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MINI Superleggera Vision concept unveiled

Doesn’t this look pretty special? It’s the MINI Superleggera Vision concept – a modern interpretation of the classic open-top two-seater created by MINI and Italian design house Touring Superleggera. It was unveiled on the shores of Lake Como at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014 and is purely a concept car for now, but it could well influence future members of an expanded MINI family.

New 2015 Volvo XC90 Interior fully revealed

The interior of the new Volvo XC90 fully revealed The Volvo XC90 is well past its sell-by date, but it’s still a credible cross between an SUV and a family mover. But the all new 2015 XC90 is getting close and today Volvo has decided to reveal their new range-topper from the inside out with a full reveal of the XC90′s interior. With the current XC90′s interior architecture more than a decade old, it’s a good place to start; Volvo has created an interior for the new model that’s a world away from the current model.

2014 Fiat 500 UK price and specs – costs from £10,160

The 2014 Fiat 500 arrives in the UK It’s hard to update a car that’s already a pastiche of an original, so Fiat has been very cautious with the updates for the Fiat 500 for 2014, although there are some welcome improvements. One modern change is the arrival of a 7″ TFT digital instrument display – standard on the 500S and 500 CULT and optional on 500 Lounge versions – which does a good job of mimicking the 500′s analogue instruments but with a central section that can be configured to display stuff like trip information and allows for more detailed information on everything from gear shifts to SatNav info (where specced). The biggest mechanical update comes with the arrival of a 104bhp version of the 0.9 litre TwinAir engine promising 0-62mph in 10 seconds (and it’ll feel a lot quicker) and official economy of 67.3mpg (you’ll get a lot less).

Young Drivers Accident Risk Warning

RESEARCH commissioned by the RAC Foundation and carried out by transport research laboratory TRL has found that teenage drivers are involved in almost one in eight road accidents involving injury. Based on nationwide statistics covering five years 2008 to 2012, the survey showed that 11.9% of all road casualties were injured or killed in collisions involving a car driver aged 17-19. This was despite those aged between 17 and 19 making up only 1.5% of licensed drivers.

Brazilian VW design director Luiz Veiga celebrates the Beetle in art exhibition

Earlier this month ‘Luiz Veiga: Tempos de Fusca' (Beetle Times) opened at the small OMA gallery in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil. This exhibition proves not only a celebration of the Volkswagen icon, but also an opportunity to learn a little more about one of its exhibitors – Volkswagen Brazil's design director Luiz Veiga. Car Design News attended the opening at OMA – located not far from the VW plant – to talk with Veiga about art and design.

Project Car Hell, Rock-and-Stick-Simple Off-Road Trucks Edition: Land Rover or Scout?

Last week, the Hell Garage Demons went back 100 years for a couple of challenging centenarian projects, and the temperature of the Automotive Lake of Fire—conveniently located between the junkyard that always closes five minutes before you show up and the parts store whose counter guys have never heard of your make of car—accordingly rose another few hundred degrees. This week, we've decided to go with the kind of vehicles you'll want when society collapses and "rugged individualists" will need to drive many miles down a road of skulls and broken whiskey bottles to barter rat pelts for handy Clovis points. That's right, simple off-road trucks with few moving parts and a heritage of simplicity—none of this complicated computerized crap, modern alloys and independent suspension (at either end) here, just a steel box with enough running gear to make it move.

New 2015 Volkswagen Passat detailed ahead of July reveal

The 2015 VW Passat (pictured) is lighter and more economical The eighth generation Volkswagen Passat is detailed today by VW with design sketches and the news that the all-new Passat will lose 85kg in weight and get more economical engines. Due to be revealed in the metal in July – and debuting at the Paris Motor Show in October – the new Passat will go on sale before the end of 2014 with first deliveries in early 2015. Thanks to a weight loss of upt 85kg – achieved by using high-strength, hot-formed steel and aluminium in some areas – the new Passat will offer fuel efficiency improved by up to 20 per cent and, although the exterior dimensions of the new Passat are slightly smaller than the current model, the new Passat will offer more room for passengers and luggage.

Lamborghini 5-95 Zagato is a one-off special at Villa d’Este (video)

The Lamborghini 5-95 Zagato (pictured) meets the crowds at Villa d’Este Zagato creations of Lamborghini cars are nothing new and have been around as long as Lamborghini has – fifty years or so – so the Lamborghini 5-95 Zagato isn’t a ground-breaking collaboration, even if it’s an interesting creation, and it’s nice to add it to the 1965 Lamborghini 3500 GTZ and Lamborghini Zagato Raptor as Zagato takes on a Lambo. The one-off 5-95 Zagato is based on the underpinnings of the (now defunct) Lamborghini LP570-4 and commissioned by collector Albert Spiess to showcase Zagato’s ability and to celebrate the 95th anniversary of Lamborghini. Spiess already owns a number of Zagato models – including the Aston Martin V8 Zagato and Aston Martin V12 Zagato – but Zagato has gone a bit6 further with the design of the 5-95 and created a car that looks little like the LP570-4 using the principles of functionalism and rationalism, apparently.

Vote: Guess this car review, episode 1

This is the beginning of what hopefully becomes a weekly feature here at Autoweek.com. Your job as the reader is to figure out what car we were reviewing when we wrote these lines way back in 2004. This is a closed book test, so there will be no Googling of the answers.

Former car writer has dream job at Mazda R&D

True story: When Mazda engineer Dave Coleman was 10 years old, he announced that he wanted to work at Mazda. See, at about that time, his dad bought a 1983 Mazda RX-7, a car so overwhelmingly awesome to young Dave, he was hopelessly smitten with the entire brand. “All the other kids, when you asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up, they said all that astronaut/fireman crap.

Caterham – including Caterham F1 – up for sale for £350 million

Will the Caterham AeroSeven Concept (pictured) be a casualty of Caterham’s impending sale? Caterham’s foray in to F1 hasn’t been much of a success, with not a single point on the F1 board since they arrived in 2010 as Lotus Racing (although Marcus Ericsson was just one place off a point at Monaco yesterday). Now, after warning back in January that he would walk away from F1 if the Caterham team’s performance on track didn’t improve, it looks like Fernandes is ready to walk away from Caterham altogether.

Audi reveals A7 and S7 redesign for Europe

Audi revealed the redesigned A7 and S7 luxury fastback sedans in Europe on Friday. The cars get a sharper look all around and a revised powertrain lineup. The A7/S7 now has a single-frame grille, new bumpers, tailpipes and headlights.

One Lap of the Web: Indy 500 memories

-- In 1995, Jacques Villeneuve won the 79th Indy 500 and went on to the CART Championship. Viewers who tuned into ABC and saw the introduction to its Indy 500 broadcast, a five-minute rundown the entire history of American motorsport, were hyped up beyond belief to watch some cool-as-hell racing. Nineteen years later, the video can still get race fans PUMPED UP.

Auctioned Ferrari Dinos fetch more than £380,000

TWO FERRARI Dino cars have sold for a combined £383,000 during the same auction, despite one of them needing significant restoration. The model has in recent years become a golden goose for any owners lucky enough to have acquired one years ago, and the latest Silverstone Auctions sale shows what a cash cow even poor condition examples have become. A recently-restored 1971 Dino topped £250,000 inclusive of its buyer's premium, while the rusting form of a 1973 version still brought about a £132,500 sale.

Next-gen Passat to offer hybrid and twin-turbo power

VOLKSWAGEN is going even more upmarket with the all-new version of the Passat, which is due to hit showrooms later this year. Soon buyers will be able to include a plug-in hybrid and an all-new 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel among their forecourt options, as VW goes chasing after its sister company Audi. Weight-saving measures have chopped up to 85kg from the new kid on a like-for-like basis, which helps achieve VW's stated efficiency boosts of 20% versus equivalent outgoing Passats.

Monaco Grand Prix 2014: RESULT

Monaco Grand Prix 2014: RESULT Once again Mercedes has the front row to itself for the Grand Prix in Monaco, thanks to a controversial pole lap by Nico Rosberg, which leaves the prospect of an exciting fight between Rosberg and Hamilton for the win. But in truth, despite Hamilton’s best efforts, it was a clear lights to flag win for the German in Monaco, and another one-two for Mercedes. It also means Rosberg leapfrogs Hamilton to lead the drivers championship.

Mini Superleggera Vision Concept – a very different MINi Concept – at Villa D’Este

The Mini Superleggera Vision Concept (pictured) is a Villa D’Este special We’ve had our fill of VW Group concepts for Worthersee – like the Skoda CitiJet, Yeti XTreme and Audi A3 Clubsport - this last week, but now we’ve got a concept from MINI that isn’t just the usual slightly left-field take on a regular MINI, but a real original to grab our interest – the Mini Superleggera Vision Concept – and it’s heading to Villa D’Este. Built in collaboration with Touring Superleggera – which has built stunning concepts like the Alfa Romeo Disco Volante - the new MINI is a retro-looking small roadster with lots of historic design cues but with an EV powertrain under its clothes. There’s a fin on the back that looks like a Jaguar D Type, a pair of swage lines down the side, a long bonnet, a back end that has a hint of Aston Martin and even Union Jacks in the tail lights.

Monaco Grand Prix 2014: It’s a Mercedes front row – but it’s Rosberg on pole

Nico Rosberg (pictured) takes pole for Mercedes at Monaco 2014 Nico Rosberg has taken pole position for tomorrow’s Monaco Grand Prix, but the way in which he took pole position does leave room for doubt. Rosberg did seem quicker in final qualifying, but he ‘went off’ at the Mirabeau corner as final qualifying was coming to a close and depriving Lewis Hamilton of the chance to grab pole on his last qualifying lap. Did Rosberg go off on purpose to wreck Hamilton’s final run?

Government abandons plan to make driving test tougher

Proposals to make learning to drive much tougher in a bid to improve road safety amongst young people have been abandoned by the government, Radio 1’s Newsbeat reports. The changes would have involved the introduction of a probationary licence for the first 12 months, a curfew on driving late at night and compulsory lessons on motorway driving. But plans have been scraped because they would restrict young drivers’ lives too much.

Audi A7 & S7 Sportback facelift for 2015 MY revealed

The Audi S7 (pictured) and A7 get a tweak or two for 2015 It’s four years since the Audi A7 arrived (and its more powerful sibling – the Audi S7 – arrived a month or so later), so it’s time for a tweak or two for Audi’s five-door swoopy coupe. The cosmetic changes for the A7 and S7 are not exactly overwhelming, with a new single frame grill at the front, new bumpers, new tailpipes and new lights. The usual facelift fodder.

One last hurrah: the 1994 MG RV8

It's tough to imagine the British car scene in North America without the MGB, which remains a popular starter classic and is available in every price range imaginable--and some price ranges that aren't. The iconic MGB was in production from 1962 until 1980, an entire era that saw relatively few changes introduced to the well-proven design. The marque itself was overseen by three corporate parents during those 18 years on the line: BMC, British Motor Holdings and, finally, British Leyland.

Skoda Yeti Xtreme is yet another VW Group concept heading for Worthersee

The Skoda Yeti Xtreme (pictured) is another SEAT concept for Worthersee The Skoda Yeti Xtreme has been revealed by Skoda as their second concept car heading for the Worthersee Show, but instead of a cute, open-top city car like the Skoda CitiJet we get a rufty-tufty Yeti with aspirations to go rallying. Cosmetically, the Yeti Xtreme gets a matt grey paint job, 17! alloys with off-roading tyres, tinted windows, a new front bumper with bigger air intakes, a bigger back bumper with dual exhausts and a set of LED lights.

Pahk your Infiniti at Fenway

When Infinti sent us a statement that it was the official car of the Boston Red Sox, we had to translate it into a language more easily understood by the proudly non-rhotic among us. From one 15-year New England veteran to another, the full press release is below. FRANKLIN, Tenn.

One Lap of the Web: Motel kitsch, Bentley dragsters and rusting Porsches

-- The roach motel lives on in these postcards from Petrolicious. The Googie signs and modernist architecture jump from the Howard Johnsons and Travelodges of the 1950s, when buildings were built in color. For a precious few decades in the tapestry of American interstate travel, before they became the refuge of schlocky horror movies, the motor hotel was the true King of the Road.

Concept Car of the Week: Bertone BMW Pickster (1998)

The creation of new niche products is an ongoing process for car manufacturers and sometimes combining different segments into one can provide a popular solution. Nowadays, all these mongrels are usually categorised under the same label ‘Crossover', which doesn't mean much anymore a part perhaps for an artificial off-road appearance. But back in America's sixties, the combination of a pick-up's functionality with the style and driving performance of a sports car became so successful that it created a whole new segment.

Volkswagen GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo brought to life and heading for Worthersee

Volkswagen GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo brought to life We’ve already had Worthersee Concepts from Skoda, Audi and SEAT, but now we get the Worthersee Concept from the Mother Ship – the Volkswagen GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo Concept. VW has brought to life a car created for the virtual world of Gran Turismo gaming and has revealed a series ofd design sketches (above) before the real car makes its appearance at Worthersee. VW are calling the GTI Roadster a supercar with aggressive styling, and the GTI Roadster certainly looks dramatic (although that drama may well be a little less extreme when it arrives in the metal) and, just like the Skoda CitiJet and SEAT Ibiza Cupster Concepts, manages without a roof.

More 'Cars' coming from Pixar

Pixar is developing a third feature installment of its "Cars" franchise, according to Disney chairman and CEO Robert A. Iger. Not much is known about "Cars 3," but speculation says it won't be in theaters for another two years or more.

Dream Cars: yesterday's cars of tomorrow

Dream Cars: Innovative Design, Visionary Ideas - to give it its full name - is an exhibition at the High Museum of Art, Atlanta, which showcases yesterday’s cars of tomorrow. In other words, the cars of the future, according to automotive designers from as far back as the 1930s right up to the present day. These are the concept cars that gave designers the chance to dream of the future and push the limits of imagination and design.

2015 Lincoln Navigator starts at $62,475

The 2015 Lincoln Navigator will cost $62,475, including destination, when it hits dealership lots. The optional reserve package, which comes with 22-inch wheels, upgraded leather and premium Ziricote wood trim, costs $69,975. Four-wheel drive adds about $3,000 to the price.

Bentley Celebrates Strong Finish At Mille Miglia

YOU can be forgiven for thinking Jaguar stole the Mille Miglia spotlight this year, what with its roster of celebrities driving a brace of desirable racers, but Bentley was the other British brand tearing across the Italian countryside. The Crewe-based luxury car maker fielded a handful of iconic pre-war models and, after the four-day, 1,700km marathon, the firm secured its best position to date with one of its iconic 4 ½ Litre supercharged Bentley Blowers. Rolf Frech, Bentley’s Member of the Board for Engineering and Jerome D’Ambrosio, finished in 73rd position out of the 438 cars that took part.