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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?

Ferrari 599 Hybrid at Geneva

The report of the Ferrari 599 Hybrid destined for Geneva We know that Ferrari are doing what every other car maker is and working on systems to cut their average CO2 emissions, save a few bob and look a bit more ‘Eco’. There is already an electric Ferrari powertrain in development and Ferrari have in effect been trialing hybrid technology with their F1 cars equipped with KERS. So it comes as no huge surprise that it’s being reported Ferrari are to bring a hybrid version of the 599 to the Geneva Motor Show next year.

The fall and rise of the budget car

Twenty years ago, the classic bargain brands like Lada seemed to be going the same way as the Soviet empire that spawned them. Woefully dated and badly made, only a weirdo would have bought a new Lada rather than a second-hand model from Ford, Vauxhall or VW. However, one of the big trends in the car industry today is the re-emergence of bargain cars.