Opinion: Discovery Sport and the long-term ramifications of pandering to the crossover convergence

Having pored over the first pictures of the new Land Rover Discovery Sport and consumed the accompanying official literature, we’re left wondering why it shares so much of its design treatment with the Range Rover Evoque, while simultaneously removing the last vestiges of utility from the Discovery nameplate. From its virtually indistinguishable grille and lamp graphics, over its tapered roofline to its bespoilered tail, it’s hard to describe it as anything other than a derivative of the Evoque. The difference between a Discovery and a Range Rover it would seem, is a body coloured C-pillar.

Win a Red Bull Racing F1 cap signed by Vettel

Win an official Red Bull Racing F1 team cap signed by current championship leader Seb Vettel in CAR Magazine's new competition. We've teamed up with Infiniti to celebrate the 2011 British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday 10 July. All you have to do is answer one simple question about Infiniti ­and this snazzy navy blue racing cap could be yours.

Hyundai ix20 (2010) first official teaser sketch

Hyundai is the latest car manufacturer to join the mini-MPV party, with the upcoming ix20, and ahead of its preview at the Paris motor show at the end of this month, the Korean company has released this teaser sketch. Designed and developed at Hyundai’s European research and development centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany, the ix20 is essentially Hyundai’s version of sister firm Kia’s Venga.  Hyundai would have you believe it’s a little bit of both – the ‘ix’ moniker has been chosen to suggest its cross-over like capability. The Korean manufacturer says the ix20 is ‘a vehicle with the ability to simultaneously serve as a functional people-carrier while providing a dynamic, fun-to-drive experience’; the Venga has shown that it’s a capable and competent, if unexciting, small MPV.