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Mercedes B-class (2012) first official pictures

This is the new 2012 Mercedes B-class, the first in a new family of small Mercs. It presages the new A-class – due later in 2012 – and a suite of new compact models, including a coupe and an off-roader. So take note of the new B-class.

Lotus appoints Mansory as official car customiser

Lotus appoints Mansory to customise their cars Lotus has teamed up with car customiser Mansory to create custom versions of its Exige, Elise and Evora. Car makers in the upper echelons have customers who want to make their car more individual than a regular options list can manage. So they either have their own in-house bespoke service – like Ferrari’s Tailor Made – or they appoint an official customiser.

New MINI 5-door Hatch revealed – but will you fit through the back doors?

The 5-door MINI hatch arrives We’ve already had the more BMW-like new MINI arrive, and now, for the first time, we get a MINI 5-door hatch to try and extend the appeal of the MINI range to families. The 5-door MINI gets an extra 72mm in the wheelbase and a pair of doors at the back – which do look very tight for full-size people to use – and there’s also an extra 15mm of headroom, a bigger boot and seating for three in the back. In terms of design, there’s little to choose between the 5-door and the 3-door, but the new 5-door does look a bit like the off-spring of the new MINI and the Countryman; just a little dumpy.