Renault working on 141mpg plug-in hybrid concept

Renault is working on a 141mpg plug-in hybrid concept car, according to Renault head of research, advanced studies and materials, Remi Bastien. Speaking to MSN Cars at Renault’s recent ‘Innovations’ event – showcasing the French manufacturer’s new technology that will underpin its next-generation models – Bastien revealed the new car will make its debut in 2014. On Bing: see pictures of Renaults Find out how much a used Renault costs on Auto Trader This means the ‘2l/100km’ concept car will likely make its first public appearance at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, alongside the firm’s new rear-engined Twingo city car.

Future products: Mazda's new direct-injection engine family arrives in 2011

The big news at Mazda is a new family of direct-injection gasoline and diesel engines that will start to arrive in 2011. Mazda will make significant changes to vehicle platforms to accommodate the Sky engines, which will be more powerful and fuel-efficient at lower displacements than the company's current engines. The first Sky gasoline engine is expected to debut in the United States in 2011.

MINI Countryman goes WRC

MINI Countryman WRC - MINI are going rallying again Back when Adam was a lad (as was I, coincidentally) Mini were big in rallying. In fact they wiped the floor with just about everyone else in the ’60s, winning the Monte Carlo Rally three times in the decade. And now BMW are planning a proper foray back in to WRC with a MINI Countryman WRC prepared in conjunction with Prodrive and featuring a 1.6 litre turbo from BMW Motorsport and AWD.