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UK secretary of state (minister) for business, innovation and skills (DBIS) Vince Cable has questioned whether direct government support for the car industry can be maintained given the country's straitened circumstances. Full story...

New Ford Focus RS family, official VW roadster, best coupe cabrios, MINI 4x4 JCW spied, new-look Ford Mondeo Full story...

Facelifted MINI range gets new look and new 99g/km diesel engines.

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MINI is giving its model family fresh impetus to continue its history of success in the small car segment with eye-catching design modifications, additional engine variants, an all-new selection of diesel engines and innovative new equipment features. Full story...

As reported by Toyota Canada Inc. Toyota Canada Inc. today filed a Voluntary Safety Campaign with Transport Canada to recall 2010 model year Lexus HS 250h vehicles to address a compliance issue with Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 301. As part of its annual compliance testing program, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently conducted a test of the 2010 model year HS 250h. The test involved striking the vehicle with a deformable barrier from the rear at approximately 80 km/h. The vehicle is struck by a moving deformable barrier with a 70 per cent overlap. As part of the test, the vehicle was then rotated on its longitudinal axis incrementally to each successive increment of 90 degrees. During the rotation, the vehicle exhibited fuel spillage that exceeded the requirement in the standard. During vehicle development, Lexus tested the HS 250h using the same protocol and found the vehicles to comply fully with CMVSS 301. Lexus is currently working to identify the reason for the different test results and the cause of this noncompliance. At the present time, Lexus has not identified a remedy to address this Full story...

"I am working in the best design shop in the world," Mini's chief designer Gert Hildebrand said in a recent interview as he paced around the models which will make up the brand's six-pack line-up. Full story...

The flowing style of Mazda's 'Nagare' design, seen on its concept cars over the past two and a half years, debuts on a production model this autumn - not on a sporty model like the MX-5 or RX-8, but on the new generation Mazda5 people carrier/MPV/minivan. Full story...

Leaked images reveal sportier side to MINI's SUV and fuel rumours of JCW variant Full story...

Twin-test double: Mercedes SLS vs 300SL Gullwing and new Audi A1 vs MINI Cooper, exclusive Abarth 500 spider, new Porsche 911 Speedster, crazy Bentley unveiled

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Ford Start Concept - Fresh Start

Ford's minicar concept has the look of an icon.

It seems that small car icons always come from Europe-the Volkswagen Beetle, the Fiat 500, the Mini Cooper. But looking at the Ford Start, one begins to wonder whether an American car company also could make a truly enduring small car. We think this coupe-and it is a coupe, not a hatchback-is supercool, which is not surprising given that the design team had a 1956 Porsche Speedster and a 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Zagato in the studio while they worked on the Start. The concept is built on a shortened Fiesta platform and features a direct-injected, 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder, Ford's smallest powerplant yet to get the EcoBoost treatment. The tiny turbo is headed for production, but the Start isn't. That's too bad, because the Start definitely deserves a go.

Photo Gallery: Ford Start Concept - Ford Compact Coupe - Automobile Magazine

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Sausalito, California - I can't claim credit for uttering the quip, "putting the grand back in Grand Cherokee." That line belongs to Reid Bigland, President and CEO of Chrysler Canada. What I can say, is that after examining and driving Jeep's all-new 2011 Grand Cherokee, the "grand" is back in a grandiose way. Full story...

Last week, we thought that MINI's publicity stunt that publicly invited Porsche to a race at Road Atlanta was fantastic. Challenging them to something that no one expected to happen, was a brilliant idea for gathering up Facebook fans and creating a marketing hype. Full story...

The redesigned Honda Odyssey minivan, scheduled to arrive in dealerships this fall, is lower, wider, roomier and more aerodynamic than its predecessor. Full story...

The redesigned Honda Odyssey minivan, scheduled to arrive in dealerships this fall, is lower, wider, roomier and more aerodynamic than its predecessor. It also will have more standard features and will be priced about the same as the current model. Full story...

MISSISSAUGA, ON - At a press conference today in Toronto, Ontario's Transportation Minister, the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, announced provincial incentives to promote electric vehicles in Ontario. With these incentives, Nissan LEAF - the world's first mass-marketed all-electric, real world car - will be eligible for the maximum incentive of $8,500. Full story...

SENIOR EDITOR FOR NEWS BOB GRITZINGER: This is nice trim package for the Mini, with sharp paint and slick interior--itand#8217;s definitely not a normal Mini, if there is such a thing. Full story...

Honda has revealed something of its redesigned 2011 Odyssey minivan range for North America saying it would "redefine the concept of the minivan with its aggressive stance and sporty 'lightning-bolt' beltline. The lightning bolt not only provides an exclusive appearance, but also adds increased visibility for third-row passengers." Full story...

Meet the Polo with a little off-road attitude!

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German economics minister Rainer Bruderle might be forgiven for permitting himself a wry smile this afternoon (16 June). Full story...

It's not as easy as plug, charge, unplug and go--a lesson Mini learned at the onset of its electric car trial. Full story...