General Motor’s Germany-based Opel division has introduced a passenger-focused variant of the new second-generation Vivaro van.

Called Vivaro Combi, the van shares the bulk of its mechanical components with the new Renault Trafic but it stands out thanks to a bold, brand-specific front fascia. Beyond the A-pillar, the Trafic and the Vivaro are nearly identical save for model-specific wheels, paint colors and emblems.

Inside, the Vivaro Combi offers space for up to eight passengers spread out over three rows of seats. The second and third rows can be removed entirely when extra cargo space is needed, and drivers who regularly need to carry both passengers and gear can select a long-wheelbase model that stretches 212 inches long.

The Vivaro Combi can be ordered with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine available with either 90 or 115 horsepower. Buyers after more grunt can choose a twin-turbocharged version of the 1.6-liter that makes either 120 or 140 ponies. The 120-horsepower twin-turbo mill returns 41.2 mpg in a mixed European cycle.

Most models come with a six-speed manual transmission, and front-wheel drive is the only configuration available.

The Opel Vivaro Combi is on sale now in Germany with a base price of €30,327, a sum that converts to approximately $39,000. The van will be sold with a Vauxhall emblem in the United Kingdom.

Infiniti plans to expand its model lineup by 60 percent by the end of the decade, including a new coupe that will compete with the BMW 4-Series.

To help with its ambitious efforts, Nissan’s luxury marque opened a new design center in London this week. According to the automaker, in the past 18 months alone there have already been 10 new Infiniti models penned, including the upcoming Q80 Inspiration debuting at the Paris Motor Show next month.

Speaking at the ribbon-cutting, the company’s chief creative officer and design head Shiro Nakamura explained the new studio: “This is the first step of a global initiative to purify and reinforce the distinctiveness of Infiniti design.” He then revealed studios would soon open in San Diego and Beijing as well.

Infiniti executive design director Alfonso Albaisa added, “with our new generation models, we want… a new romanticism, and London is a great place to find the inspiration for it. London buzzes with youthful excitement.”

Nakamura-san also revealed, as reported by Top Gear, that a BMW 4-Series fighting coupe will appear within a year. Size-wise, it will split the difference between BMW’s 4- and 6-Series. The car would likely replace the Q60 — which is currently a rebadged previous-generation Infiniti G37 Coupe — with design cues taken from the Q80 Inspiration.

What’s more, Nakamura also said that if the Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge (pictured), the sedan powered by a Nissan GT-R‘s 560-horsepower twin-turbo V6, makes it to production, there could be a coupe Eau Rouge as well.

Qualcomm has released a promotional video showing BMW’s i8 getting tossed around in a cloud of tire smoke.

Formula E driver Nelson Piquet Jr. took Qualcomm inventors Edward Van Boheemen and Pat Kusbel out for a few hot laps, and apparently uncomfortable interviews, at the Donington Park racing circuit.

Piquet doesn’t hold back in the Qualcomm Safety Car, which was outfitted with the company’s wireless-charging technology. The session includes plenty of oversteer, powerslides and screaming rubber.

The i8 is positioned as BMW’s flagship tech platform, pairing a 231-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine with a 131-pony electric motor, propelling the car up to 62 mph from a standstill in just 4.4 seconds. Unlike some other performance-focused pure-electric sports cars, the i8 has a relatively quick top speed of 155 mph.

Qualcomm’s Halo wireless-charging technology is not available for the current production i-Series lineup, but it is expected to make its way to the market as early as 2017.

Tesla Motors has released a significant software update for its Model S sedan, bringing a range of new navigation features and other enhancements.

The company claims its navigation system is now “a lot smarter,” providing route suggestions and time calculations based on real-time traffic data. It will also alert drivers to changes in traffic conditions after they begin their journey, enabling drivers to quickly switch to a faster route.

The traffic feature is also applied for “commute advice,” providing suggestions for alternate routes when the driver is on their daily haul and not typically using turn-by-turn guidance.

Interestingly, the existing air-suspension technology is now paired with GPS data for location-aware automatic adjustment. If a driver frequently changes the settings in a certain area, such as a rough patch of road or on a steep driveway, the system now remembers the settings and automatically makes the adjustments.

Engineers have also expanded the power-management options to include a low-drain mode when the vehicle is parked. Owners can still connect remotely, but with less power consumption between driving sessions.

“This software update represents Tesla’s commitment to improving Model S for customers even long after it has left the assembly line,” the company said in a statement. “With each update, Model S becomes more attuned and responsive to its owner’s needs without requiring excessive user input.”

German tuner GeigerCars has had a chance to upgrade the C7 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, adding a supercharger and other goodies to significantly boost power output.

The Eaton blower promises to add an extra 130 horsepower and 93 lb-ft of torque, for a grand total of 590 ponies and 558 lb-ft of twist. The numbers aren’t too far below the factory flagship Z06 build.

Aside from the forced induction, Geiger also added new coilover suspension that allows the owner to drop the front and rear ride height. The ‘Vette is lighter than stock, thanks to a carbon-fiber body kit that accommodates wider 19- and 20-inch wheels.

Some of the carbon fiber is left bare, highlighting the front splitter, side sills and rear spoiler, among other components.

European buyers face a 113,000-euro (~$145,000 USD) price tag for Geiger’s C7, though many of the upgrades can be purchased and installed à la carte.