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Striking new Kia concept for Frankfurt

It wouldn’t be a motor show without a wild and outlandish concept car from Kia and it looks like the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show in September will be no different. Kia has announced details of the as yet unnamed concept that “hints at a possible future B-segment contender ready to take on the urban environment with style and tenacity”. It’s also said to be “playful but gutsy, sturdy yet impish” – so could it be a small crossover?

Honda CR-Z Mugen (2011): the first sketches

This is our first glimpse of the new, Mugen-tweaked Honda CR-Z. Developed by Mugen Euro, the UK-based arm of Honda’s long-standing tuning partner Mugen, this CR-Z features a whole raft of tweaks to turn it into a hot hybrid. As with the previous UK-spec Civic Type R Mugen, this new Mugen model is currently being touted as a one-off prototype, but just as that Civic was then built in limited numbers the same may happen with the CR-Z – and the individual parts may become available as aftermarket accessories too.

Nissan Qashqai 360 replaces Qashqai n-tec+ – costs from £19,945

Nissan is replacing the Qashqai n-tec+ with the Nissan Qashqai 360 Edition complete with more equipment including a 360 degree view camera. In fact, the best-selling Qashqai – the Qashqai n-tec+, which accounted for 60 per cent of Qashqai sales in 2012 – managed to out-sell the Ford Mondeo all on its own and sold more than the Hyundai ix35 and Kia Sportage combined. A fact Nissan are keen you know.