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How the Nissan Qashqai reinvented the family car

The 2014 Nissan Qashqai (above) arrived in showrooms this week, but will the second-generation model be as groundbreaking as the first? Inevitably, the all-new Qashqai looks very similar to the outgoing model, but why change a winning formula? The original Qashqai was, arguably, the most successful new family car launch since the original Volkswagen Golf from 1974. And it came out of the blue, because Nissan was perhaps the last company anyone would have expected to come up with such a revolutionary design.

Ecclestone wants to bring the noise

FORMULA ONE supremo Bernie Ecclestone has vowed to address growing concerns surrounding the sport's lack of an appealing noise. Following Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Ron Walker, chairman of the organising company that stages the race, complained to close friend Ecclestone about the lack of sound. The piercing scream of the old V8 engine has gone, and in its place we now have a huskier tone, complete with whistles and whirrs from the 1.6-litre V6 turbo as F1 tries to become greener.

Lexus LF-NX crossover concept stars at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show

It seems the wave of crossovers flooding the European car market is showing no signs of subsiding here at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show – this, the Lexus LF-NX crossover concept, is the latest small SUV to join the club. You’d have thought Toyota’s luxury arm would have created an upmarket off-roader to rival the Range Rover Evoque sooner than it has – well finally, Frankfurt 2013 marks the end of that wait.