New Fiat Panda Cross is a rugged Panda 4×4 baby SUV

The new Fiat Panda Cross (pictured) debuts at Geneva It might not be the top of everyone’s wish list as a baby SUV, but the Fiat Panda Cross has always been better than you’d imagine, and the latest Panda Cross – revealed ahead of a debut at the Geneva Motor Show – looks even more able than the last Panda Cross and better looking too. The 2014 Fiat Panda Cross (although it will really be a 2015 model by the time it arrives in the UK) looks like a proper baby SUV thanks to its new front bumper with a satin titanium skid plate full of round cut-outs, new back bumper with skid plate, new lights, big wheel arches, roof bars and a new set of 15″ alloys (with ‘All Seasons’ 185/65R15 tyres), whilst the interior gets Climate, Blue&Me Infotainment and height-adjustable driver’s seat. The Panda Cross also gets proper baby SUV toys like automatic drive between the axles according to grip, torque control of individual wheels when off-road and hill descent control for controlled downhill descents.

First Sight: BMW 1 Series

This is the first BMW to compete in the premium lower medium European car class defined by cars such as the Audi A3 and Alfa Romeo 147, although spiritually it follows the significantly smaller BMW 2002 Touring produced from 1968 to 1976. A little more compact that the 3 Series (which will grow in size with next year's new model) the 1 Series effectively replaces the 3 Series-based Compact and extends the brand downward to just above the Mini. The 1 Series was previewed by the CS1 two door convertible concept shown two years ago at Geneva, with which it shares much of its exterior proportions and form, and some interior design themes.

Jaguar Land Rover to build cars in China

Jaguar Land Rover has revealed it is going to build cars in China, starting with either the Freelander 2 or Evoque. Jaguar Land Rover has revealed that it going to build cars outside the UK for the first time (as opposed to re-assembling Freelander 2 CKD kits as it does in India) in a plant just north of Shanghai. As this is China, official permission from the Chinese government is required, but with the joint venture between Chery and JLR now official its seems unlikely to be a problem as JLR will already have agreed to Chery producing JLR cars with Chery badges on.