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The scramble for scarce tires

North American automakers are struggling with a nagging shortage of tires, caused in part by tire plant closings and rising demand for low-volume specialty tires. Automakers are paying much higher prices -- double-digit percentage increases from a year ago -- as tire makers gain pricing power. "We have been bombarded from every side for additional tires, and we can't keep up," said David O'Donnell, Continental Tire's vice president of original equipment in the Americas.

2012 BMW M5 to get 4WD? +M5 Concept Video

Will the 2012 M5 get four wheel drive? Now there’s something to cogitate on for BMW M5 fruitcakes. Autocar are reading a comment by BMW’s head of R&D, Albert Biermann, that “…there will be some all-wheel-drive surprises on M cars in the future.” as evidence that BMW are going to do the almost unthinkable and offer 4WD as an option on the 2012 BMW M5.

Mini John Cooper Works GP (2012) first official pictures

Mini has unveiled the new top-dog Mini John Cooper Works GP - a limited edition, very fast, very expensive Mini hot hatch. Just 2000 Mini GP editions will be built, with first sales due for late 2012. Yes, it's a signal that current generation Mini is approaching its wind-down period ahead of the all-new, third-generation Mini models due to land from 2014.