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BMW vs Winter: all you need to know about BMW xDrive

By the CAR editorial team 21 January 2014 15:00 According to BMW, its ‘xDrive’ all-wheel drive system is more popular than any other premium brand’s four-wheel drive drivetrain. That’s right: in the UK, xDrive outsells Audi’s famous quattro system, not to mention Mercedes ever-expanding 4Matic range, and all-wheel drive version of Jaguar’s XF and XJ. If you had to name an all-wheel drive BMW off the top of your head, you’d probably plump for the X5, but the truth is that xDrive has infiltrated the majority of BMW models.

Renault Twingo and Clio Grand Tour

By Ben Whitworth Motor Shows 08 March 2007 10:12 French but sans le funky look A busy show stand for Renault – as well as unveiling its new Twingo city car, the French manufacturer pulled the wraps off a thinly disguised version of its upcoming Clio estate to take on its Fabia and Peugeot 207 wagon rivals. After the funked up coolness of the Twingo concept car shown at the Paris Motor Show last year, we are more than a little underwhelmed by the production Twingo. Renault is keen to move away from the utilitarian look and feel of the original model – it will leave cheap and cheerful sales to the Clio Campus – and pitch the new model at sharper-suited rivals like the Mini.

Global Vehicle Architecture opens new fully-equipped 3D Design Studio in Beijing

Global Vehicle Architecture (GVA) – a specialist independent design company encompassing all forms of transportation design – has opened a fully-equipped design studio in Beijing to cater for the growing  demand for design support services. GVA is unique in that it is the first European automotive designer led facility of its kind in China offering complete in-house modeling capabilities. The 2,000 square-meter studio, situated only 10 minutes from the 798 Art district and in close proximity to Beijing's airport, boasts extensive facilities including an 18-meter plate area, and prototype car build capabilities.