2014 MINi Countryman gets a facelift to bring it closer to the new MINI Hatch

The 2014 MINI Countryman (pictured) gets a facelift The MINI that’s far from mini – the MINI Countryman – is getting a bit of a refresh for 2014 with a minor facelift to take it through to an all-new MINi Countryman in 2016. So no, the 2014 Countryman isn’t the big version of the new MINI Hatch, it’s a refreshed version of the current Countryman with some minor tweaks to keep it current. It’s the usual facelift fodder for the Countryman with a new nose incorporating a new grill with big lower scoop, red ‘S’ badges for the quicker models, LED fog lights, new alloys and underbody guards for the All4 4WD versions.

Range Rover Evoque launches in China – Hello Beijing

Range Rover Evoque launches in Beijing Land Rover may have bit of a shortage of parts for the new Range Rover Evoque, which is reportedly causing some delays for UK Evoque deliveries, but they’re still pushing on with launching the Evoque across the world. And this week it’s China, with the tag line ‘Hello Beijing’ attached to the launch. Last week Land Rover were out in India to launch the Evoque, with the Indian market getting the full range of Evoque models – that’s coupe and five-door with a choice of TD4 and SD4 diesels and the Si4 Ecoboost petrol.

Lotus planning Electric Car

I suppose it was inevitable that Lotus would not settle for simply supplying Tesla with the chassis for their electric car, and would look to jump on the bandwagon of electric cars (EV). Lotus CEO, Michael Kimberly, has told the Financial Times that Lotus is planning an electric car “sooner rather than later”, and went on to say that it will be an extended range battery vehicle. Extended range EVs (like the Chevy Volt) are probably the best option for a mainstream car at the moment, at least until you can buy hydrogen at the pumps other than in California.