New Discovery Sport Teases Seven-Seat Cabin

LAND ROVER has dropped the biggest hint yet as to the role its new Discovery Sport model will play in the firm’s line-up, with a cheeky nod to the car’s seating layout. Making the unusual point of drawing attention to its prototype cars with dramatic camouflage, the latest set of graphics to adorn the premium compact SUV show an illustration of a third row of seats. This nod to family-centric buyers should ensure plenty of pre-launch interest, as seven-seat cars in this sector of the market are the exception rather than the norm.

New Ford Kuga arrives in the guise of 2012 / 2013 Ford Escape

The 2013 Ford Escape arrives - the 2012 Ford Kuga The reveal of the new Ford Escape ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show this week may not have the Kuga badge on its boot, but it is – bar a few tweaks and engine changes – just what we’ll see in Europe as the 2012 Ford Kuga. Based on the European-designed Ford Vertrek concept, the Ford Escape replaces the old-fashioned North American escape with a very European take on a compact SUV, but one that benefits from much more room to accommodate average Americans. The Ford Kuga / Escape is the next instalment in Ford’s plan to unify its models around the world.

How Fisker fell apart

At last week's politically charged congressional hearing on the troubles of Fisker Automotive, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said that the company had "no business acumen" and that "taxpayers have effectively subsidized luxury novelty vehicles for the likes of Justin Bieber, Leonardo DiCaprio and Al Gore." Ouch. Republicans eager to score points against President Obama had a field day last week with Fisker.