BMW 1-series (2007): first official pictures

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 15 January 2007 11:53 What's this? A BMW 1-series facelift? Sort of.

First Sight: Hyundai i30

Hyundai invited Car Design News for an exclusive sneak preview of the all-new i30 last week, ahead of its global debut at the Frankfurt motor show today. The event was held in Frankfurt's renowned Cocoon Club (the venue will also play host to this year's Interior Motives Awards, which takes place this coming Wednesday night), and was chosen because of its interior décor – something Hyundai's European Design Chief, Thomas Buerkle, likened to the Korean company's 'Fluidic Sculpture' design language. "We have been inspired by nature and beautiful shapes," Buerkle told the audience of journalists at the launch.

Dealers' clunkers filing deadline extended

The Transportation Department has extended the cash-for-clunkers filing deadline again, to 8 p.m. EDT tonight after reporting that its computer system for dealers "has been fully operational overnight." In an e-mail to the National Automobile Dealers Association that was confirmed by Transportation spokeswoman Jill Zuckman, the Obama administration said, "The system will be closed to new submissions" after 8 p.m. It was the second deadline extension since last Thursday because of Transportation's computer outages.