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Driven: BMW 5 Series GT

It's an illustration of the place London has become that it's typically possible to park brand new or exotic cars on an average street and be met with studied indifference by the average passer by. So why, during a week of driving a BMW 5 Series GT, were we made to feel so conspicuous? Every time we parked in a busy area, at least one stranger felt the need to remark, usually to tell us how ugly they thought it was.

SsangYong XIV-2 concept

The SsangYong XIV-2 concept – the second of its ‘eXciting user Interface Vehicles' [sic] – will make its debut at next month's Geneva Motor Show. The two-door, open-top crossover is an evolution of the I.DE.A designed XIV-1, shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year. Visually, the XIV-2 is a departure from both the previous Ssangyong KEV2 and XIV-1 concepts, with an all-new DRG featuring a simpler, more upright fascia and cleaner pulled-back headlamps – suggestive of a more production-ready front fascia.

BMW ‘reveals’ new EfficientDynamics prototype

BMW has established a Web site called www.dontblogabouthis.com with the express purpose of revealing a prototype being used to test a new gasoline-electric driveline earmarked for a future sports car. It’s expected to be launched in 2012 as part of BMW’s EfficientDynamics program. Featuring two short videos and four photographs of a 6-series based prototype, the Web site provides no additional information about the prototype other than to suggest that the car in question is “more than a 6-series”and is “not in its final stage.” Close inspection reveals the matte black BMW mule has a new front end resembling that of the one-off EfficientDynamics concept revealed at last year’s Frankfurt motor show.