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This is the future of in-car electronics

The annual Consumer Electronics Show kicks off tomorrow in Las Vegas, in the same massive convention center that held the SEMA show only a few months ago. Almost as many carmakers will come to CES as made the trek to SEMA, with seven major carmakers expected to have show stands and two big suppliers – Visteon and Delphi – showing their latest techno-stuff, too. Here, in alphabetical order so as not to offend anyone, is a preview of what we expect to find in Las Vegas this week.

CAR scoop: BMW and Toyota's joint sports car plot

BMW is buddying up with Toyota on an all-new sports car platform, set to underpin the replacements for the Z4, 6-series and GT86. The unlikely collaboration stems from an alliance that began in 2011, where BMW and Toyota agreed to co-develop next-generation lithium ion batteries, and for Toyota to use BMW’s fourpot diesels in its European cars. An engineering team is beavering away on the project, with the clock ticking: the suits want to outline the car’s specification before the end of 2013. What does BMW get out of the bargain?

MINI Clubvan: Debut at 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed

The MINI Clubvan – a MINI Clubman with blocked out windows and no back seats – arrives as a production model and debuts at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The MINI Clubvan arrived as a concept at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, but there was no chance MINI were going to pass up the chance of filling yet another MINI niche, which makes it no surprise this morning sees the arrival of the production version of the Clubvan. Looking exactly like what it is – a MINI Clubman with polycarbonate panels over the back windows and no back seats – the MINI Clubvan aims to do for trendy delivery businesses what the MINI did for trendy Estate Agents - make their ubiquitous presence a real annoyance.