MINI Rocketman could be heading for production – if BMW can find a chassis

The ‘Mini’ MINI Rocketman (pictured) could go in to production The MINI Rocketman Concept was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011 as a smaller MINI than the one BMW were selling at the time, and it looked like BMW were considering going the smaller route to make the MINI more fun. But with the 2014 MINI now revealed, BMW has gone the opposite route by underpinning the new MINI with the UKL platform that will also underpin the next BMW 1 Series, and made the latest MINI even bigger than the last one. But it seems BMW still see mileage in a ‘Mini MINI’ and appear keen to find a way to make the Rocketman a production reality.

Fiat challenges RCA students to design the 500 or Panda of 2020

Fiat is challenging Vehicle Design students at London's Royal College of Art to explore how the Fiat 500 and the Panda might look in 2020 in a new contest called ‘Two of a Kind'. 14 teams of four students from across all design disciplines are asked to design innovative exterior and interior proposals taking interactivity, digital interface, sustainability and global appeal in account, using the Fiat design language as a starting point. The Master's students will be supported by six lectures at the RCA from some of the carmaker's top designers, such as head of design (Europe, Middle East and Asia regions) Roberto Giolito and head of global design Lorenzo Ramaciotti.

Rows over directions cause most in-car arguments

ROWS over routes are the biggest cause of in-car friction, according to an AA/Populus survey. Two in three people argue in the car, with 18-24 year olds more likely to row than those over 65. Getting from A to B was the main cause of arguments following by driving too fast, not asking for directions and noisy children.