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Petersen museum executive director to retire

The executive director of the Petersen Automotive Museum is retiring after a 12-year-run at the helm of one of the nation's preeminent car collections. Richard Messer is stepping down to concentrate on other business interests. He will be replaced by Buddy Pepp on June 15.

Volkswagen e-Golf: MK 7 Golf EV leaks ahead of Geneva debut

An electric version of the MK 7 Volkswagen Golf – the VW e-Golf – has leaked out ahead of a debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. Even though car industry bosses are sure that battery electric cars have no realistic chance of becoming a mainstream option – and the best-selling EV, the Nissan LEAF, has only sold 50k since 2010 – VW are rolling out an electric Golf at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. The VW e-Golf – with pretty much the same underpinnings as the new Mk 7 Golf with an ICE engine – comes with an electric motor driving the front wheels and offering 115bhp and 199lb/ft of torque, enough to get the e-Golf to 62mph in 11.8 seconds and on to a top speed of just 84mph.

Kiss and Mini team up to raise money for UNICEF

To help fund global relief efforts, Mini will auction four Countrymans emblazoned with the makeup likeness and autographs of Kiss band members. Just in time for Father’s Day, the eBay charity auction opens on May 29 and runs for 10 days. Funds will go to UNICEF to help children in Japan and to aid in other global emergencies.