What is it?

It’s been a while coming, but MINI has finally confirmed its intention to compete in the 2011 World Rally championship by unveiling the Countryman-based MINI WRC. We’re just hoping the spoiler goes on the options list for the road version.

Why’s it here?

We’ve just answered that above, so let’s talk about the car here. It’s been developed with Prodrive and has a 1.6-litre four-pot turbo engine of unspecified output. Work started in 2009 and it’ll compete in six of 2011’s 13 scheduled races, before competing in the full WRC contest in 2012. MINI will build around 100 for use by private teams, too.

Show stopper or floor filler?

It’s looking good, that’s for sure, and if MINI

Reviews homepage -> MINI reviews

| First Drive | Bedford Autodrome, England | MINI Countryman |

There seems to be no stopping MINI when it comes to new models. When the revolutionary ‘new’ MINI arrived nine years ago, it was a humble hatchback – and remained that way for a long time. The Countryman crossover-cum-soft-roader is now the fourth model in the company’s line-up and it will be joined by the Roadster and the Coup within the next two years. We can only wonder what’s next.

In the Metal

In true crossover style the Countryman bridges the gap between hatchback and 4×4. It seems a little ungainly on first sight, with its sit-up-and-beg stance and oblong headlamps, but we warmed

Reviews homepage -> Volvo reviews

| First Drive | Verona, Italy | Volvo V60 T3 SE |

Form follows function in Volvo’s new V60, with form evidently the primary function.

In the Metal

Volvo has come over all stylish recently, with the S60 and this new V60 underlining that. The Swedish firm claims its V60 is coup-like, but, as every other manufacturer is claiming the same, it means nothing. What is important is that Volvo isn’t calling the V60 an estate. Apparently it’s a Sports Wagon, in the vein of cars like the Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon or Peugeot 407 SW. So this is a Volvo that you can’t get a washing machine – or in fact much of anything else -in the

Peugeot has revealed what it claims is the industry’s first full hybrid with diesel power, the 3008 HYbrid4. It boasts official fuel consumption of 74.4mpg and CO₂ emissions of 99g/km.

The drive system uses Peugeot’s 163bhp, 2.0-litre HDi turbodiesel engine, which drives through a six-speed automated manual gearbox to power the front wheels. Drive to the rear wheels comes from a 37bhp electric motor.

The hybrid transmission has four modes of operation, controlled by a selector on the centre console. Auto is designed to allow the drive system to operate for ‘optimal fuel consumption’. ZEV is the zero-emissions mode, which means the 3008 runs on battery power unless strong acceleration is required; Four-wheel drive uses both diesel and electric motors together for improved low-speed traction on difficult surfaces;

Peugeot’s resurgence continues with the unveiling of the 508. First seen at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year as the ‘5 by Peugeot’ concept, the new car will come in saloon and SW (estate) variants, replacing both the 407 and 607.

The 508, which shares its platform with the Citroen C5, ditches the open grille, basking-shark look of previous Peugeots taking its styling cues from the SR1 sports concept – also shown at Geneva. Peugeot promises the car will ‘look at home in London or Paris’, while offering ‘exceptional interior space’.

With strong, muscular creases running down the car’s flanks, the production variant remains largely faithful to Geneva’s concept, changes to headlights and wing-mirrors being the key differences. At the back, the 508 is closer to its