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Top seven notes from Beijing’s 2014 VW Group motor show

By Ollie Kew Motor Industry 25 April 2014 07:30 On the eve of every major motor show, the Volkswagen Group steals a jump on the competition by staging its own mini motor show to reveal its big-hitters for the imminent event. Here are seven things you won’t have heard from Beijing’s ‘Group Night’. As soon as the floor was opened to journalists, the Chinese media made straight for the stunning new Lamborghini Huracan and Bugatti’s latest Veyron Vitesse Legends Edition, the ‘Black Bess’.

Hyundai ix20

Hyundai has revealed the first images of its new ix20, a new B-segment MPV that will join the Korean automaker's product range in Europe later this year. Following on from the ix35, the ix20 is the second European car to adopt Hyundai's new 'fluidic sculpture' design language.  The new car, which will make its official debut at the Paris motor show, has been designed and developed at Hyundai's European R&D center in Rüsselsheim, Germany, under the direction of Thomas Buerkle. The car's name is said to reflect the new model's crossover-like versatility, which combines functionality with sportier driving dynamics.  Hyundai claims the ix20 aims to steer away from the boxy minivan image typically associated with the segment and appeal to buyers with young families.

Lotus CEO Dany Bahar on the crisis at Lotus Cars

Lotus chief executive Dany Bahar has laid bare the business position at Lotus Cars since the takeover of parent company Proton by Malaysia's DRB-Hicom. Norfolk's sports car maker has been buffeted by rumours of financial crisis and looming collapse since development was frozen by the new owners (click here for our coverage of the crisis at Lotus. CAR scored an interview with Bahar at the Hethel headquarters yesterday afternoon. He was abroad at the time of last week's media maelstrom, when rumours and slurs flew around about the state of Lotus's finances.