How South America designed the Ford Ka

The Ka Concept was shown at the São Paulo auto show in Brazil in November 2013, and was revealed in production form last week. It marks the first time the Ka has reflected the broader brand homogeneity of the 'One Ford' design strategy, and continues the Ka's shift in direction from the distinctive original.The new car is the work of Ford's South American design studio in Camaçari, Brazil - its second 'One Ford' car, following the EcoSport. But while the crossover enters a new segment, the 17-year history of the Ka nameplate in Brazil gives an insight into how the demands of the local market have taken precedence over design iconicity.

VW Polo R in 2012

The VW Polo from Worthersee last year. A pointer for the Polo R? What, you thought Volkswagen wouldn’t bother with a hot Polo?

Mini One Clubman to launch at Geneva

The Mini story continues, with the announcement that a new entry-level Clubman, the Mini One Clubman, is to launch at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The Mini One Clubman comes with the same 1.4 litre engine as the Mini One, producing 95bhp and boasting the same suspension set-up as the Mini Coopers, which at least means the new Clubman One should be fun to throw around. Mini One Clubman to launch at Geneva in March The Clubman gets a pretty decent set of eco-credentials, offering Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Stop Start and Shift Point Display as standard.