Mazda3 MPS and i-stop to launch at Geneva

With a new model of the Mazda3 released at Bologna, Mazda has now added more to the range with the announcement that the Mazda3 MPS and i-stop will be launched at Geneva in March. The Mazda3 MPS is the ‘Hot Hatch’ version  of the Mazda3. Aggressive styling, including a big air scoop at the front, new grill trim and front fogs, a big spoiler at the back and twin exhausts, leave you in no doubt that the MPS means business.

Smokin' video: Ken Block carves up France's l'Autodrome in new Gymkhana run

Rally star and DC Shoes purveyor Ken Block has delivered another piece of wild driving with his latest Gymkhana video--this time carving up the high-banked track at France's Linas at l'Autodrome. If you can dream it, Block can do it--180-degree and 360-degree turns and figure eights in a custom-built, all-wheel-drive Ford Fiesta. There's even a shower of sparks at the end.

Report: Interior Motives China Conference 2009 - Day 1

Interior Motives returned once more to the exciting city of Shanghai for its second China design conference, themed ‘China: Changing the landscape of car design'. Held straight after the first Shanghai auto show press day - a day topped off by the Car Design Night, attended by some 300 or so designers - this two-day event saw 27 of the world's foremost car design experts and nearly 250 delegates gather together to debate the future of Chinese car design. Session 1 - Harnessing design awareness Tony Williams, UK design director of China's biggest carmaker, SAIC, kicked off the session by explaining how trend research was finding more savvy and confident Chinese consumers who want their character reflected in the products they buy and "cars they want rather than just need".