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Mini Paceman Concept (2011): first official pictures

These are the first official pictures of Mini’s not-so-mini Paceman Concept. Mini calls it a Sports Activity Coupe (SAC), but really it’s just a two-door Countryman. And as CAR revealed way back in April 2009, a second sportier version of Mini's biggest model is on the way: the Paceman will almost certainly reach production.

Third Tesla Model S catches fire

Update: According to an Automotive News report, "NHTSA said it will contact local authorities about the latest fire 'to determine if there are vehicle safety implications that merit agency action.'" The agency had previously backed away from an investigation after determining that vehicle defects were not to blame for the fire in early October. Just after Tesla Motors reported a $38 million third-quarter loss and within a few weeks of two other car fires, a third Model S sedan reportedly burned on the highway near Smyrna, Tenn. The Tesla Motors Club forum supplied photos of the crash, which occurred around 1:30 Wednesday afternoon, in addition to intense speculation on the cause of the fire.

Detroit auto show: Ford Mustang Boss 302R breaks cover

Some 40 years after Parnelli Jones drove a Bud Moore-built Boss 302 Mustang to the Trans-Am championship, Ford Racing has unleashed a new Boss 302R. The new Boss is an off-road-only Mustang that comes from the factory race-ready. Each of the limited-to-50 cars will come fitted with a 5.0-liter four-valve V8 and six-speed manual transmission.