BMW axes B-class rival

By Georg Kacher Motor Industry 07 August 2006 09:26 BMW has put on ice plans for a mini-MPV based on the 3-series, to rival the Mercedes B-class. Instead, it will focus on a bigger, Mercedes R-class challenger, due in 2009. 'Originally, we looked at two different space-functional concepts: one was based on the 3-series, the other one on the 5-series,' said a source.

Nissan sketches future compact car plans

Nissan has unveiled a sketch of a compact car that it plans to sell around the world. The carmaker released few specifics, but the vehicle will be sold in more than 150 countries and is set to launch first in Thailand in March 2010. The car will qualify as Thailand's first “eco-car,” which is a government policy to help promote energy-efficient vehicles.

Toyota FT-86 II: The second coming of the Toyobaru FT-86

Toyota FT-86 II Tease Just last week we finally got the first concrete news on the Subaru half of the Toyobura project that seems to have been bouncing around forever. Well, certainly since Toyota first rolled out the Toyota FT-86 Concept at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2009. Which made is believe that the whole Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car Technology Concept designed to deliver an affordable, traditional-style rear-wheel drive sports car at a sensible price (when we first saw the Toyota FT-86 we were told around £17.5k ) was finally going to bear fruit.