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Mini Cooper Countryman gets New York freshening

The Mini Countryman has undergone a subtle midlife facelift for the New York auto show, four years after it was launched in North America. The lightly reworked range-topping Mini Countryman model is expected to go on sale in July at prices company officials suggest will remain largely unchanged here in the U.S. As this first batch of official photographs reveals, there is very little to distinguish the refreshed Countryman from the existing model.

Citroen DS 6WR SUV (NOT DS X7) is the production version of the Wild Rubis

The Citroen DS 6WR (pictured) is the first DS SUV Last week Citroen started to tease a new SUV heading for the Beijing Motor Show, which we thought would be the DS X7. But is seems Citroen has thought better of using a moniker like ‘X7′, so it’s changed the handle for its Chineses SUV to Citroen DS 6WR, but it’s still a production version of the Wild Rubis Concept and still the first production DS SUV. albeit only for China – at least for starters.

Project Car Hell, Air-Cooled Inferno Edition: oval-window Beetle or Type 34 Karmann Ghia?

Here we are in the Automotive Lake of Fire again, and we feel compelled to follow up a couple of marginal-classic Fiat projects with a pair of indisputable classic Volkswagens. After Ferdinand Porsche appropriated the basic design for the original Beetle from Tatra designer Hans Ledwinka (but before Tatra successfully sued Volkswagen), Volkswagen turned one innovative rear-engined vehicle platform into quite a lineup of cars and trucks. These days, while some types of air-cooled VW projects are cheap and plentiful, the rarer ones are much-sought-after and tough to find in semi-restorable condition.

2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI pricing information coming soon

Update: We released prices for the 2015 VW Golf GTI too early -- we'll be back with updated information as soon as possible. In the mean time, see our drive review of the 2015 VW Golf GTI, which contains pricing estimates and a breakdown of available options. About the New York auto show The 2014 New York auto show runs April 16-27 and is expected to attract a range of production and concept cars including the 2015 Mustang convertible, BMW M4 convertible and next Hyundai Sonata.

Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible (2014) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 15 April 2014 12:00 This is the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible. It’s the first drop-top Z06 variant since 1963, and to mark the occasion, GM has pulled out all the stops. With 625bhp and 635lb ft of supercharged 6.2-litre V8 power on tap, this is the most powerful roofless Chevrolet ever offered for the public road.

Land Rover unveils Discovery Vision Concept in New York

Land Rover revealed its Discovery Vision Concept at the USS Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum Monday night ahead of the New York auto show. Land Rover says it's a vision of future Discovery vehicles, the first of which is due in 2015. The Discovery is now sold as the LR4 in the United States, but Land Rover says it will eventually shift the name back to "Discovery" for the North American market -- that's what we knew it as when it first made landfall, anyway.

Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept (2014) revealed

By Damion Smy First Official Pictures 15 April 2014 01:00 This is the next Land Rover Discovery in all its glory. Officially named the Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept, this car will be shown for the first time at the New York motor show as a prelude to the new Land Rover family. This concept heralds a new beginning for Land Rovers, which have played second fiddle to the Range Rover, especially the hot-selling Evoque.

Making famous friends at the Petersen museum

Celebrities, they're just like us! And aside from the public adulation and fame, plus our sneaking suspicion that the 12 or so really well-known car guys can actually afford their lavish hand-picked choices without so much as entering a PIN or presenting a letter of credit, celebrities bicker and fret over the cars with which they'd fill their dream garages. Difference is, when they fill their dream garages, people pay attention.

Designing the sound of tomorrow's electric cars

By 2019, the European parliament has ordered that all new electric cars sold in the EU must be fitted with a device that emits noise to make them more audible to pedestrians. With safety legislation in America and elsewhere set to follow, this presents an opportunity to completely rethink the sound electric cars make. It's a chance to take it beyond a warning sound by considering something that harmonizes with its surroundings.

'Need for Speed' custom Ford Mustang sells for $300,000

The customized Ford Mustang from "Need for Speed" recently sold for big bucks at Barrett-Jackson, to the tune of $300,000. It may seem like a lot for a Mustang with a body kit in a movie that isn't going to win any awards. But the money went to a good cause -- it supports the Edith and Benson Ford Heart & Vascular Institute.

Win a race, win a 2015 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Ultimate

Want to put your track skills to the test and receive more than just the notoriety of the quickest lap time? The opportunity to win more than pride is here: Hyundai Motor America is teaming up with the Skip Barber Racing School to create the 2014 Hyundai Time Attack Challenge, and there's a 2015 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Ultimate on the line. The challenge allows students who attend a performance driving program at a Skip Barber Racing School location the opportunity to compete for the quickest lap time.

Land Rover starts voyage of Discovery with Virgin Galactic (2014)

By Phil McNamara First Official Pictures 15 April 2014 09:30 Land Rover took a giant leap in New York last night, unveiling a concept car vision of the new Discovery family and announcing a partnership with Virgin Galactic. The Discovery was revealed on the deck of the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier alongside Virgin's SpaceShipTwo, the rocketship charged with making space tourism a commercial reality. Land Rover's SUVs will be the taxi of choice for budding, wealthy astronauts, attending Virgin's New Mexico base for training and space flights.

Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept unveiled

The Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept has been unveiled ahead of its official debut at the New York Auto Show on Wednesday 16 April. The bold concept car hints at how an all-new, fourth-generation version of the family 4x4 will look and also sets the tone for an entire family of  Discovery models. Land Rover confirmed last week that the Vision Concept would give a taste of the design language that will be used on more than one Discovery model.

UK drivers risk Euro fines

ONE IN FIVE drivers from the UK risks being fined when travelling in Europe due to not carrying the correct travel kit. Laws in Europe vary between countries but most demand every car has a warning triangle in case of a breakdown. In a survey by the AA, it found a third (37%) of British drivers did not know they needed to carry a high visibility jacket to comply with French law.

The Ford Mustang GT-R was the pony car's anniversary gift to itself

The Ford Mustang is about to turn 50. This means that one decade ago -- and please check our math here -- the Mustang was about to hit 40. The Blue Oval celebrated in style.

Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept: OFFICIAL (+video)

The Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept (pictured) revealed Last night we had the first photo of the new Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept as it leaked out ahead of the Discovery’s reveal in New York alongside a scale mode of the Virgin Galactic and it public debut at the New York Motor Show. But now we get the full Monty; photos, specifications and detail of the technology Land Rover is preparing for future models of the Discovery. And there’s more than one Discovery.

The Netherlands trials glow-in-the-dark road

Studio Roosegarde A stretch of road in the North Brabant province of the Netherlands has been unveiled with glow in the dark markings that the designer says could make street lights a thing of the past. The paint absorbs light during the day, and illuminates for up to 10 hours at night. Glow-in-the-dark roads get green lightMany road markings 'barely visible'   Who created the glow-in-the-dark road markings?

UK motorway to charge moving electric cars

The Highways Agency is set to test wireless charging in moving electric cars on a UK motorway, according to Engineering and Technology Magazine. This would see electric vehicles gain additional charge as they passed over wireless charging nodes embedded in the motorway’s road surface. On Bing: see pictures of wireless electric car charging Find out how much a used electric car costs on Auto Trader The concept, already used by some mobile phones and currently being trialled for static charging of electric cars, uses electromagnetic fields to pass current to batteries without the use of cables or wires.

Amazing barn-find auction totals £1m

THE LARGEST collection of ‘barn find’ cars ever assembled in one auction has raised more than £1 million. The auction, which included amazing and rare lots including Aston Martins and Jaguars, was the first of its kind and took place at Silverstone Auctions’ Practical Classics Restoration Show. More than 85% of the cars put up for sale have found new owners.

Citroen DS 6WR (2014) first official pictures

By Damion Smy First Official Pictures 15 April 2014 07:00 The Citroen DS 6WR may have a clumsy name, but it’s the new premium SUV for the maker’s DS range and is crucial to the ‘Back in the Race’ plan announced by new PSA chairman, Carlos Tavares. While Peugeot is showing off the stunning Exalt concept, this is the first picture of the new Citroen SUV ahead of its launch at the Beijing motor show. Part of the plan sees a stepping-up ‘DS’ as a premium sub-brand for Citroen, and that’s why the 6WR takes styling cues from the Wild Rubis concept of 2013.

Citroen DS 6WR SUV set for debut in Beijing

A year ago, we got all excited about Citroen’s Wild Rubis concept. At the time, we said it previewed a forthcoming Citroen DS SUV, so there’s no prizes for guessing what the Citroen DS 6WR is. Making its debut at the 2014 Beijing Motor Show, the DS 6WR was designed in Paris and directly inspired by the Wild Rubis concept car.

Rise in illegal 'clocking'

MORE ‘CLOCKED’ cars are on the UK’s roads now after a rise in 2013 of cars with discrepancies in their recorded mileages. Experts say this signals a worrying trend of more dishonest car sellers ‘clocking’, or falsifying, a car’s mileage to make more money when the sell it. There had been a drop in the number of recorded incidences of clocking.

Nissan Murano (2015) set for New York Motor Show debut

There’s a new, third-generation 2015 Nissan Murano on the way. It makes its debut at the 2014 New York Motor Show, with Nissan UK not ruling out a return for the big SUV. The Nissan Murano always felt as if it was the right car in the wrong country.

Local authorities cashing in with CCTV fines

Councils are turning to CCTV cameras and spy cars to raise £312m in revenue, that’s according to Traffic Spies, a report published by civil liberties group, Big Brother Watch. Using a series of freedom of information requests, the group has discovered that many councils are continuing to use CCTV to hand out fines, despite the government’s Surveillance Camera Code of Practice, which highlights the need to use CCTV for traffic offences “sparingly”. Council parking ’spy car’ gets speeding ticket Cameras to catch illegal parking on the school run Yet despite this, the number of CCTV cars in operation has increased by 87% since 2009.

Holidaymakers Reminded To Make Pre-Easter Tyre Safety Checks

AHEAD of the Easter getaway, a leading tyre safety organisation is reminding the UK’s 650,000 caravan and motorhome owners about the importance of ensuring their tyres are in a safe, roadworthy condition before hitting the road. Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe, said: “For many, Easter is the first time of the year that they will be heading away in their caravan or motorhome. After the winter when they’ve often had little or no use, it’s essential that the vehicle’s tyres are checked thoroughly before use otherwise a number of potential safety hazards could bring an abrupt end a relaxing holiday.” As part of a visual inspection looking for obvious signs of damage such as lumps, bulges or cuts in the tyre, owners should also pay particular attention to signs of ageing.

Experts Urge Buyers To Focus More On Depreciation Than Fuel Economy

FOCUS more on a car’s value not its fuel economy if you want to save money. That’s the advice from leading valuation experts CAP Automotive. According to the independent experts, millions are wasted by drivers who focused on performance at the pumps when they chose their car, instead of the real cash-killer - depreciation.

Mercier-Jones Supercraft: the world’s fastest hovercraft

Claiming a “world first” is quite easy. Simply make an extremely niche vehicle, cram as many words into its description as possible, then you can claim pretty much anything. Take the Mercier-Jones Supercraft - “the world’s first luxury high-performance hovercraft”.

Nissan Murano (2014) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 15 April 2014 10:40 Nissan has deployed the new Murano 4x4 to come good on the styling promises made by the Resonance SUV concept at the 2013 Detroit motor show. Based on the same platform as the Altima saloon, the Murano’s backswept ‘boomerang’ lights, outlandish body surfacing and sharp, low-set nose are all dead ringers for Nissan’s well-received design study. Americans will be able to buy one of these eccentric lookers in late 2014, but right now Nissan is still mulling the possibility of European (yet alone UK-based) sales.

Tech secrets of the Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept

Land Rover's Discovery is celebrating its 25th year in 2014, but the brand is already looking to the future. The Discovery Vision Concept, unveiled in New York earlier this week, gives a taste of the design language of the next Discovery (which is due next year), as well as an extended family of Discovery models. It also previews some eye-popping new technology that could be used on future Land Rovers and Range Rovers.

One Lap of the Web: The Internet celebrates the Mustang

Fifty years ago, Muhammad Ali became the heavyweight champion of the world, "Jeopardy!" debuted, Lockheed went 2,000 mph with the YF-12 and a mop-topped band went on a television show to promote what would be shameless nostalgia for the next 50 years, even while it was happening. Oh, and Ford introduced the Mustang, an event that would be Lee Iacocca's Second Greatest Shining Moment, behind introducing Chrysler's TC by Maserati as the prettiest Italian to arrive stateside since his mother. The World's Fair was 50 years ago this week, and the Internet remembers what it was like when the Mustang came out.