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New MINI teased again ahead of next week’s reveal (video)

The new MINI is being teased again ahead of its debut The all new MINI for 2014 is due to be revealed next week on the anniversary of the birth of its creator, Sir Alec Issigonis, and MINI are squeezing in another tease for their new baby ahead of its official debut. We’ve already had a couple of teases from MINI in the run up to the reveal – including a good look at the new MINI with the MINI Vision Concept – so we’ve got a good ideas of what’s in store for MINI buyers. What we get this time is plenty of moody shots in low light of the new MINI’s features to keep the interest going, although much of the DNA of BMW’s MINI are carried forward from the current MINI.

Driving age to be raised to 18?

A government-commissioned report has recommended probationary driving licences are in future issued from the age of 18, not 17 – and that learner drivers would be required to invest big in getting a licence. The new proposals would still see provisional driving licences issues from 17, allowing learners to get out on the road under supervision. However, learners would have to undertake a 12-month ‘learner stage’, in which they’d have to cover a minimum of 100 hours’ supervised driving.

Jaguar confirms small saloon – and gets the thumbs up from Number 10

Jaguar will launch a small saloon beneath the XF in 2015, the company confirmed on the eve of the Frankfurt motor show. The baby Jag (seen testing as a disguised evaluation mule in our spy shots gallery) will be constructed from aluminium and built in the West  Midlands, creating around 1700 jobs. The news prompted a call to Jaguar from the office of Prime Minister David Cameron, offering Number 10's congratulations and support with the company's product expansion.