Aston Martin CC100 Speedster concept

The Aston Martin CC100 Speedster concept has been built to celebrate the centenary of the British brand at the Nürburgring 24 Hour race. Apparently inspired by the beautiful 1959 DBR1 racecar, the CC100 apparently also gives some clues as to Aston's upcoming design language, particularly around the grille, with its prominent insert and the treatment of the side strake, which here becomes a more integral part of the wheel arch and fender. The car was designed in Aston Martin's studio in Gaydon, with its bodywork the responsibility of chief exterior designer Miles Nurnburger.

Volvo S60 L plug-in petrol hybrid heading for Beijing Motor Show

The Volvo S60L Plug-in (pictured) heading for Beijing The Volvo V60 Plug-in is already doing good business for Volvo – despite a price tag of £50k – but the V60 plug-in is a diesel hybrid which doesn’t suit all markets. So Volvo are ploughing ahead with a petrol engine based plug-in hybrid with the debut at the Beijing Motor Show next week of the Volvo S60 L Plug-in, a petrol hybrid version of the long wheelbase S60. At first glance the S60 Plug-in looks just like its regular ICE sibling, but under the skin sits a 2.0 litre Drive-E petrol engine with 238bhp and 258lb/ft of torque – which drives the front wheels – and a 68bhp electric motor with 147lb/ft of torque that can drive the rear wheels, which can be recharged in 4.5 hours.

BMW to expand Mini lineup, looks at second assembly plant

BMW said it will increase Mini's model lineup to up to 10 vehicles while boosting the brand's production capacity in the U.K. and at a new contract manufacturing site, likely to be in the Netherlands. BMW will invest $388 million in its U.K.