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GM to slash global vehicle platforms by more than half, to 14, by 2018

General Motors says it will cut the number of vehicle platforms it uses globally by more than half over the next decade, in a bid to reduce complexity and save on product-development costs. “More of our components will be common, and more of our vehicles will be on global architectures,” GM CEO Dan Akerson told analysts on Tuesday. His remarks came as GM kicked off a series of presentations online, billed as its 2011 Global Business Conference.

BMW X1 sDrive20d EfficientDynamics Edition revealed

BMW X1 sDrive20d EfficientDynamics - the 'Blue' X1 arrives The BMW X1 is, according to BMW, “…still the only premium vehicle in its segment” and they’re keen to make sure that their baby SUV keeps its nose ahead of the pack. Which explains the plans to launch an X1 badged-up with the EfficientDynamics moniker in the Autumn – the BMW X1 sDrive20d EfficientDynamics Edition. BMW anoraks know that BMW’s EfficientDynamics gubbins – stuff like stop-start and low rolling resistance tyres – have sneaked in across the BMW range over the last few years, improving economy and lowering emissions in the process.

Jaguar XKR-S GT (2013) first official pictures

This is the new top dog of the Jaguar XK family: the XKR-S GT. Built to celebrate 25 years of Jaguar ‘R’ models, the road-legal GT carries a host of track-focused modifications: there’s carbon aerodynamic aids, chassis tweaks, and the promise of a sub-7min 40sec Nurburgring lap time. A regular XKR-S manages 7min 50sec around the 'Ring in comparison.