Kawasaki Vulcan Jaquard Embroidered Beanie Black on 2040-parts.com

Mini hits three million milestone

THE MUCH-LOVED new Mini has reached two major milestones this week. Since BMW took over the brand in 2001, three million Minis have now been produced at the plant in Oxford and the company has also reached the two million mark in Minis for export. The three millionth Mini is a five-door Hatch Cooper S and has a special exterior design to celebrate its heritage and British roots.

EyesOn Design Awards Winners announced

On the second day of the Detroit auto show, the traditional EyesOn Design awards took place in the newly-opened Atrium Stage of the Cobo Hall. For the first time in its eight-year history, the judges of the competition (who include present and retired design directors from almost every major automotive OEM) awarded the 'Best Concept Vehicle' award to two designs – the Ford Atlas and Nissan Resonance, beating the Hyundai HCD-14 Genesis and Lincoln MKC concepts to the award. In the production car category, the Cadillac ELR was a somewhat surprise winner, beating internal GM rival, the new Corvette Stingray to the award.

Volvo S60 (2010): more details, photos, video

  Volvo is pitching the new S60 saloon as a far sportier drive than the old model, which ceased production a full year ago. The 2010-spec Volvo S60 remains a four-door saloon, although the Swedes are at pains to point out its coupéness, with a sweptback C-pillar and plunging roofline. It looks slippery and the drag coefficient stands at 0.28.If the company’s claims are anything to go by, the S60 could dramatically move the needle on our perceptions of the Volvo brand.