showrooms starting from the second quarter of 2014

All the new features of the Model Year 2014 will consolidate the success of the 500 model: from 2007 to date, more than 1,200,000 units sold, 75% of which registered abroad, and heading up the sales ranking in Europe in 2013

The 2014 Geneva Motor Show sees the début of the new Fiat 500 Model Year 2014, which introduces important new product features in terms of style and technological content. Starting with the three new body colours - Lattementa Green, Three-layer White and Italia Blue, the latter exclusive to the S trim level - and the three new alloy wheels, 15" or 16", as standard depending on the trim level. What's more, the renewal of the range sees the début of new interiors, in fabric or leather, with specific combinations for every trim level.

The passenger compartment has also been updated in terms of equipment, as demonstrated by the new and innovative instrument panel with 7'' TFT display, developed in collaboration with Magneti Marelli, the international group which operates in the area of designing and manufacturing high-tech systems and components for vehicles. Specifically, the device provides the driver with all the information needed and demonstrates, once more, the "trend-setting" spirit of this model, an icon that's always one step ahead.

One of the many new features ushered in by Model Year 2014 is the brand-new Fiat 500 Cult, the top-of-the-range 'collector's' version which encapsulates the best of 2014's new features, offering an exclusive level of style, technological content - such as the Blue&Me hands-free system with Bluetooth and automatic climate control as standard - and performance to the most demanding and scrupulous customers of the Fiat 500 MY 2014.

The Model Year 2014 of the iconic Fiat 500 will certainly play its part in consolidating the global success of the Fiat model-icon. There is a genuine '500 effect', which has spread not only through the automotive sector, but has also become a source of inspiration in other areas: from the cinema to art and from fashion to design. The Fiat 500 has earned a place in the collective imagination as a powerful, unmistakable symbol, not merely a means of transport but a 'vehicle' for authentic emotion and unique experiences. To the extent that in some places, the Fiat 500 has become almost a 'cult' item for collectors and admirers. It's up to the Fiat brand to fuel '500ism' constantly with new products, ever more up-to-date and contemporary, just like the exclusive Fiat 500 Cult version, which assumes its rightful place in the manifesto of '500ism'.

The Fiat 500 is also the icon of Italian manufacturing par excellence, which establishes itself throughout the world thanks to Italian style, continuous innovation, respect for the environment and premium quality. Suffice it to say, it's the Fiat model with the highest level of sales outside of Italy: more than 1,200,000 units sold from 2007 to date, 75% of which have been registered abroad.

Made since 2007 in Poland and since 2010 also in Toluca (Mexico), the Fiat 500 is marketed in over one hundred countries worldwide and has marked the return of the Fiat brand to the USA. A global model, which in 2013 alone repeated its record share (13.9%) of 2008 in Europe, its first full year on sale. And that's not all. For the first time in its history, last month saw it reach another important landmark, becoming Europe's best-selling A-segment car. A total of nearly 163 thousand were registered in the EMEA area in 2013, an increase of approximately 9% compared to 2012.

Among the secrets of its global success is without a doubt its capacity to evolve continuously with new interpretations - from the 500 Abarth (2008) to the latest arrival, the 500 GQ (2013) - but also to explore new territory, generating a family of fun, accessible cars that ensure the utmost choice and versatility: the 500L (2012), 500L Trekking and 500L Living (2013) are the result.

The new 500 Model Year 2014

The new Fiat 500 Model Year 2014 will be on display in European showrooms from the second quarter of 2014, revealing important new product features both in terms of style and technological content.

Starting with the three new body colours - Lattementa Green, Three-layer White and Italia Blue, the latter exclusive to the S trim level - and the three new alloy wheels, 15" or 16", as standard depending on the trim level. What's more, the 2014 range sees the début of new interiors, in fabric or leather and with specific combinations for each trim level. But one of the most significant new features of the Fiat 500 Model Year 2014 is undoubtedly the innovative digital instrument panel, developed in collaboration with Magneti Marelli.

New 7" TFT display

For the first time in the segment, the Fiat 500 Model Year 2014 offers a 7" TFT digital display which brings together all the information required for driving and controlling the car. An ideal marriage of retro aesthetics and technological modernity, the new instrument panel is standard on the S and Cult trim levels, on request on Lounge.

In detail, the driver can always monitor the data from the speedometer, rev counter and trip computer, all of which can be consulted immediately and simultaneously. Moreover, the central section of the display - displaying an image of the car - can be configured according to the driver's wishes, by choosing from the various data provided by the trip computer, such as distance travelled, instant fuel consumption, range, etc.

An interesting feature is the integration with the tried and tested Blue&Me TomTom 2 LIVE navigation system for viewing navigation information on the 7" TFT display of the Fiat 500 Cult and managing the media player, telephone and trip computer functions on the same screen. The real time traffic and speed camera information make travelling fast and safe.

There's also high visibility for the warning messages - such as doors open, temperature, etc. and the "GSI" (Gear Shift Indicator) system indicator, which advises the driver to change gear by switching on a specific symbol.

Finally, if the vehicle is equipped with the TomTom satellite device, the 7" TFT display also shows the navigation information. Additionally, the LCD screen shows the Sport button activation signal on the 105 HP 0.9 TwinAir Turbo engine version.

Engine versions

Fiat 500 MY 2014 is also synonymous with personality and fun behind the wheel, as demonstrated by a wide range of engine versions comprising the 69 HP 1.2 and 85 HP TwinAir Turbo petrol engines (both also available with Dualogic robotized gearbox) and the new 105 HP 0.9 TwinAir Turbo. Customers can also choose to fit their car out with the outstanding 95 HP 1.3 MultiJet II turbodiesel or the 69 HP 1.2 dual-fuel (LPG/petrol) engine.

In particular, among the engines that show off the car's 'metropolitan' vocation to best effect is without a doubt the new 105 HP 0.9 TwinAir, the new power unit from the TwinAir family that combines the concept of downsizing - displacement and weight reduction - with sophisticated technologies, like supercharging with high-efficiency turbocharger, integration of the exhaust manifold in the cylinder head and the totally new MultiAir 2 intake valve control system.

Combined with a six-speed manual gearbox, the new 0.9 TwinAir engine delivers 105 HP at 5,500 rpm with a maximum torque of 145 Nm at 2,000 rpm. This is the source of the Fiat 500 105 HP 0.9 TwinAir's performance: 188 km/h top speed and 0 to 100 km/h in just 10 seconds. All in light of consumption and emissions among the lowest in the segment: in the combined type-approval cycle, 4.2 l of petrol every 100 km and 99 g/km of CO2 , respectively.

As on the previous Turbo TwinAir applications, ECO mode when starting is also available for the new Fiat 500: in this condition the maximum torque delivered is limited to 120 Nm and the power to 98 HP, allowing the power unit to function in the operating range which permits maximum efficiency and thus minimum emissions. Furthermore, the model comes with Start&Stop system as standard.

Finally, it should be remembered that the TwinAir engine has won the appreciation of the general public and the most important international juries in a very short time. Suffice it to say that as early as its début, it triumphed at the 'International Engine of the Year Awards 2011', winning 4 awards: the one for its displacement category (under 1,000 cm3), 'Best New Engine 2011', 'Best Green Engine 2011' and the 'International Engine of the Year 2011' award, the top award in the competition.

Last year this series of awards was enriched with the "Best Green Engine of the Year 2013" title, awarded to the methane-fuelled 0.9 TwinAir Turbo dual-fuel. Not to mention that the Fiat 500 with 85 HP TwinAir engine, Start&Stop system and Dualogic gearbox was recognised as the petrol-fuelled car with the lowest carbon dioxide emissions last year as well: just 90 g/km of CO2 (source: "Guida al Risparmio di carburante 2013" (Guide to Saving Fuel) produced by the Ministries for the Environment, for Infrastructure and Transport and for Economic Development).

Fiat 500 Cult, the new top-of-the-range version

The Fiat 500 Cult is the new top-of-the-range version offering an exclusive level of style, technological content and performance to the most demanding and scrupulous customers of the iconic Fiat. In particular, available in saloon or cabrio configurations, the new and exclusive trim level represents the perfect synthesis of distinctive look and innovation which, once again, highlights the Fiat 500's 'trend-setting' spirit.

Fiat 500 Cult can come in one of the range's body colours, including the new Lattementa Green, all teamed with the elegant roof: one part fixed glass and the other glossy black paintwork. The end result is a refined colour combination that confirms, once more, that for the iconic Fiat colour is not merely a question of aesthetics, but an integral part of a product philosophy founded on character, style and maximum scope for personalisation. Additionally, the new Three-layer White will be available on the cabrio version.

Customers can choose door mirror covers which are either chrome or glossy black: whatever the choice, the final effect is a contemporary, fashionable combination together with the body colour. All this is enhanced with elegant chrome for the characteristic front 'whiskers' and tailgate handle, in addition to the glossy black surround for the rear light clusters and the new 16" alloy wheels.

The same style is found inside, where the new leather seats stand out - a choice of black leather (ivory or red inserts), tobacco leather or red leather (both with ivory inserts) - an attractive match with the dashboard painted the same colour as the body. The new upholstery was designed to offer the best possible ergonomics, guaranteeing comfort and character in a single solution.

The new 500 Cult is available with the 95 HP 1.3 MultiJet II turbodiesel, the 69 HP 1.2 and 85 HP 0.9 TwinAir Turbo petrol engines (both also available with Dualogic robotized gearbox) and the new 105 HP 0.9 TwinAir Turbo.

The Cult version of the Fiat 500 ensures high-value equipment, as demonstrated by some important content as standard: instrument panel with 7" TFT display, automatic climate control, rear parking sensors, fixed glass roof with sun blind, leather seats, leather steering wheel with Blue&MeTM controls and Dualdrive electric power steering.

Again as standard are the split (50/50) rear seat with height-adjustable head restraint, CD/MP3 radio and Blue&MeTM hands-free system with Bluetooth technology (voice recognition, steering wheel controls, digital audio file player with USB port).

The Fiat 500 Cult brooks no rivals in the field of safety either. This is demonstrated by ABS+ESD, driver and passenger airbag with dual stage system, side bags, window bags, knee bags, Isofix attachments, daytime running lights (DRL) and ESP system complete with ASR/MSR, HBA and Hill Holder.

Lastly, customers can count on an extensive collection of exclusive accessories created by Mopar®, the aftersales division responsible for Parts & Service and Customer Care activities in the EMEA region. These also include products designed especially for the new Fiat 500 Cult, such as the elegant 'chrome kit' for the exterior, comprising droplet-shaped bonnet trim, A-bar on the front bumper, door mirror covers and valve cover caps for the tyres. What's more, 'Mopar Vehicle Protection' is available for the 500 family as well. This exclusive service offer is designed to take care of the vehicle throughout its entire useful life, guaranteeing that all maintenance operations are carried out at authorised dealerships and workshops within Europe by highly qualified and specialised technicians, using original parts.

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Geneva: Italdesign Giugiaro Clipper MPV Concept can take six people in all-electric luxury

Italdesign Giugiaro has turned its design talents to Volkswagen's MQB platform, revealing this, the Clipper MPV, at the Geneva Motor Show.

The three-row, six-passenger Clipper boasts an all-electric powertrain that is capable of covering 540 kilometers (335 miles) between charges. The grunt is provided by two 110-kilowatt electric motors, with one mounted on each axle, making the Clipper essentially an all-wheel-drive vehicle.

The exterior highlight is the Clipper's unique door setup - there are butterfly doors and the front and gullwing doors at the rear, meaning that when the doors are open, the entire cabin is visible. The b-pillars are actually integrated into the rear set of doors.

For the interior, Giugiaro teamed with Alcantara to develop a new print for the artificial suede. On the tech front, there are four Apple iPad Minis integrated into the Clipper's seats, while a large central display can display different images to the driver and passenger.

We have a full gallery of live images of the Clipper, along with the press release and stock images from Italdesign Giugiaro. Have a look below.

ITALDESIGN GIUGIARO PRESENTS CLIPPER: THE SPORTY CROSS MPV
VERSATILE AND ECO-FRIENDLY, QUIET AND STREAMLINED
LIKE THE SAILING SHIPS IT'S NAMED AFTER

Embargo: 4th March 2014

Geneva, March 2014

In a world preview, Italdesign Giugiaro presents its brand new concept car, Clipper: a sporty, versatile MPV which is also eco-friendly, thanks to the all-electric drive and power source.

Clipper is the result of a study in style and engineering focusing on tomorrow's world and cities: this sporty MPV has a technological spirit and a green heart. Thanks to the versatile MQB modular platform developed by Volkswagen Group, it can accommodate up to 6 people, seated in three rows of two seats; it features an electric powertrain comprising two 110 kW engines, housed one up front and one at the back, guaranteeing a range of 540 km. It has four-wheel drive with fully independent wheels. The battery packs are housed in the floor, specially designed to afford maximum protection against accidental impact from the road while driving.

"This year", states Giorgetto Giugiaro "we wanted to focus our styling and engineering research on a project for a deliberately not futuristic car. The only concession to exotic styling lies in the door opening mechanisms, with "butterfly" doors at the front and "gull-wing" at the back.
We concentrated instead on devising an architectural solution to satisfy the need for a spacious, comfortable interior, also exploiting the advantages of the technology at our disposal today. An example of this is the flat floor, typical of electric vehicles, and the mobile modules of the interior which can be modified, with the controls and dashboards developed in line with the "touch feeling" concept so that the compartment adapts to the needs of driver and passengers. As always, the name of the vehicle hints at its personality traits: "clipper" ships enjoyed their heyday in the latter half of the 19th century; quiet and streamlined, they transported precious cargo like spices".

Clipper was designed, engineered and built at the Italdesign Giugiaro plant in Moncalieri (Turin).

DESIGN OF THE INTERIORS
The design for the passenger compartment's outfit of Clipper represents the true revolutionary element of this concept car. Effective use of space, combined with original and highly innovative architectural solutions, not to mention the use of brand new technology that emphasises user-friendly, intuitive design, makes Giugiaro Clipper a veritable automotive research & design lab.

The six occupants can all get into the car at the same time thanks to the simultaneous opening of the doors and the absence of the B-pillar: with this architectural solution, Clipper offers one single, wide opening for access to the interior.

The interior design team at Italdesign Giugiaro designed the instrument panel with one watchword only in mind: lightness.
The central instrument cluster, based on the latest digital interfaces, does not rest on the dashboard as is usually the case, but is floating and attached to the upper part of the instrument panel. Driver information is displayed on two screens, one positioned in the classic spot, recessed in the dashboard; the other, meanwhile, is housed in the upper part of the instrument cluster and projects the information onto the perspex cover of the first monitor, titled at an angle of approx. 45°. The information from the two screens is complementary and the overall effect created for the driver is similar to a 3-D holographic projection.

Three screens are integrated in the section of instrument panel in front of the passenger: the first, farthest left, shows the images from the camera which replaces the rear-view mirror; the other two, meanwhile, provide the usual information relating to navigation and infotainment.
For passenger compartment climate control, a sleek aperture runs the entire width of the instrument panel.

The typical electric vehicle architecture with flat floor allowed the designers to exploit the space between the seats and create an innovative mobile tunnel with 11" touchscreen.

The almost complete absence of conventional buttons, replaced by graphic touchscreen interfaces, has made it possible to exploit the latest available technology, for lighter surfaces and simpler controls. The touchscreen on the central tunnel groups together all the climate control and infotainment controls. The only buttons present are the start/stop button for the powertrain, that for gear selection and the electronic handbrake, integrated in the armrest. To the side of the armrests are the door opening buttons.

The tunnel can be fully adjusted electronically by means of two buttons located on the front seats: the touchscreen folds down for discreet storage under the cushion; the tunnel structure has a stroke of 50 cm and can be slid fully back to facilitate movement between the driver's seat and the passenger seat, a useful option in the event of an obstruction preventing exit from one of the doors.

Four iPad Minis are integrated in the headrests for passengers seated in rows two and three. The seats of the two back rows can be folded flat to create one large load platform offering a total volume of around 900 litres.

The steering wheel is multifunctional and, here too, the buttons have been replaced by two mini touch pads that replicate the main control functions and allow the direction indicators to be activated.

The external lights and windscreen wipers activate automatically.

The collaboration with Alcantara

For the upholstery of the interiors, the Color & Trim department of Italdesign Giugiaro developed a new project, in partnership with Alcantara, which enhances the welcoming yet hi-tech feel of the interior, emphasizing the innovative, light architecture.

The result is a geometric diamond pattern in Castel Rock grey, digitally printed on a white Alcantara ground, which gradually opens into a looser mesh design, creating an interesting optical effect that graduates from dark to light. The digital print is applied to the Alcantara ground without detracting in any way from the aesthetic, tactile and functional characteristics of the material, which remains smart and stylish, soft and pleasant to the touch, yet light and incredibly hard-wearing. This exclusive version of Alcantara is used for several prominent areas of the interior: it can be seen on the instrument panel, steering wheel, central tunnel, oddments compartment and the back shell of the seats.

Carlink

The very essence of this hi-tech, electric vehicle designed to accommodate up to six occupants means that Clipper is perfectly in step with the times. Thinking of a world that is constantly connected and always interacting, Italdesign Giugiaro developed an app that allows car occupants to stay connected with each other and the outside world: Carlink.

Occupants can activate the app on the tablets and access a private network that allows them to share documents and diaries, chat or play in multiplayer mode with the other occupants in the car.

DESIGN OF THE EXTERIOR
The car's entirely electric set-up and the use of the MQB platform with its flat floor dictated the overall look of Clipper also in terms of the design of the exterior.

Clipper has a deliberately functional setting which is designed to make the best possible use of interior space, so the driver and passengers are guaranteed the highest level of comfort.

"We rationalized like never before, while designing Clipper" explained Giorgetto Giugiaro, "and we built the car as if it were, in theory, close to the production level, apart from a few necessary modifications. The only "exotic" license we allowed ourselves was to eliminate the conventional B-pillar and design the car with "butterfly" doors at the front and "gull-wing" doors at the back".

The B-pillar is actually integrated in the structure of the back doors, concealed below the windows: this solution guarantees a single, large opening for access to all three rows of seats in the passenger compartment, further facilitated by the automatic and simultaneous opening of front and back doors on the same side.

When exiting the vehicle from the rear seats, the electronic system guarantees safety at all times by releasing and lifting the front door first, followed by the back door.

The electric engine dictated the design of the front: with no need to incorporate a front grille for radiator cooling as required in cars with endothermic engines, two air intakes were positioned vertically between the light clusters and the wheel arches; another two were included horizontally just under the headlights to channel the airflow under the floor where the battery packs are housed, for the purpose of cooling. Two similar vents are positioned at the back of the car for extraction of the air flow.

The curve of the waistline traces a sleek line from the front bonnet along the side of the car all the way to the C-pillar, giving Clipper a dynamic, sporty look, further emphasized by the design of the wheel arches, which merge progressively into the side.

The panoramic windscreen sweeps all the way back to the rear spoiler, ensuring even passengers in the back row of seats enjoy superb visibility.
The generously sized rear tailgate sports integrated light clusters whose main functions are duplicated, when the tailgate is open, by additional lights built into the rear bumper, ensuring the vehicle is perfectly visible and the passengers safe at all times.

Below the C-pillar are two concealed vents that ensure a constant supply of fresh air inside the passenger compartment.

CLIPPER DUCATI VERSION

The versatility of the Clipper project is illustrated by the Ducati version, a great attraction at the Italdesign Giugiaro booth at the Geneva Motor Show.

In this "vanette" version, Clipper features doors of a different design and a slightly different C-pillar compared to the original outfit.
This variant is dedicated to Ducati, one of the most prestigious Italian brands, famous around the world, which together with Audi, Lamborghini and Italdesign Giugiaro, makes up the Audi Group.

The livery thus sports the official Ducati colours and graphics in a tribute to the imminent world championship season.

The Italdesign Giugiaro style centre has also designed an original towing trailer for the Ducati Panigale 1199 S which complements the style and performance of all models to leave the Borgo Panigale plant: a good omen for a year of even better results.

THE COLLABORATION WITH LANIFICIO CERRUTI CONTINUES

For the presentation of the new Clipper prototype, Lanificio Cerruti has developed an exclusive fabric in the finest cashmere for Italdesign Giugiaro, featuring impermeability and breathability performance which is unique for this type of material.

These technological characteristics are achieved by applying a special film at the back of the fabric, which makes it impermeable yet preserves its breathability. Nor does this alter the natural softness of the cashmere, which is bathed in Teflon as a surface treatment.

Lanificio Cerruti and Italdesign Giugiaro have taken the particular characteristics of this fabric and used it to create a line of exclusive products for the Clipper.

ALCANTARA®
Registered trademark of Alcantara S.p.A. and result of a unique and proprietary technology, Alcantara® is a highly innovative material, offering an unrivalled combination of sensory, aesthetic and functional qualities. With many attempts of imitation and among the Made in Italy excellences in the world, Alcantara® defines a product category of its own: the material, in fact, originates from a sophisticated technological know-how, unparalleled still today. Elegant, soft, lightweight, resistant and Carbon Neutral certified, Alcantara® is the preferred choice of the most important designers throughout the world, finding application in several industries: from automotive to interior design, from fashion to accessories, passing by marine, aviation and consumer-electronics.

LANIFICIO F.LLI CERRUTI
The Lanificio F.lli Cerruti S.p.A. wool mill was established in 1881 in Biella, the cradle of the Italian textile tradition, by brothers Stefano, Antonio and Quintino Cerruti, descendants of a family dedicated to textiles since the 18th century. The company's growth was constant over time, and after WWII it focused production exclusively on the finest quality fabrics.
Since 1951, the wool mill - which now boasts approximately 400 employees - has been managed by Nino Cerruti who, after 40 years as a major fashion brand, transfers his experience to the Men's, Women's and Parcour fabric collections intended for the most demanding and sophisticated clientèle. Nino Cerruti, with his son Julian and the entire wool mill give life to an alchemy of relentless creativity, constant innovation and pure excellence. The finest yarns, artisanal perfection and fabric which becomes art, in the continuous pursuit of beauty and expression of the evolution of time. These are the products from Lanificio F.lli Cerruti which have portrayed the origins of the wonderful world of fashion for over 130 years.

ITALDESIGN GIUGIARO
The roots of the Italdesign Giugiaro Group go back to February 1968 when Giorgetto Giugiaro set up a design studio that represented an innovative formula for the car industry: a firm set up to act as an independent service company, with the aim of delivering creativity, engineering, construction of preseries prototypes, production start-up assistance and all the support required to put a new product into production.
Italdesign Giugiaro has been a part of the Volkswagen Group since 2010.
Since 1968, some 300 car models have been created that have spawned 50 million standard production units produced by leading international car manufacturers.

Further information on the website www.italdesign.it

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