2005-2008 Jeep Cherokee Grille on 2040-parts.com

Land Rover Defender by Vilner: The Landie gets a touch of posh

The Land Rover Defender by Vilner Anyone who has ever driven a Land Rover Defender will know that home comforts are not exactly at the top of LR’s list of priorities; spartan necessity probably best describes the interior fittings. But not after Bulgarian tuner Vilner has been to play it doesn’t. Vilner has had a commission from a Russian with a few bob burning a hole in his pocket who wanted a Land Rover Defender that was more than just a utilitarian workhorse.

Toyota Prius V

Toyota is keen to expand the Prius brand. The company will introduce a multitude of variants in the coming years and the Prius V, unveiled at the 2011 NAIAS, is the first expansion to the family. Retaining the familiar Prius features, the V simply sharpens up elements over the existing sedan.

Video: Yasushi Nakamuta on Mazda 3's 'unique' design process

It may be leaden with PR-talk but this short presentation by Yasushi Nakamuta, Mazda's director of advanced design studio at the press unveiling of the new Mazda 3 in Melbourne is still worth a couple of minutes of your time. But while the 3 is undeniably attractive we can't help but feel that the 'unique' design process Nakamuta describes (which appears wholly conventional to us) has resulted in little more than a thoroughly normal product. Take a look for yourself at the video to your left.