2009 Polaris Sportsman 550 Efi Xp W/ Eps Gates G-force Belt Drive Ao on 2040-parts.com

2014 European Car of the Year finalists revealed. Could the Mercedes S-Class win?

Could the 2014 Mercedes S-Class (pictured) win the Car of the Year? We’re at the end of 2013, so the time has arrived to take a look at the finalists for the 2014 European Car of the Year award. In the last few years, despite Europe producing some of the most impressive luxury and performance cars on the planet, the Car of the Year Award has gone to much more prosaic machinery.

Fiat 500L: UK price from £14,990

Fiat has revealed that their supersized 500 – the Fiat 500L – will cost from £14,990 for the 1.4 litre 500L Pop Star or Easy. Actually based on the Punto underpinnings, rather than the 500′s – the 500L is Fiat’s take on the MINI Countryman (well, both the 500L and the upcoming 500X SUV) and designed to extend the appeal of the 500 – Fiat’s most successful model – to a market that has outgrown the diminutive 500. Starting point for the 500L is aether the ‘Easy’ trim or ‘Pop Star’ trim (more daft trim levels) and come with standard features including a 5″ touchscreen radio, Bluetooth, Cruise, Electric door mirrors and leather on the gear knob and steering wheel.

Schreyer: Cross GT is a sign of things to come

Peter Schreyer, Kia's president and global design boss, makes no bones about it--the Cross GT is a harbinger of future style for the Korean company's large crossovers. "You'll certainly see things showing up," he told me at the Chicago auto show, where the concept was revealed. It's a large ute, measuring 192.8 inches, which is 8.4 inches longer than the Sorento.