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Here's what the 2014 Volvo V60 wagon will cost

The Volvo V60 has been a moderate hit in Europe, and this month it's finally set to go on sale in the U.S. The five-door station wagon will offer one engine from the automaker's new Drive-E family of powerplants, gasoline engines that will use turbocharging and direction injection, in a package slightly smaller than the existing XC70 station wagon. All-wheel drive and front-wheel drive will both be on the menu, with the the base version of the V60 T5 front-wheel drive station wagon starting at $36,215.

Forget high beams -- lasers are coming

Audi has kicked off 2014 with the unveiling of an updated version of its Sport quattro concept car -- as first revealed at last year's Frankfurt motor show. Set to underpin the German carmaker's stand at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the latest incarnation of the bullish-looking two-door coupe showcases distinctively styled matrix LED headlamps with new laser light technology that, Audi officials suggest, will soon begin appearing on regular production models as a high-cost option. Already confirmed for the Audi R18 that will compete at the Le Mans 24-hour race later this year, the new headlamps use matrix LEDs and an aperture mask for low-beam mode.

Volkswagen Microbus production could resume in Brazil

The Volkswagen Type 2 Kombi/Microbus may be a classic to our eyes, but it has been in continuous production in Brazil for almost 50 years. Impending legislation that would outlaw the production and importation of cars and trucks without modern safety features such as ABS brakes and airbags was set to put an end to the Kombi production in Brazil, but one lawmaker wants to make an exception for the veteran vehicle, Indian Autos Blog reports. Brazil's finance minister Guido Mantega is arguing that since the Kombi/Microbus has been in production for decades -- before ABS technology and airbags were developed -- it would be unfair to apply the new law to the vehicle.

2014 VW Passat Executive and Executive Style revealed

2014 VW Passat Executive and Executive Style revealed Volkswagen has decided that buyers of the Passat – not exactly the best-selling car in the VW range – want some extra toys on their new Passat, so they’re introducing two new trim levels for 2014. The new trim levels – executive and Executive Style – sit above the entry-level Passat S and BlueMotion and bring extra goodies for not a lot more money than the Highline trim it replaces. The Passat executive comes with 17″ Michigan alloys, extra chrome, matt black roof rails (on the Estate), VW’s RNS 315 touchscreen SatNav, Vienna leather, heated front seats, electric driver’s seat, Climate, auto lights and wipers, Cruise and rear parking sensors.

Solar-powered Ford C-Max Solar Energi revealed

Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (PHVs) are the next big thing in environmentally conscious motoring – and the number on sale is set to explode over the coming months. But some carmakers are already working on the next next big thing. Including Ford, which has just announced this new C-Max Solar Energi Concept.

Las Vegas debut for Audi Sport Quattro laserlight concept

It sounds like the stuff of Tomorrow’s World, but Audi is making laser headlights viable technology today with this, the Sport Quattro laserlight concept. The new prototype with its special headlights will make its world debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, America on 6 January 2014, “leaving all previous headlight systems in the dark,” according to Audi board member for technical development, Prof. Dr.

Study Highlights Perils Of Distracted Driving

IF YOUR mind has ever wandered when behind the wheel you’ll likely relate to this latest study of driver behaviour. According to the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in Maryland, USA, motorists typically have their eyes off the road for a tenth of the time they are driving. Worryingly, for 10 per cent of their journey they are eating, reaching for the phone, texting or engaged in other activities that cause concentration to wander away from what is happening beyond the windscreen.

Executive touch for Volkswagen Passat

THE POPULAR Volkswagen Passat has been given two new generously equipped trim levels to mark its final months of production. It is due to be replaced by an all-new model within the next year, so in an effort to sell off as many as possible before that time, Volkswagen has introduced the Executive and Executive Style trim levels in place of the previous Highline. Both the saloon and the estate body styles can be ordered with the new specification.

DMC teases 988hp Aventador Edizione GT

We’ve featured DMC Luxury a time or two before here on MSN Cars – this German tuner is especially known for interfering with Lamborghinis and first caught our eye with its striking Molto Veloce Aventador. Now, with the imminent introduction of what it’s calling the Edizione GT, DMC has really got our attention. Details are so far scarce.

Nissan teases new Sports Saloon Concept for Detroit

Nissan teases new Sports Saloon Concept for Detroit Now we’re in to 2014, and the Detroit Auto Show is just a few weeks away, we’re going to get more news and teases ahead of the show, and this one comes from Nissan. The single teaser image (above) shows a new ‘Sports Sedan Concept’ which looks like it will preview the next generation Nissan Maxima due in 2015. We don’t get the Maxima in the UK, but the Sports Sedan Concept also previews a new style direction for Nissan which is likely – in  toned-down form – to find its way in to future Nissan’s this side of the Pond.

Will Fido Take The Lead In Choosing Your Next Car?

EXPERTS all say, to avoid disappointment, it’s important to thoroughly research a prospective new car purchase. However, with so many resources available it’s easy to forget the one closest to home: Fido. And it’s not just buyers who should be more in tune with their faithful companion.

Ford to unveil 'solar powered' hybrid car

FORD IS to unveil a solar-powered concept car capable of 100 miles per gallon that offers the same performance as a plug-in hybrid - but without the need for a plug. The C-MAX Solar Energi Concept car, which will be revealed at this month's International CES gadget show in Las Vegas, uses a petrol engine combined with a gizmo that acts like a magnifying glass to concentrate the sun's rays on the vehicle's roof-mounted solar panels. Ford says the vehicle's estimated combined mileage is 100 miles per gallon.

Kia GT4 Stinger concept car due for Detroit Motor Show 2014

Kia It's the season for pre-Detroit Motor Show announcements - and today Kia issued this further teaser image of its new low-slung sports car: the 2014 Kia GT4 Stinger concept car. With overtones of the Audi R8 supercar about its visage, the GT4 Stinger is a rear-wheel drive coupe driven by a punchy 315hp turbocharged engine. Kia is a major player in the US, and this GT4 concept car is designed to worm its way into the affections of American enthusiasts.

Cycle-rail journeys 'almost triple'

MASSIVE increases to public transport network spending have led to the near-tripling of the number of ‘cycle-rail’ journeys taken since 2009, according to government statistics. An update on the coalition’s ‘door to door action plan’, published close to the New Year, details how huge increases in funding for secure cycle parking facilities and public transport integration have led to increased usage. The government is using the data to encourage more people to take up ‘greener’ ways of getting to work.

Fiat will buy the rest of Chrysler for $4.35 billion

Fiat has announced that it will purchase the rest of Chrysler in a deal totaling $4.35 billion. Currently, the outstanding 41.6 percent stake in the company is owned by the UAW's voluntary employee beneficiary association, or VEBA, trust. Under the terms of the deal, Fiat won't shell out all $4.35 billion.

Kia GT4 Stinger concept headed to Detroit auto show

The Detroit auto show is just a few days away, and Kia has shown us a glimpse of the concept car that it will be unveiling at the show on January 13th. Dubbed the GT4 Stinger, the concept is a low and wide 2+2 sports car, featuring an expansive grille framed by vertical LED headlights. Like the Kia GT concept we saw in Frankfurt in 2011, the GT4 stinger is supposedly rear-wheel drive.

Volkswagen Passat Executive and Executive Style

Volkswagen’s moving up in the world with the introduction of the Executive and Executive Style to its Passat range. The two new models add a bit of luxury and bling to the current Passat, ahead of rumours of an all-new version coming in 2015. Find out how much a used Volkswagen Passat costs on Auto Trader On Bing: see pictures of the Volkswagen Passat The new Passat Executive is fitted with 17-inch alloys (an inch bigger than standard on the base-spec ‘S’), as well as splashes of exterior chrome and matt black roof rails on the estate.

Brighton Speed Trials under threat

Nearly 8,000 people have signed a petition to see the Brighton Speed Trials return in 2014. The event, which dates back to 1905, was cancelled last year while an inquest determined the cause of a fatal motorbike crash that occurred in 2012. Now organisers are urging the local council to give them permission to return to the Speed Trials to Brighton’s Madeira Drive this summer.

Which of these 2013 car ads is your favorite?

The 2014 One Show Automobile Advertising of the Year award finalists have been announced, covering media from broadcast TV to experiential marketing. The One Club teamed up with the Detroit auto show to select their picks for best automotive advertisements in the business. The One Club will be awarding finalists based on five categories: Print & Outdoor, Broadcast TV, Online Videos, Interactive and Experiential Advertising as well as the Public Choice Award.

GM to buy Tesla? Seems highly unlikely

GM to buy Tesla? Seems highly unlikely Tesla is more like a technology company than a car maker, but it’s managed to turn out a very able car in the Model S; perhaps the only car made so far that really is an alternative to an ICE car. That success has lead a US analyst - Yra Harris of Praxis – to declare that GM has Tesla in its sights as an acquisition target in 2014.

Nissan Sport Sedan Concept headed for Detroit show 2014

Nissan Nissan has issued this new-year teaser of the Nissan Sport Sedan Concept - understood to be a look at the new US-market Maxima saloon. The world debut of the Sport Sedan Concept is due at the North American International Auto Show, aka the Detroit Motor Show, starting on Monday 13 January 2014. Although only this solitary shadowy teaser image has been issued today, we can make out a new front-end design on the sports saloon concept car.

Wild weather forecast to herald 2014

PARTY-GOERS out celebrating the new year may well avoid a drenching tonight, but further rain and gales are expected to herald the start of 2014. Thousands of people across the UK are still recovering after storms last week caused widespread misery, with power cuts and flooding ruining Christmas for scores of families. And forecasters say there is more bad weather to come, with the Met Office issuing a severe weather warning for rain on New Year's Day, affecting southern England and western Scotland.

New Year drink-drive warning for revellers

SOME revellers will drink so much to see in the New Year that they might be over the legal driving limit for nearly all of January 1, the AA has warned. As many as 21% of people plan to drink at least 10 units of alcohol at New Year's Eve celebrations, potentially putting them still over the limit by 12 noon on New Year's Day. And the AA/Populus survey of more than 21,000 drivers also revealed that 2% would drink to such an extent that they risked being over the limit as late as 10pm on New Year's Day.

GM tipped to buy Tesla in 2014 - report

Tesla Motors Tesla has made a real splash in the electric-car scene, so it should come as no surprise that its success is generating renewed interest in the fledgling start-up. New media reports in the US suggest that one of America's biggest car makers, General Motors, is considering buying Tesla in 2014. Veteran auto industry analyst Yra Harris, of Praxis Trading, told CNBC that GM may make a bid for Elon Musk's electric vehicle (EV) specialist in the coming months.

BMW X4 to launch at New York Auto Show in April

BMW X4 to launch at New York Auto Show in April The surprising success of the coupe version of the BMW X5 – the BMW X6 – made it highly probable that BMW would pull a similar trick with the X3 by building a coupe version of their smaller SUV. That probability became a certainty when BMW revealed a the BMW X4 Concept at the Shanghai Motor Show, looking just like an X6 on a boil wash. Although BMW didn’t give any major details about what goes under the X4′s bonnet, it’s safe to assume the X4 will come with a similar engine lineup to the X3, an interior that’s also similar and a price point that’s a bit higher.

Classic Lotus Cortina owner wins £5,000 fund

A LUCKY Lotus Cortina owner has won a £5,000 prize to make improvements and restorations to his car. Pete Shaw was awarded the prize by Footman James classic car insurance at last month’s Classic Motor Show. His beloved 1966 Mk1 Airflow Lotus Cortina had been entered into the competition with much-needed work on the cards.

Pothole app gets goverment backing

A NEW SMARTPHONE APP to report potholes has been given backing by the government. The Department for Transport has given £30,000 to help develop the app, which has been launched by the Cyclists’ Touring Club (CTC). The app is part of the CTC’s ‘Fill That Hole’ pothole reporting website.

Iconic VW camper reaches the end of the road

VOLKSWAGEN has finally ended production of its iconic Kombi, which has provided the base for countless campervans. The last VW Kombi rolled off the production line in Brazil on 20 December, which brought to a close the longest continuous running production life of any vehicle ever in the world. After 63 years in production, more than 3.5 million Kombis have been built in Germany and Brazil.

John Hennessey unwinds modified Chevy SS

Perhaps it's not as impressive as John Hennessey's recent 200mph blast down Houston's new Grand Parkway in a warmed-up Stingray, but we figured we'd show you his latest run down the same road in a Chevrolet SS equipped with his company's HPE600 Supercharged package. Thanks to GM's engineers, the four-door hits its top speed of 163 in 5th, rather than 6th, but what impressed us the most was watching the numbers climb on the VBOX — the car pulls John-Bonham-hard all the way up to its top speed. Hennessey hasn't released details of the mods performed on the SS yet, but we're anxious to see what this anodyne-looking monster will do on the top end once the gearing nag's sent off to the glue factory.

Fiesta is 2013's best seller

THE FORD FIESTA has topped the new car sales chart for 2013 with 113,417 sold. It was closely followed by another Ford, this time the Focus that recorded 81,791 new owners during the 12 months of 2013. Third place on the podium was taken by the Fiesta’s arch rival, the Vauxhall Corsa that racked up 77,861 sales during its final full year before it’s replaced with a new Corsa in 2014.