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First Sight: BMW 3 Series

With the 7 Series of 2001, Z4 of 2002, X3, 5 and 6 Series of 2003, and 1 Series earlier this year, the current E46 3 Series is the last (X5 excepted) 'old school' BMW in production. These first official pictures show BMW's fifth generation E90 3 Series which replaces this car and completes the new design strategy for the main series BMW range under Design Director Chris Bangle. Now with a smaller sibling in the range, the 3 Series is no longer BMW's entry level car although it shares much of its platform with the 1 Series and it is expected to continue to account for about half of BMW's total sales.

McLaren 650S Spider (2014) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 04 March 2014 12:00 This is the convertible version of the McLaren 650S: the 650S Spider. Given how closely the 650S coupe is based upon the 12C, it’s no surprise to see the 650S Spider looking very much like a 12C: same folding hard-top roof, same 40kg weight penalty, same boasts by McLaren that the carbon tub needs no extra reinforcing for its role in a cabriolet. Though the 650S Spider is 40kg heavier than the hard-top and has some of its P1-echoing aerodynamic talent spoiled by chopping the top off, it’s still a very fast piece of kit.

General Motors fires back at Volkswagen

General Motors issued a terse response this week to published comments by Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn, who suggested to the German press that Opel could be sold to a Chinese competitor. Detroit-based GM called Winterkorn's comments “regrettable” and accused him of “fanning speculation.” Opel was nearly sold to Magna and Russian investors in the wake of GM's 2009 bankruptcy. But then-CEO Ed Whitacre and the corporate board reversed that decision, igniting controversy from German political and labor leaders who have long chafed under American oversight.