Europe's Car of the Year 2011 shortlist announced

The 41 contenders for Europe's 2011 Car of the Year trophy have been whittled down to the final seven as the European CoTY shortlist is announced today. The winner will be voted for by 59 of Europe's most influential motoring journalists, including two CAR writers: editor Phil McNamara and European editor Georg Kacher. The 2010 winner - by just 10 points ahead of the Toyota iQ - was the Volkswagen Polo. Like the Eurovision Song Contest, Car of the Year has proved controversial in the past with accusations of block-voting and blind patriotism, yet the award remains one of the most prestigious in the motor industry.

Me and My Car: Achim Anscheidt and his Porsche 911 [w/Video]

You can tell a lot about a person from the car they drive. It can also be argued that you can tell a lot of about a car from who drives it, especially when that person is a respected designer, in this case the head of Design Bugatti Achim Anscheidt. In one of Drive's latest episodes features Anscheidt and his Porsche ‘Private Project' 911 around the streets of Berlin, discussing his take on minimalism in design and construction and how he feels about personal design projects.

RenaultSport Clio 200: Price from £18,995

Renault has confirmed prices for the RenaultSport Clio 200, starting at £18,995 in standard spec and £19,995 for the Lux spec. Starting at £18,995, the RenaultSport Clio 200 comes with AirCon, SatNav, Bluetooth, Keyless and Sports seats with Renault’s Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) gearbox as standard (which can skip gears) and the RS Drive system – giving a choice of three modes that change the settings for throttle, engine and steering – launch control and traction control you can actually switch off. If you want a few more home comforts, then you can opt for the Lux version that throws in Climate, auto lights and wipers, better sound system and electric windows for an extra £1,000.