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Chevrolet Sonic at the 2011 Detroit auto show

One of GM's numerous debuts at the 2011 Detroit auto show was this: the Chevrolet Sonic. Shown as a hatchback and four-door notchback, it's one of The General's weapons to tackle the now-globalised Ford Fiesta and its ilk. Good spot. That's because this is the US-spec Aveo - albeit shown in US-only notchback form as well as the more Euro-flavoured hatchback.

Is this a Fiat 500T for the US? (video)

It’s rumoured a Fiat 500T is about to launch in the USA, and we perhaps have the first look in a new Fiat 500 commercial. Even though we’re living in a car world that’s more global in its offerings than ever before, there are still significant differences between offerings in different markets. The Fiat 500 in the US offers an Abarth in its range, but just so the colonials don’t get confused it’s badged as the Fiat 500 Abarth rather than Abarth 500.

New BMW X5 meets its E53 & E70 X5 ancestors (video)

The three generations of the BMW X5 meet The new BMW X5 has just been revealed, and it follows the formula of its predecessors to deliver a new X5 that has more of everything previous X5s offered – performance, economy, space, practicality and luxury. BMW like to call the X5 an ‘SAV’ (Sports Activity vehicle) to differentiate it from real SUVs; although the X5 has four-wheel drive it’s not really a mud-plugger like a Land Rover, but more a 5-Series on stilts. But it’s a successful formula that started with the first generation X5 (E53) in 1999.