Nissan Murano Diesel – finally

The Nissan Murano is to get a diesel option from September The Nissan Murano is the Qashqai’s big brother, just as the soon to arrive Nissan Juke is the baby. But the Murano often tends to get overlooked because it seems like it doesn’t really belong in Europe. It feels – and looks – a bit like a Crossover designed for the US with its blingy looks and petrol only V6 (from the old 350Z).

Toyota shelves A-BAT pickup concept

Toyota won't build the small, ultramodern A-BAT hybrid pickup concept that was a head-turner at the 2008 Detroit auto show and looked like a good bet for production. "We have a lot of top priorities, and A-BAT is not one of them right now," Bob Carter, Toyota Division's general manager, told the Web site PickupTrucks.com. "It's on the shelf." A Toyota official confirmed Carter's comments.

BMW creates mini version of Art Car by artist Jeff Koons

Known for his whimsical sculptures, artist Jeff Koons is using his skills to create limited-edition BMW Miniature Art Cars instead of giant stainless-steel balloon animals. Famed artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein have created their own BMW Art Cars, and Koons is just the latest in a line such works since Alexander Calder painted the first installment in the Art Car Collection in 1975 Adorned with bright streaks of color against a black background, the full-size vehicle competed in Le Mans in 2010. Miniature models are available now.