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One Lap of the Web: Mock the Week Edition

-- Mazda Europe designer Peter Birthwhistle talks about the future of Mazda: potential hybrid and electric powertrains for the Skyactiv-obsessed company, and how we'll all be driving Mazda-branded pods in the 22nd century. But he also mentions, rather interestingly, how certain Mazdas capture a quintessentially long-hood, RWD look -- and not just the Miata, either, which is RWD. No, it's the exhaust systems on those Skyactiv engines that force a longer, larger hood compartment, and the "long, flowing looks" not usually found on FWD engines.

New Ford Kuga production increased to meet strong demand

Ford has revealed that it having to increase production of the new Kuga by 10 per cent at its Valencia Plant to meet strong demand. We reported in February that Ford were chuffed with sales of the new Kuga - especially as almost all buyers were opting for ‘premium’ versions – with orders for almost 2,000 in the UK just weeks after the Kuga went in to production in Spain, and sales across Europe for the Kuga up 27 per cent year on year. So Ford is now doing the only thing they can to deal with the burgeoning sales of the Kuga and are upping production in Valencia by 10 per cent, and now expect to build 100,000 new Kugas this year for Europe alone.

Aston Martin Sale: Mahindra & Investindustrial front runners

It seems the battle to take a stake in Aston Martin has come down to a battle between Mahindra & Mahindra and Investindustrial. After reporting more than a year ago that Aston Martin urgently needed a new owner, or major investor, if it is to survive, it became clear earlier this month that Aston Martin was ready to acknowledge that need as the Kuwait Investment Dar starting seeking a buyer for the majority of its majority stake in AML. So far we’ve had Mahindra and Mahindra, Tata (owners of Jaguar Land Rover), Toyota and unnamed Chinese investors in the frame, but it seems the race to take a big chunk of Aston Martin Lagonda has come down to just two – Mahindra and Investindustrial.