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2013 VW Beetle Convertible arrives

The new 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible has been revealed ahead of a launch at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. The new Beetle Convertible is due to bow in at the LA Auto Show in November  but VW obviously decided it was pragmatic to get an early reveal out of the way before the new Bug soft top trickled on to the Interwebs of its own accord. What we get is what we expected (although we did hold out a little hope the new Beetle Cabriolet would look more like the E-Bugster Cabriolet Concept); a convertible version of the 2012 Beetle with a pram style soft top that sits on the boot.

New Range Rover tows Airstream 684 to Africa – and back

Land Rover has hitched the 2013 Range Rover to the luxurious Airstream 648 and towed it to Africa and back – 3,676 miles in 11 days. But nothing rams home the abilities of a car, even a luxury SUV, like a long-term challenge; the novelty wears off and what is left is the inherent abilities to judge. And it seems Land Rover has managed to demonstrate just how able the new Range Rover is with the sort of towing job few Range Rover owners will ever undertake.

Volkswagen says Italdesign purchase will boost its growth strategy

Volkswagen AG will acquire a 90 percent stake in Italdesign Giugiaro S.p.A., VW said Tuesday. The Giugiaro family will retain 10 percent in the 42-year-old automotive styling company that is famous for designing cars such as the first-generation Volkswagen Golf. VW CEO Martin Winterkorn said Italdesign will make an important contribution to the automaker's 2018 global growth strategy.