This is the 2013 Mazda6 – a bit at a time

The first photos of the 2013 Mazda6 have been released showing the Takeri concept inspired Mazda6 before its Moscow Motor Show debut. The 2013 Mazda 6 has been teased by Mazda in a series of short videos (although they were all so pointless we only ran the first one) and now Mazda has released the first official photos of the new Mazda6 ahead of its debut next month at the Moscow Motor Show. But for whatever reason, Mazda seems intent on still hiding the new Mazda6 from proper scrutiny ahead of its Moscow debut; not a single photo of the whole car, just four bits.

CCS receives $2.5m GM Grant

General Motors is set to strengthen its longstanding commitment to Detroit's College for Creative Studies with a $2.5 million donation, a contribution that will help the university undertake a $145 million redevelopment of its A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education. This is not the first time that GM has given to CCS – the ongoing relationship between them sees members of the GM design team teach and mentor students, while CCS also receives loans of industrial equipment from its Detroit neighbor.

Opel/Vauxhall teases Cascada mid-size convertible

Opel/Vauxhall has given us a sneak peek of its new mid-size convertible, the Cascanda, which effectively replaces the Astra Twin Top. The Cascanda features a full-size fabric roof that can be opened or closed with one button up to speeds of 30mph and is the latest model to shun a folding hardtop in favor of the lighter and more practical soft option. The company claims this is its first D-segment cabrio for more than 70 years but, unlike them, we haven't forgotten the Cavialier Convertible of the 1980s (see pic).