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Video: BMW’s beautiful Design Portrait of Karim Habib

We're often inundated with videos from OEMs. Many are thinly-disguised PR-laden party political broadcasts but occasionally we're presented with gems such as this Design Portrait of Karim Habib from BMW. Ok so we don't really believe the Head of Design, BMW Automobiles sits dreamily sketching at a perfect desk with only a delicate espresso for company or that he cruises Munich in a (gorgeous) 2002 tii oldtimer for inspiration, but as an insight into what makes Habib tick, his design philosophy, and how he came to be in such a position, it's a beautifully-shot treat.

2014 Chevrolet Volt gets a $5,000 price cut

General Motors is cutting the Chevrolet Volt's price by $5,000 amid price pressure from rival electrified vehicles. The sticker price on the 2014 Volt, which will arrive at dealerships this month, will be $34,995, including an $810 destination fee. That drops the effective price to $27,495, after applying the $7,500 federal tax credit for the plug-in hybrid.

Ford Transit van gets five-cylinder turbodiesel

The full-size Ford Transit van that replaces the E-series Econoline in late 2013 will have a turbocharged five-cylinder diesel in its powertrain lineup. Today Ford uses the 3.2-liter engine in the Ranger pickup sold in international markets. The engine, which wears Ford's Power Stroke marketing name for diesel engines, is built in South Africa and will be exported to the Transit assembly plant near Kansas City, Mo.