Mercedes-Benz B-Class B55

It’s a B-class – but not as we know it

Superbly constructed one-off prototype is well removed from the standard B-class

To cope with increased performance adopts the brakes from the decade-old C32 AMG

With a kerb weight of 1620kg it is decently quick in a straight line

The B55 looks rather striking for what is essentially a high-powered MPV

5.5-litre petrol V8 packing 383bhp

Turn the key and you’re treated to a deliciously throaty soundtrack

Revised speedometer to cope with its unnatural power

B55 steers accurately, rides with impressive comfort and is free of any obvious vices

Mercedes-Benz B55
Price: na; Top speed: 155mph (limited); 0-62mph: 5.2sec (est); Economy: na; CO2: na; Kerb weight: 1620kg; Engine: V8, 5461cc, petrol; Power: 383bhp at 6000rpm; Torque: 391lb ft at 2800rpm; Gearbox: 7-spd automatic

Mini One 1.6D

Its character is very much in keeping with any Mini petrol engine

Lower-powered version of the new 1.6-litre BMW diesel engine producing 89bhp and 159lb ft of torque

One D feels sprightly enough to avoid leaving its driver frustrated

Even in basic One spec, it still retains all that Mini charm

One D is comfortable inside, thanks in part to its 16-inch alloy wheels

Mini One D
Price: £14,175; Top speed: 114mph; 0-62mph: 11.4sec; Economy: 74.3mpg (combined); CO2: 99g/km; Kerb weight: 1090kg; Engine: 4 cyls, 1560cc, turbodiesel; Power: 89bhp at 4000rpm; Torque: 159lb ft at 1750rpm; Gearbox: 6-spd manual

New Vauxhall VXR8 revealed

Vauxhall is promising improvements to refinement and performance with the next-generation VXR8, revealed this week ahead of its arrival in UK dealers next March.

The Holden Special Vehicles-built super-saloon now takes the Aussie firm’s GTS model as its base, instead of the more lowly Clubsport R8 that was used for the first VXR8.

See the official pics of the new Vauxhall VXR8 :

So while Vauxhall’s flagship will retain 6.2-litre Chevrolet V8 power (now 425bhp, with 406lb ft) — enough for a 0-60mph time of 4.9sec and a governed top speed of 155mph — its spec sheet will now include more advanced suspension technology, a revised interior with HSV Performance seats, and launch control.

The new VXR8 continues with the old car’s MacPherson strut/multi-link suspension layout, and offers a mechanical limited-slip differential, but adds Magnetic Ride Control, which adapts the car’s set-up up to 1000 times per second. The exterior styling follows the GTS’s looks closely, with a new grille, LED daytime running lights, LED tail-lights and a rear spoiler.

Read Autocar's first drive of the HSV Commodore GTS E2

As well as the new seats, the cabin gets full leather trim as standard, a new instrument cluster and switchgear, plus an Enhanced Driver Interface to connect with the on-board computer, providing data such as g-forces, power, torque and lap times. Vauxhall will also offer MOTEC sofware for owners to download the data for further analysis.

Offered with a choice of a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, the VRX8 will be sold in seven specialised Vauxhall dealers (but 34 outlets can service it). It’ll cost from £49,500 (including 20 per cent VAT), more than £20k less than a Mercedes E63 AMG

New Daihatsu Move launched

Toyota’s subsidiary company, Daihatsu, has unveiled its new Move in Japan.

Power comes courtesy of a 0.66-litre petrol unit - featuring stop-start - and produces 51bhp and 44lb ft of torque.

Shorter in length than Fiat’s 500, the Move is available with either front or four-wheel drive and is said to be the most efficient petrol car in Japan, the company claims.

Compared with its predecessor, the new Move is 35kg lighter, thanks to weight reductions in its instrument panel and door trim as well as the CVT unit and other components.

Prices in Japan will start at approximately £8000.

Jeep Compass facelift unveiled

Jeep has officially revealed its revised Compass off-roader model for 2011.

The facelifted model features include a new bonnet with "a subtle power bulge", a revised front grille and headlights and plastic body cladding "to fend off debris when driving in challenging weather conditions". The changes give the car the look of Jeep’s larger Grand Cherokee.

See the official pics of the new Jeep Compass :

Steering and suspension components have also been modified, and hill-start assist and side-curtain airbags added as standard.

A front-wheel-drive variant is offered alongside two all-wheel drive versions (Freedom Drive I and Freedom Drive II, which adds low-range gearing), with two petrol engines to choose from: a 2.0-litre with 156bhp or a 2.4-litre unit with 170bhp, both of which are coupled to a five-speed manual or a CVT gearbox.

No prices have been revealed by the company, but sales are expected to kick off in North America later this month.

Evoque by Cosworth planned

British tuning company Project Kahn will equip Land Rover’s new Range Rover Evoque five-door with Cosworth power.

The Kahn Range Rover Evoque powered by Cosworth has been confirmed on the firm's website alongside a solitary teaser image, with no further details revealed by the company. The most likely power source for the Evoque Cosworth would be Ford's 237bhp, turbocharged 2.0-litre Ecoboost unit, complete with a power boost from Cosworth as well as numerous dynamic and styling tweaks.

Sales of the standard five-door Evoque commence next summer alongside the three-door model. The five-door Evoque gets the same engine line-up as the three-door (148bhp or 187bhp 2.2-litre turbodiesels and a 237bhp 2.0 petrol turbo) and is available in both two and four-wheel drive.

The lower-powered, front-drive diesel three-door returns real-world fuel consumption close to 50mpg, with CO2 emissions below 
130g/km. The five-door, which has slightly more frontal area as well as the extra weight, is expected to be rated below 135g/km.

Chevrolet Orlando 2.0 VCDi 163 LT

Chevrolet’s entry into the hard-fought European market for compact seven-seat MPVs

Its engine is refined, punchy and smooth and well matched to the slick six-speed manual

Chevy’s ‘5-year Promise’ gives you five years’ warranty, servicing and roadside assistance

The Orlando feels robustly and honestly constructed

The range-topper diesel gets sat-nav, leather and heated seats

Inside it has seatbelts for seven, with the third row made up of two individual seats

Chevrolet Orlando 2.0 VDCI Auto LT
Price: £20,395; Top Speed: 111mph; 0-62mph: 10.6sec; Economy: 40.4mpg (combined); CO2: 186g/km; Kerb weight: 1659kg: Engine: 4 cyls, in line, 1998cc, turbo diesel; Power: 161bhp at 3800rpm; Torque: 266lb ft at 2000rpm; Gearbox: Six speed auto

New production starts

Full volume production of the new Ford Focus has begun at the firm's Saarlouis assembly plant.

The German plant will cater for the Western European market, building the four-door, five-door and estate Focus variants. Production of the Focus ST will be added in 2012.

Read more on the Ford Focus ST

The Saarlouis facility now produces both the Focus and Kuga line-up and is capable of producing up to 1850 vehicles a day.

As part of Ford’s global development programme, production of the Focus will be expanded further in 2011 in Russia, and in 2012 in China and Thailand.

New features of the latest Focus will include the company's low-speed safety system, active park assist, lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition.

New Kia Picanto - first pics

These are the first official sketches of Kia's all-new Picanto, released ahead of its official debut at the Geneva motor show next March.

The new car is instantly more recognisable than its predecessor, sporting more masculine styling and the now familiar 'tiger’ face, penned by the firm's design chief Peter Schreyer, and seen most recently on the firm's striking 'Pop' Paris motor show concept.

See the first sketches of the new Kia Picanto

Although these sketches indicate concept car looks, with features including large alloys with low-profile tyres, the car that will be presented at Geneva will be production ready. Sales will start in the UK soon after, reaching showrooms around Easter.

Read more on the Kia Pop concept

The new Picanto will again share its platform with sister firm Hyundai's i10 city car. No interior sketches have been released, but a Kia insider has described it as being "good looking and funky".

Engines are expected to include an all-new three-cylinder turbodiesel.

Vauxhall Ampera range to expand

The forthcoming Vauxhall Ampera will be replaced by a family of three extended-range electric vehicles within five years — and all three of them could potentially be made at General Motors’ Ellesmere Port factory in the UK.

GM Europe president Nick Reilly confirmed that the first-generation Volt/Ampera will be built in Detroit until 2015, when the second-generation version — which GM is already developing — will come on stream.

“At that point it will make business sense to ramp up volumes of the Volt and Ampera, and to have several production sites for the ‘EREV’ model family,” Reilly told Autocar. “We will need one of those factories to be in Europe, and I’m very keen for it to be Ellesmere Port.”

See pics of the Vauxhall Ampera in action

Reilly revealed that the 2015 Ampera family will consist of an Astra-size hatchback, a slightly larger four-door to replace the Ampera itself, and a five-seat crossover. The latter car will be similar to the Chevrolet

Volt MPV5 concept from this year’s Beijing motor show.

The cars are likely to be sold under an Opel/Vauxhall Ampera sub-brand, but they’ll cost considerably less than the first-generation Volt/Ampera, and have better electric range. “We’re anticipating a 50 per cent improvement in the cost of the electrical components in the EREV powertrain in time for the second-generation cars,” Reilly said.

Read Autocar's first drive of the Vauxhall Ampera

While the Mk1 Ampera is likely to cost around £37,000 in the UK next year — or £32,000 with the government’s electric car incentive — the next-generation cars should come to market for “between £5000 and £8000 more than a like-for-like petrol-engined model,” according to Reilly.

If European government incentives for EVs survive until 2015, they could wipe out that cost penalty almost entirely — and for that reason, GM is anticipating much higher sales volumes for the cars, and the need for several worldwide production sites.

GMC Granite CPU Concept

The true surprise came not from Cadillac, but GMC. Designers expounded upon the Granite concept shown earlier this year to create a stylish, compact pickup truck. The micro-ute features only a four-foot bed, but a trick split tailgate design allows the cargo space to securely haul items up to six feet in length. At this stage, the Granite truck is merely a design exercise, but it shows GM (a. is pleased with critical and consumer reaction to the Granite's design, and (b. isn't ignoring the conspicuous lack of a small, efficient pickup in our market