Ford Fiesta back on top as car sales continued to rise in June

UK new car sales were up again in June 2012 with an increase of 3.5 per cent year on year. The Ford Fiesta is back as the top seller. It’s hard to credit that there’s a recession on when one of the biggest purchases most of us ever make – a new car – seems immune to the economic doom and gloom.

BMW Active Tourer to debut at Geneva 2014 as BMW 2 Series GT

The BMW Concept Active Tourer will arrive as the BMW 2 Series GT BMW’s new platform for the new MINI isn’t just about providing a front wheel drive platform for MINI, but it will also be put to use in a new range of BMW FWD vehicles. That was previewed by the BMW Active Tourer Concept at the Paris Motor Show in 2012 (and again with the Active Tourer Outdoor Concept in the summer) and now the Active Tourer is heading in to production as the BMW 2 Series GT. The new 2 Series GT is the BMW answer to the Mercedes B Class, a compact MPV designed for moving people and their stuff around town, and Auto Express have learnt it will arrive at a Motor Show ‘Early in 2014′ (which we assume will be Geneva in March) as a production model ahead of a launch later in 2014.

McLaren managing director on leave, not expected in Geneva

McLaren Automotive's U.S.-born managing director, Antony Sheriff, is expected to be absent from the launch of the P1 hypercar at Geneva next week because he is on extended leave from the company. No reason for Sheriff's absence has been given, although McLaren is at pains to point out that he is “still employed as McLaren Automotive's managing director.” Rumors were circulating about Sheriff's absence from Woking in January, but company spokesmen back then stressed that he was still employed by McLaren and would unveil the P1 at Geneva. Despite those assurances, sources had reported earlier in the year that Sheriff “hadn't been seen in his office” for some days.