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Driven: Mini Countryman

There has been no more contentious a car launched this year than the Mini Countryman. It's been labeled by some as sacrilegious to the very essence of the Mini brand, of 'selling out' and, yes, of being ugly. But does the concept of a four-meter Mini translate to use in the real world?

Saab's new 9-3 due in 2012 to set new Saab template

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 04 June 2010 10:13 Now the new 9-5 is launched, attention is turning to the next generation of Saabs. Speaking at the 9-5 launch in Trollhättan, Saab bosses told CAR that the new 9-3 would be the first model to bear the true hallmarks of the new independent Saab since the Detroit divorce.GM sold Saab to Dutch entrepreneur Victor Muller's Spyker group in February 2010 for $78 million and an equity swap – meaning that the 9-5 was done and dusted by the time Saab had become independent. Next year's new 9-4X crossover, paired with and built alongside GM's Cadillac SRX and due in April 2011, is also largely finished.

Concept Car of the Week: Honda Kiwami (2003)

As part of Honda's exploration into new, clean-performing technologies, the Kiwami concept was created to test public acceptance of the idea of a large, fuel cell-powered luxury sedan.  Unveiled in 2003, the simple yet striking design seemed like a Japanese twist on the Renault Vel Satis concept, which shared a similar wedge profile, wide stance and minimalist approach.  However, the Kiwami found its own interpretation of modern luxury, expressed through elegantly integrated technology rather than with crystal champagne glasses.  Up front, a full-width LED strip headlamp sat flush with the flat bonnet and the rectangular bumper to create a design of primitive beauty.  Further examples of the same simple Japanese aesthetic are found around the car, including the uncluttered body panels and a full-width tail-lamp graphic that matched the front theme.  The dramatic proportions of the interior were closely related to the package of the hydrogen power plant. Unlike other manufacturers at the time, Honda engineers did not create a 'skateboard' fuel cell chassis below the cabin. Instead, a sideways H-shaped layout for the control unit, ultracapacitor, fuel cell stack, hydrogen storage and other components was used, helping to create a lower center of gravity.