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New Mini Hardtop 4-door: First look

Meet the Mini Cooper Hardtop 4-door. The company has followed the surprise unveiling of its one-off Superleggera Vision roadster concept at the recent Villa d'Este Concourse d'Eleganza in Italy with this, a five-door production hatchback that is planned to join its North American lineup later this year. The new Mini model shares its front-wheel-drive mechanical package with the latest three-door Mini Cooper hatchback launched earlier this year but aims to provide more everyday practicality than its popular sibling through a combination of extended external dimensions and a pair of stubby rear doors.

Toyota A-BAT concept (2008): first official pictures

By Guy Bird First Official Pictures 15 January 2008 13:39 Toyota’s latest Detroit concept flips on its head the current orthodoxy that pick-ups can’t be green. The A-BAT is a compact pick-up, akin to a RAV4 in size, featuring a four-cylinder petrol/electric hybrid and solar panels built into the top of the dashboard efficient enough to power the sat-nav and other interior tools. The much-vaunted Prius was indeed an influence in the A-BAT’s green-tinged exterior design leanings.

Nissan Nuvu 2+1 and Pixo at Paris (2008): first official pictures

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 08 September 2008 10:27 Nissan's Nuvu - a futuristic 2+1 urban concept car - and a new Suzuki Alto-based city car will make their debuts at the Paris motor show in October 2008. The Nuvu name literally means ‘new view’, so the concept previews urban transportation for the next decade. Pictures won’t be released until Paris, but we know the Nuvu will feature similar electric technology to the EV-02 prototype and the production EV that Nissan will unveil at the 2009 Tokyo motor show.