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Tesla set for record sales result

Innovative electric carmaker Tesla is set to announce that the last quarter of 2013 was the most successful for sales in the company’s history. As a young company with a well-respected product this doesn’t sound too surprising – until you learn that the anticipated results are said to be 20% better than Tesla had predicted. On Bing: see pictures of the Tesla Model S Find out how much a used Tesla costs on Auto Trader Tesla says it sold and delivered nearly 6,900 vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2013 – which is “approximately 20%” more than prior guidance.

Motown’s greatest hits ­– all the best cars from the Detroit Motor Show 2014

Detroit, heart of the American car industry, traditionally hosts the first motor show of the year each January. Officially known as the North American International Auto Show – or NAIAS – it’s a chance for carmakers to kick-start the coming 12 months with a bit of glamour and sparkle. And the 2014 Detroit Motor Show has not disappointed, with a substantial number of new debuts and a chance to see some existing favourites, too.

Motown’s greatest hits – all the best cars from the Detroit Motor Show 2014

Detroit, heart of the American car industry, traditionally hosts the first motor show of the year each January. Officially known as the North American International Auto Show – or NAIAS – it’s a chance for carmakers to kick-start the coming 12 months with a bit of glamour and sparkle. And the 2014 Detroit Motor Show has not disappointed, with a substantial number of new debuts and a chance to see some existing favourites, too.

What you missed at the Detroit auto show

Press days for the 2014 Detroit auto show wrapped up on Tuesday, and the sum total was more big reveals than we can shake a stick shift at. Production cars included the Ford F-150, Corvette Z06, BMW M3 and M4, Subaru WRX STI and the Porsche 911 Targa, while on the concept front we saw the Toyota FT-1, Nissan Sport Sedan and Kia GT4 Stinger just to name a few. Here are some of our favorites, in no particular order.

M1 motorway changes 'risk lives'

THE PROPOSED changes to the M1 motorway could put drivers’ lives at risk due to the removal of the hard shoulder, according to campaigners. The Association of British Drivers (ABD) says the lack of a continuous hard shoulder, combined with many vehicles' lack of a spare wheel, is a recipe for danger. The Highways Agency is currently assessing options for the M1 between junctions 28 and 35A that include a reduction in speed limit to 60mph to cut emissions pollution.

VW Beetle Dune at the Detroit auto show

Of all the production-leaning concept vehicles at the Detroit auto show, the Volkswagen Beetle Dune's the sort of flight of fancy nobody was looking for. Nissan's Sport Sedan heralds the look of the next Maxima, which will likely trickle down in some way to future Altimas, Sentras and Versas. It looks as if Nissan will put one of its techno-retro RWD IDx concepts into production.

Used car buyers warned against friends' advice

USED CAR buyers are being cautioned against taking advice from friends when buying their next car. Many misconceptions are passed on by well-meaning friends and, says used car history experts at HPI, this can lead to buyers losing money on their next car. There are five myths that many used buyers believe, says HPI.

Tesla touts top sales at Detroit auto show

Tesla credits the "exceptional cold weather performance" of its Model S for 20 percent-higher-than-expected Q4 sales of 6,900 units, bringing total Model S sales worldwide to 25,000 so far. In fact, Tesla says its sedan does so well in the snow that the rear wheels are the only ones that need any torque. "This car performs outstandingly in winter conditions," said Tesla vp of vehicle engineering Chris Porritt in a video released the day of the Detroit Auto Show.

Kia GT4 Stinger concept: OFFICIAL – Detroit Auto Show

The Kia GT4 Stinger concept (pictured) has been revaled in Detroit Kia say the GT4 Stinger Concept – revealed at Detroit after a series of teasers ahead of the reveal – is their take on a purebred, affordable sports car. And it looks very promising. Under the bonnet of the striking GT4 Stinger sits a modified version of Kia’s 2.0 litre turbo petrol engine, which is good for 311bhp and drives the rear wheels through a six-speed manual ‘box, with a set of 20″ alloys with centre locking and carbon fibre inserts covering 15″ cross-drilled discs and four piston callipers for stopping power.

Bentley Birkin Mulsanne Limited Edition revealed – just 22 being built

Bentley Birkin Mulsanne Limited Edition – just 22 being built Even Bentley aren’t immune from the lure of creating Limited Edition cars to garner extra sales and revenue, so say hello to a car Bentley say is the pinnacle of British Luxury Motoring – the Bentley Birkin Mulsanne Limited Edition. Inspired by Tim Birkin – one of the fabled Bentley Boys – the Birkin Mulsanne comes with a number of cosmetic tweaks, extra equipment as standard and a set ofd bespoke luggage to make it stand out from the ‘regular’ Mulsanne. The extra equipment includes Mulliner Driving Specification which adds in a ‘Sport’ setting as well as the traditional quilted upholstery, leather headlining and knurled detailing on the interior metalwork.

CDN-GM Interactive Design Contest 2013 winners announced

In early December, the finalist entries from the CDN/GM Interactive Design Competition were put in front of the panel of judges from General Motors and Car Design News to determine the four winners of this year's internships with GM. This year, once again, the level of work was exceptional and made for a very difficult selection. We also saw the largest number of participants and entries ever, raising the stakes of an already highly competitive field.

Cadillac ATS coupe bows at Detroit auto show

Cadillac's ATS range grows into an even stronger BMW 3-series/4-series competitor with the introduction of the coupe model, which marks the first time GM's luxury division has taken the plunge into the compact luxury coupe segment. The ATS coupe's 109.3-inch wheelbase is shared with its sedan brethren, but wears a lot of its own bodywork including a unique roof, doors, fenders, trunk lid and front fascia to not only give the coupe its own distinctive look, but to dress the wider track the coupe gets over the sedan. The ATS Coupe will be the first production Caddy to wear the division's new crest when it goes on sales this summer.

Will the Acura TLX prototype be a legend?

Okay Acura: We get it. The new TLX sedan is going to be athletic. The word was repeated ad infinitum during Acura's Detroit auto show press conference showing off the company's midsize sedan.

2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 unleashed at Detroit Motor Show 2014

Hoist up your Stars & Stripes and crank up your Bruce Springsteen tunes, because the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 has finally broken cover at the 2014 Detroit Motor Show. This is a Chevrolet Corvette C7 Z06 like we've never seen before. And given that Chevrolet claims it's the "most track-capable Corvette in history", you may find it hard to keep up with it, too.

2014 Ram 1500 Mossy Oak Edition debuts at Detroit auto show

Amid the high-tech and highfalutin premieres at the Detroit auto show, it was refreshing to see the 2014 Ram 1500 Mossy Oak Edition. The truck returned to Ram's lineup after a one-year absence, and we got to see it firsthand on the floor of Cobo Hall. Designed for hunting and fishing fans, the Mossy Oak edition is meant for truck lovers who spend a lot of time outdoors.

Nissan talks future plans at Detroit auto show

Nissan Sports Sedan Concept The name pretty much tells you what this creature is. Nissan officials confirmed that the Sport Sedan Concept is also the basis for a production car due in 2016, and while they wouldn't specify which one, it isn't too hard to guess. The SSC gets power from a V6 generating roughly 300 hp, and its dimensions approximate those of the current Maxima sedan.

2015 Lexus RC F gets 'more than' 450 hp and in-your-face styling

We got a good look at the 2015 Lexus RC F coupe last week, but its official Detroit auto show reveal answered a few of the questions we still had about the aggressively styled two-door. First and foremost? Output.

Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge performance concept storms 2014 Detroit Show

The Infiniti Q50 has been designed to take on the BMW 3 Series – but Infiniti is trying to attract a more youthful set of customers and efficient diesel and hybrid saloons aren’t exactly going to gain any favour with the young crowd. Enter the 2014 Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge concept debuting at this year’s North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. This thing has been designed to take on the mighty BMW M3 and could well have the weaponry to succeed.

Subaru WRX STI premieres at the Detroit auto show

Today at the Detroit Auto Show Subaru unveiled the new WRX STI. Last year's model got a bit of a lukewarm reception, as a lot of fans wanted to see something closer to the WRX Concept that was revealed at the 2013 New York Auto Show. It appears that Subaru has listened, and this year's WRX STI debuts with an all-new exterior design.

Kia GT4 Stinger concept (2014) first official pictures

By Damion Smy First Official Pictures 14 January 2014 09:00 Kia has shown its first rear-wheel drive sports car at the Detroit motor show. The GT4 Stinger was shown to the press as the brand’s potential rival for the Toyota GT-86 and Subaru BRZ. The GT4 Stinger is a 2+2, front-engined coupe powered by a 311bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine taken from Kia’s Optima racecars.

300hp Nissan Sport Sedan Concept shocks Detroit 2014

Nissan is 80 years old in 2014, and as part of its birthday celebrations the Japanese firm has unveiled a brand-new Sport Sedan Concept at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. 'Sedan' is the American term for a saloon car – and as the rest of its name suggests, Nissan is aiming to make this four-door far sportier than your average executive express. The first hurdle, however, is getting over the way it looks… Please click the image above to read more about the Nissan Sport Sedan Concept at the 2014 Detroit Motor Show

Volkswagen Beetle Dune 'could be built'

IF YOU like your Beetles with a little more ‘dune buggy’ about them, Volkswagen’s latest concept is right up your street. And what’s more, it really could be right up your street if public reaction to the so-called Beetle Dune is strong enough. With a body raised by 50mm, 19-inch wheels and a special rear-mounted luggage rack reminiscent of early Beetles, the Dune plays on its dual heritage strands of its earliest predecessor and the fully off-road biased dune buggies built on Beetle chassis.

Stinger Stuns At Detroit Motor Show

KIA has surprised the assembled crowds at the Detroit motor show with a stunning sports car concept, the GT4 Stinger. The Korean car company isn’t holding back with its new creation, as the low-slung coupe boasts rear-wheel drive, a 315 horsepower version of its current 2.0-litre turbo petrol motor and dramatic looks. Created by the firm’s Californian design studio, the GT4 Stinger is just the latest example of Kia’s determination to be seen as much more than just a value brand.

Hyundai Genesis gets Detroit 2014 debut

Cars we don’t get in the UK 101 would have to include the Hyundai Genesis American-market saloon in its syllabus. It’s an upmarket barge of a car that we actually wouldn’t mind gracing our roads over here in Blighty – and, interestingly, the new car is destined for these shores. Think of it as a cut-price Jaguar XF or BMW 5 Series over in the States, offering loads of comfort, a decent turn of performance and plenty of neat safety features.

M25 speed cameras not switched on

Most speed cameras on the M25 have not worked for five years, according to a report in the Sunday People newspaper. Of the 117-mile stretch of London’s orbital motorway, only 3.2 miles between Junctions 2 and 3 in Kent is covered by working cameras. On Bing: see pictures of speed cameras Cars most likely to be caught speeding in the UK The cameras, which sit behind overhead gantries imposing lower speed limits during congested times, haven’t been switched on since they were installed in 2009.

Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (2014) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 14 January 2014 13:14 At what point does a sports car become a proper supercar? This might be the answer: the new Corvette Z06. It’s not just a C7-Corvette Stingray with a few extra bodywork trinkets – this ‘Vette has more power than a McLaren F1, and tech from the new C7.R endurance racecar.

Famous British car brands achieve record sales

SALES figures from two of Britain’s most famous car brands have reached record highs in 2013. Mini and Rolls-Royce, which are both owned by BMW, have sold more cars than ever before. Thanks to a spate of popular new models, a total of 305,030 Minis were purchased across the globe last year - up 1.2% on the 2012 figure.

Bentley Mulsanne Birkin celebrates legendary ‘Tiger Tim’

The 2014 Detroit Motor Show might make it seem like the Americans are getting all the exciting toys right now, but this new limited edition Bentley Mulsanne does its bit for those of us on the other side of the Atlantic pond. Called the Bentley Mulsanne Birkin Limited Edition, and based on Bentley’s range-topping model, it will only be sold in Europe, and is only available in extremely limited numbers. So summon the butler, by Jove.

U-turn for wheelchair row taxi firm

A TAXI firm that refused to pick up wheelchair users has had to perform a U-turn. Middlesbrough-based Boro Cars, the largest taxi firm in the North East, had originally said refusing disabled passengers was "morally wrong", but it brought in the policy anyway. The firm insists that minibuses cost drivers more to rent and that the standard fares, which are the only fares that can be charged to disabled passengers, are not high enough to earn operators any money.

Cyclists 'a pretty special bunch'

WE BRITS think cyclists are more intelligent and charitable than the average person, according to a new report. A study for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) found that sportsmen and women generally were more attractive than celebrities, with most qualities attributed to cyclists. The survey of 600 adults also showed that two thirds admitted to liking lycra.