Grommet Baffled Brthr on 2040-parts.com

Kia KV7 concept

Kia is clearly keen to grab the last of 2010's headlines by releasing this teaser render of its upcoming concept, the KV7, due to be unveiled at the Detroit auto show. The large crossover appears to preview a replacement for the Korean manufacturer's Borrego. While the exterior's clamshell tailgate, muscular wheelarches and Ford Explorer-aping lamp graphics (from this view, at least) may be directly relative to a production model, it's unlikely that the rear gullwing door openings will make the transition.

BMW ‘i’ Brand 46 dealer network for i3 & i8

Each i-Brand centre will have specialist technical capabilities so they can work on the i range of cars and their high-voltage batteries, and BMW say there will also be a wider network for servicing and maintenance of their electric cars. The first of the -Brand cars to go on sale from BMW will be the city car i3 (which will also come with the option of a range extender engine to make it truly useful) later in 2013 followed by the i8 supercar. Prices are yet to be confirmed even for the i3, but we’re expecting the i3 to start around the £35k mark and the i8 – when it does arrive – costing something closing in on £100k.

Earthquake auction Ferrari 599 XX Evo handed to Google’s Benjamin Sloss

The Ferrari 599 XX Evo auctioned by Ferrari to raise funds for the earthquake in the Emilia Romagna region has been handed to Benjamin Sloss of Google. Back in May, following the earthquake in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy, Ferrari ran an auction to raise funds to help victims of the earthquake’ Amongst the items put up for auction by Ferrari were an F60 nose-cone and an F2008 engine, but the star lot was a brand new Ferrari 599 XX Evo, Ferrari’s track-day only testbed for all things Maranello. The winner of the 599 XX Evo turns out to be a deep-pocketed Google VP – Benjamin Sloss – who forked out €1.4 million for his new plaything (which was almost a bargain price) and, as part of the auction offering, he was rewarded for his generosity with a presentation of his new Ferrari at last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza.