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2009 Mini Convertible Springs In

It’s been a bit of a ‘Mini-Fest’ this week, what with the Mini E in Berlin and the news that the Mini is the least depreciating car in the UK. And now we have the first official images of the new Mini Convertible, due to hit showrooms in Spring 2009. Based of course on the latest Mini, the convertible keeps the familiar face, but has a raised shoulder line to accommodate the soft-top.

New BMW M3 and M4 engine secrets laid bare

BMW's M division has lifted the veil of secrecy on the inline six-cylinder engine bound for its upcoming M3 sedan and new-to-the-range M4 coupe and convertible, revealing a potent twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter direct injection gasoline unit that produces an official 424 hp at 7,500 rpm and what officials describe as "significantly more than 369 lb-ft" of torque. The newly developed engine, known under the internal codename S55 B30, shares its 84.0 mm bore and 89.6 mm stroke with BMW's standard turbocharged 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder direct-injection gasoline mill, the M55 used across the German car maker's lineup, endowing the aluminum block unit with an overall swept volume of 2,979 cc. This represents a sizeable 990 cc reduction on the engine BMW's M division's new unit replaces, the S65.

Land Rover Freelander Black & White back for 2013

Land Rover has resurrected the Black & White Limited Edition outing for the 2013 Freelander 2 with extra kit on a Freelander S for a 600 run. Land Rover does like to divvy up a special edition at the end of the year to give car sales a bit of New Year impetus (and, if Land Rover’s recent sales figures are anything to go by, it certainly works), and this year we get the Land Rover Freelander Black & white Edition. Again.