Longacre Pyrometer on 2040-parts.com

Rinspeed microMAX

Rinspeed has revealed its microMAX concept car as its latest Geneva-bound offering, which it hopes will revolutionize urban congestion. The microMAX, designed by Rinspeed boss Frank Rinderknecht, explores the idea of car sharing and is designed to be small enough so that it can easily navigate city environments but uses upright seats to maximize space. The five-seater concept is apparently no bigger than a Mini Cooper and has space for a stroller or shopping cart as well as a coffee maker and refrigerator.

Fiat 500 by Diesel – now it’s the convertible 500C by Diesel

The Fiat 500C by Diesel Fiat has been trying hard to churn out as many limited edition versions of the 500 as MINI have managed on their own re-created motoring icon. That’s probably an impossible target (we reckoned that MINI managed a new model a month last year) but that’s not going to stop Fiat having a good old bash at milking the ‘Limited Edition’ market. One of the earliest limited edition specials from the Fiat 500 was the ‘Style’ makeover from designers Diesel.

2013 Volkswagen Passat R-Line & new 1.4 TSI arrive

The Volkswagen range is hugely successful and largely appealing, but it’s not always the most dynamic looking range of cars on offer. Which is why the R-Line option of fairly understated sporty add-ons is so popular and why VW is offering it on more and more of its range. Now we get the VW Passat R-Line treatment (just as we did with the old Passat) with a bespoke body kit offering more butch bumpers front and back – and cornering fogs in the front bumper – side skirts, 18″ Kansas alloys, spoiler at the back, lowered suspension, extra chrome, Bi-xenon headlights with LED running lights and privacy glass to give the Passat a much more appealing look.