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Mini Beachcomber Concept at Detroit motor show 2010

This funky beach-biased concept car has just appeared at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show in January. Called the Mini Beachcomber Concept, this flight-of-fancy Moke-inspired show car gives us our first glimpse of how Mini's production-spec 4x4 crossover will look at launch - we'll see the real car at the Geneva motor show in March 2010 ahead of an autumn UK launch. This four-seater, four-wheel-drive machine has been designed without doors or a conventional roof, so that its occupants are not cut off from the outside world.

Hyundai HB20 & HB20X debut in Brazil

Hyundai has debuted the HB20 hatchback and HB20X Crossover at the Sao Paulo Motor Show in Brazil. The Hyundai HB20 – which shares its basic underpinnings with Europe’s i20 – has, say Hyundai, been developed exclusively for the Brazilian market and comes in a choice of nine trim levels and with a choice of a 1.0 litre and 1.6 litre flex fuel engines with a five-speed manual, or an auto option on the 1.6 litre. Changes to the Brazilian HB20 (HB stands for ‘Hyundai Brazil’) include specific setup for Brazilian roads (which can be even worse than ours), cosmetic tweaks to the exterior and a different interior.

Italian firm buys stake in Aston Martin

The former owner of Italian motorcycle maker Ducati has bought a 37.5-percent stake in financially strapped British car maker Aston Martin. The move means future Astons could use modern drivelines and electric architectures from Mercedes-Benz's AMG division, insiders with knowledge of the deal suggest. Private equity fund Investindustrial has signed a memorandum of understanding with current Aston Martin owner Investment Dar of Kuwait that will see it pay $240 million (150 million pounds) for the ownership stake.