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Aston Martin ditches Cygnet city car

CITY SLICKERS will no longer be able to cut a dash in a diminutive Aston Martin, following the company's decision to axe the controversial Cygnet from its range. The tiny Cygnet, which takes its name from a young swan, was an adaptation of the Toyota iQ, refitted with the finest luxury materials and priced at over £30,000. Its low CO2 output is rumoured to have been the main reason for the model’s presence in the range, since Aston Martin could in that way lower the company’s average CO2 output across the range in line with European emissions rules.

LA Design Challenge 2011: studios compete to design Hollywood car

This year's LA Design Challenge will see competitors from around the world battle to design Hollywood's next movie car. Participating design studios from General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz Germany (Smart), Mercedes-Benz Japan (Maybach) and Mercedes-Benz US will all be showcasing their creative talents in an effort to secure top honors. Automobiles in Hollywood films produced throughout the years have become some of the most iconic symbols of the films – perhaps as important as the movies themselves.

Mahindra XUV500 heading for Europe

Mahindra & Mahindra – India’s biggest SUV maker – is heading for Europe with the Mahindra XUV500 SUV. Mahindra & Mahindra are India’s biggest maker of SUVs, but are perhaps best known in Europe for the Ssangyong brand, but they’re on a quest to be major car player in the rest of the world, not just India. That quest is behind their acquisition of failing Korean car maker Ssangyong and the attempt to grab what was left of Saab from the liquidators.