Skoda Octavia (2013): first official pictures

This is the new 2013 Skoda Octavia. For its third generation, the Octavia gets its cleanest, most efficient engines yet and the full gamut of tech upgrades available on the new Mk7 Golf - all wrapped up in a more sober, Czech-style package. The new Octavia is also lighter than the old car and, with the arrival of the mid-sized Rapid, has grown from family hatch proportions to fight the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia.

2013 Ford Mondeo launches in China. UK & Europe still waiting.

With the UK and Europe having to wait until 2014 to get the new Ford Mondeo, Ford has managed to launch the new Mondeo in China this week. Of course, as we reported last year, it’s entirely possible that with Mondeo sales now just half of what they were in 2008 that Ford may even move Mondeo production to Mexico to build it alongside the Ford Fusion, the US version of the Mondeo which has been on sale since summer 2012. But Ford are adamant the move to Spain for the Mondeo is happening and, once complete, will mean Ford finally rolling the new Mondeo off the production line by the end of 2013 for the UK and Europe.

BMW Concept X5 eDrive: Driving impressions

We got a chance to sample the BMW Concept X5 eDrive, a plug-in hybrid version of the BMW X5 luxury SUV, ahead of its appearance at BMW's New York auto show press conference. While comprehensive driving impressions will have to wait for a longer test, we were able to get some quick impressions of the new BMW hybrid at the company's New Jersey headquarters. The X5 eDrive made short work of the hills and curves around BMW's campus, with all mechanical systems working pretty seamlessly.