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Audi S3 Sportback and A3 facelift first official pictures

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 24 April 2008 15:16 Audi has facelifted the A3 and while the tweaks can at best be described as mild, a new S3 Sportback has joined the line-up. The hot five-door runs the same 261bhp 2.0-litre TFSI engine found in the three-door S3, and of course the quattro four-wheel drive system is standard. The exterior cosmetic surgery brings the looks of the A3 Cabriolet to the rest of the range.

Saab appoints North American administrator, prospects darken

Saab has appointed an outside administrator to oversee its business in North America and the potential wind-down or sale of the company if its parent operations can’t emerge from bankruptcy. The move was announced on Wednesday afternoon by Saab North American COO Tim Holbeck as the company’s future remains uncertain. McTevia & Associates, a management and financial-consulting service with offices in suburban Detroit and Florida, is the administrator.

Hot Wheels and Icon in sandbox battle

As first reported by Jeff Glucker of Hooniverse, the toymaker Mattel has been accused of infringing on a trademark held by the low-volume vehicle builder Icon 4X4. Icon claims that a Hot Wheels toy being distributed worldwide is based on its Icon FJ40—which itself is based on the Toyota FJ40—and that Hot Wheels' use of Icon's design, promotional materials and the name “FJ40” violates trademarks held by Icon. In its response to Tuesday's Hooniverse post, Hot Wheels claimed that the toy is not based on the Icon FJ40, and that it has the right to use the term “FJ40” despite Icon's trademark.