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2014 MINI Cooper SD 3-door joins the new MINI range – price from £19,450

The 3-door MINI Cooper SD (pictured) arrives in MINI showrooms in July 2014 When the new 2014 MINI Hatch pricing was revealed back in March, the range consisted of the MINI One, One D, Cooper, Cooper D and Cooper SD. But no sign of the Cooper SD. But now MINI has fixed that with the arrival of the 3-door MINI Cooper SD.

Mercedes-Benz courts Renault for new Smart model based on Twingo

Mercedes-Benz is set to join forces with Renault in a deal aimed at providing its underdeveloped Smart division with a contemporary-engineered front-engine/front-wheel-drive platform as the basis for a frugal new Forfour model. The new Smart, due out in 2013, is planned to sit on a lightly modified version of the Renault Twingo’s underpinnings, complete with a 93.3-inch wheelbase. Speaking about the new car over the weekend, a highly placed Mercedes-Benz official told AutoWeek: “It’s a key component in plans to grow the Smart brand.

2013 Skoda Octavia price & specs – costs from £15,990

Skoda has revealed prices and specifications for the new Octavia which will cost from £14,990 rising to £23,240. The new Skoda Octavia – Skoda’s new Octavia built on the new VW Golf platform – was revealed last month and goes on sale in March, so Skoda have had their abacus out to work out how much they want for a piece of new Octavia action. Starting point is the Octavia 1.2 TSi S which will cost £15,990, with the cheapest diesel – the Octavia 1.6 TDI S – starting at £18,040 and the range topping out with the Octavia 2.0 litre diesel Elegance at £23,240.