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Fiat 500: Suspension tweak and 2-pot engine

The Fiat 500 is to get stiffer suspension and a range of 2-pot engines It’s not hard to see why the Fiat 500 has been a runaway success. It has the cute factor going on, but on the right side of pastiche; prices are much more reasonable than its rival in the ‘small car icon revisited’ stakes – the MINI, and Fiat have done a sterling job on the marketing side. And it’s not just been the tin-top, bog-standard  Fiat 500 that’s flown out of showrooms.

New BMW Zagato Concept teased for Pebble Beach

A surprise new BMW Zagato Roadster Concept is teased ahead of a debut at Pebble Beach later this month. Following on from the BMW Zagato Coupe we saw at Villa D’Este earlier this year, BMW are now teasing what appears to be a Roadster version ahead of a debut at Pebble Beach later this month. A one-off collaboration between BMW and Zagato at Villa D’Este is one thing, but to follow that up a few months later with a Roadster version makes us think the protestations that the Villa D’Este car was a one-off were a tad disingenuous.

Video: GM's Frank Saucedo, Niki Smart and Gael Buzyn on the Elmiraj concept

GM director advanced design Frank Saucedo features in a new video explaining the design process behind the new Elmiraj concept. Saucedo, who oversaw the concept's development at GM's advanced design studio in North Hollywood, California, talks about how the Elmiraj – the second in a series of three concept cars that began with last's year Ciel – is a study of how they can progress and evolve the carmaker's ‘Art and Science' design philosophy. GM's interior design manager Gael Buzyn and exterior design manager Niki Smart also feature, with Smart explaining how the Elmiraj concept is focused on the notion of ‘the drive' and has been designed to reflect dynamism while the Ciel was about ‘the journey', represented by a luxurious interior.