BMW’s MINI division has published preliminary details about the John Cooper Works Concept that will greet the public for the first time at next month’s Detroit Motor Show.

Billed as a close-to-production concept, the John Cooper Works show car previews the upcoming performance-focused version of the all-new 2015 MINI Cooper. It stands out from its regular-production counterpart thanks to a hand-polished Bright Highways Grey paint job with contrasting Chili Red accents, black trim around the radiator grille, aggressive bumpers with large air dams and a roof-mounted spoiler.

Low-profile tires mounted on 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, side skirts and bespoke emblems all around finish off the look.

Interior pictures were not published, and MINI has chosen not to reveal what lies in the John Cooper Works Concept’s engine bay. Rumors indicate the car is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that sends over 210 horsepower and 200 lb-ft. of torque to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission, enabling the hatchback reach 62 mph from a stop in a little under six seconds.

As before, a sport-tuned suspension and upgraded Brembo brakes all around help the driver exploit the engine’s full potential.

Look for a full set of details about the MINI John Cooper Works Concept to emerge in the weeks leading up to its debut in Michigan. The production version of the show car will likely greet the public at next March’s Geneva Motor Show and go on sale next fall as a 2015 model.

Bertone’s design arm is on the brink of bankruptcy following years of mounting losses.

Although it has produced concept cars for almost every major European auto show held in the past few years, Bertone’s order book has been nearly empty for a long time and it is operating in the red. A new sub-division called Bertone Workshop that aims to build one-off cars at the request of the lucky few that can afford it also failed to win over customers, so the company’s 165 workers have reportedly been furloughed without pay and ten interns have been sent home for good.

A court administrator is in the process of finding a new buyer for Bertone. An unidentified company based in Turkey has expressed an interest in buying the design firm and its assets for the relatively low sum of €2 million (approximately $1.37 million). The deal will be presented to an Italian judge over the coming days and, if approved, Bertone will file for bankruptcy early next year in order to facilitate the change of ownership.

If the Turkish deal falls through, Italian media outlets are reporting that seven other parties have voiced an interest in buying the company but none have been identified.

Mitsubishi is charting a radical new course for its next-generation Evolution performance sedan, a recent report finds.

Buoyed by a successful internal restructuring and anticipated record profits for fiscal 2013, the Japanese automaker is turning its attention toward designing an ambitious and advanced new Evolution that will share little more than a name – and perhaps not even that – with the current model, according to a Motor Trend report.

Drawing on lessons learned from the development of the Outlander PHEV crossover, Mitsubishi will likely fit the Evo with a hybrid AWD powertrain composed of two electric motors and an uprated version of the 135-horsepower 1.1-liter turbocharged three-cylinder than debuted in the XR-PHEV concept.

Critically, the electric motors will be significantly smaller and lighter than those in the Outlander PHEV. They will be mounted one apiece to the front and rear, a setup that, along with a battery pack mounted under the rear seats, will contribute to a perfect 50/50 front/rear weight distribution.

In conjunction with Mitusbishi’s next S-AWC (super all wheel control) system, the setup is said to provide exemplary handling as well as much-improved fuel economy.

However, the powetrain is apparently too potent for the Renault Megane platform that will underpin the new Lancer, meaning that Mitsubishi will be forced to develop bespoke architecture for the Evolution.

As a result, the Lancer name will likely be dropped from the sport sedan. Given its stark departure from its predecessors, the Evolution moniker may be retired as well.

Rumors suggest that the Evolution successor is at least two years away from production.

A problem with Infiniti’s industry-first steer-by-wire system has forced the automaker to recall a handful of Q50 luxury sedans.

Known as Direct Adaptive Steering, the steer-by-wire setup actually features no direct connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels in normal driving situations. Instead, it uses a sensor to measure steering inputs and convert them into front wheel movement, while a conventional mechanical steering system stands ready to take over if the electronics fail.

It’s an impressive feat of engineering, but as the recall shows, there are still bugs to be worked out.

According to a notice posted to the National Highway Traffic Safety administration’s website, the issue stems from a particular version of the steering software that, when confronted with weather cold enough to drive engine bay temperatures below freezing, is liable to disable the steer-by-wire.

Even worse, it can delay the engagement of the backup mechanical steering system, leaving the driver without any means to steer the vehicle.

Thankfully, only 23 Q50 sedans are impacted by the dangerous software glitch.

Infiniti parent company Nissan has already notified owners of the affected Q50s, and dealers will apply a software update to remedy the defect.

Ford’s new-for-2015 Mustang is months away from hitting the road, but already the automaker is hyping up its ponycar’s improved performance.

Speaking with Automotive.com, Ford representative Brian Cotter indicated that the standard Mustang GT will best the outgoing track-oriented Boss 302 Laguna Seca. A short-run special edition, the Laguna Seca lapped its namesake race track – Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in California – in a hair under 1:40.

The new Mustang GT, says Cotter, will lap the course in even less time. The site says that Ford benchmarked the Porsche 911 and BMW M3 when it was developing the car’s on-track performance.

Ford has indicated that the new Mustang will weigh somewhere around 200 lbs. less than its predecessor, which will help its power-to-weight ratio. Although exact performance specifications haven’t been announced, a small power boost for the brand’s 5.0-liter V8-powered GT is expected.

Not to be ignored is the fact that the new Mustang will boast an independent rear suspension for the first time (admittedly, the mid-’90s Mustang Cobra featured an independent setup), which should further boost its handling prowess.

Look for Ford to do some serious track testing at Laguna Seca before the Mustang hits the road in the middle of 2014.

Mercedes-Benz has lifted the veil off of the all-new 2015 C-Class sedan ahead of its scheduled public debut at next month’s Detroit Motor Show.

The fourth-gen C-Class is 3.7 inches longer and 1.5 inches wider than the outgoing model, a modification that Mercedes says is necessary because the average height of passengers is growing each year.

As before, the sedan is available with two front end treatments called Luxury and Sport, respectively. Heavily inspired by the S-Class flagship, the Luxury model wears an elegant three-slat grille with a small Mercedes three-pointed star protruding from the hood. The Sport variant falls in line with the front-wheel drive CLA-Class thanks to a more aggressive two-slat grille adorned by an oversized emblem. Both variants are fitted with specific bumpers on both ends.

Mercedes has managed to trim 221 pounds off of the C thanks to a new body structure made up of aluminum, high-strength steel and composite materials. Increased rigidity and improved safety are some of the other by-products of the new architecture.

Upmarket interior
Mercedes is moving the C upmarket in order to differentiate it from the entry-level CLA-Class. The next C’s dashboard is more evocative than before and the cockpit is packed with numerous high-tech features borrowed directly from the S-Class. The big standouts include a 7-inch screen on the dash, a smartphone-esque surface on the center console and a control knob that lets the passengers operate the various functions of the infotainment system. An electric parking brake and electromechanical power steering are standard on all models.

The added length provides more space for both front and rear passengers, and trunk space checks in at 16.9 cubic feet, a noticeable increase over the current model’s 12.4 cubic feet.

Interestingly, a GPS-sensitive climate control unit can detect tunnels and switch to air recirculation model in order to prevent fumes from entering the cabin. Additionally, an AIR-BALANCE system discreetly dispenses perfume to dispel unwanted odors.

Buyers can customize their car’s interior thanks to three design and equipment lines, and the list of options includes a class-first air suspension on both axles, a heads-up display and upgraded the 7-inch screen to a 8.4-inch unit that runs Mercedes’ COMAND Online, a navigation and multimedia system that also provides an internet hotspot

On the safety front, the C comes standard with numerous airbags and a host of high-tech driving aids including Attention Assist and Collision Prevention Assist Plus. Extra cost items include Distronic Plus, which can take control of the car during a traffic jam, Brake Assist System Plus, a 360-degree camera and Adaptive High Beams Assist Plus.

Powertrain lineup
In Europe, the C will launch with two gasoline-burning four-cylinder engines and a lone oil-burner. The entry-level mill is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder rated at 156 horsepower and 184 lb-ft. of torque, enough to propel the car from zero to 62 mph in 8.2 seconds while returning 47 mpg in a mixed European cycle. The second gas-burning engine is a 2.0-liter unit that churns out 184 ponies and 221 lb-ft. of twist. With it, the C reaches 60 mph from a stop in 7.5 seconds and returns 44 mpg in the aforementioned cycle.

The diesel-burning model uses a 2.1-liter turbo four that generates 170 horsepower and a generous 295 lb-ft. of torque. The sprint from zero to 62 mph is achieved in 8.1 seconds, and gas mileage lies in the vicinity of 58 mpg.

Both manual and automatic transmissions will be offered on the old continent, and buyers will be able to pick between rear- and all-wheel drive. Technical details for U.S.-spec models will be published later today.

A gasoline-electric hybrid will join the lineup later in the production run, and Mercedes is busily developing a plug-in hybrid variant whose launch is still several years away.

The Alabama-built 2015 C-Class will arrive in showrooms several months after its debut in Detroit. A convertible, a coupe, and a BMW 3-Series GT-fighting hatchback will expected to debut later in 2014, while buyers in Europe will have access to a station wagon.

A report coming out of Australia indicates the compact Jeep crossover that will replace both the Compass and the Patriot will revive the storied Jeepster nameplate when it is introduced at next March’s Geneva Motor Show.

Riding on a modified Fiat 500L platform, the Jeepster will borrow design cues from the iconic Willy’s that was used widely in World War II. Pictures are not available yet but rumors indicate the crossover will get round headlights and bold version of Jeep’s trademarked seven-slat grille that will be taller than the one found on the newly-introduced Cherokee.

The Jeepster will share its unibody platform with a Fiat crossover tentatively called 500X. While the Fiat will be offered with both front- and four-wheel drive, the Jeep version will likely boast improved off-road capabilities and an earlier report suggests that it will be exclusively available with four-wheel drive. A two-speed transfer case like Jeep’s more dirt-oriented models has not been confirmed yet.

The Fiat’s entry-level engine will be a turbocharged 0.9-liter two-cylinder dubbed TwinAir but the Jeep will gain a 160-horsepower 1.4-liter gas-burning four-cylinder. A 1.3-liter turbodiesel four-banger rated at 105 horsepower and 236 lb-ft. of torque will be offered to buyers Europe, and Jeep might sell it in the United States if oil-burner sales continue to rise.

Following its debut in Switzerland, the Jeepster will enter production in Fiat’s Melfi, Italy, factory next summer and land in showrooms across the country next fall as a 2015 model. The car will slot beneath the Cherokee and cost several thousand dollars less.

Ford will equip 70 percent of its North American lineup with automatic start-stop by 2017. The low-cost technology is a key part of the company’s recent prioritization of greener and fuel-saving strategies.

Ford estimates that automatic start-stop, which turns the engine off rather than keep it idling when the car is stopped, improves fuel economy numbers by about 3.5 percent in mixed driving and as much as 10 percent in heavy city driving. The 2014 Fiesta‘s 1.0-liter three-cylinder EcoBoost is the latest engine to be coupled with this technology, and even greater fuel savings are expected when it’s mated to larger engines.

The commitment is just one step of a multi-layered blueprint that Ford has to make fuel economy a primary focus of its brand. In addition to rolling out EcoBoost technology across 90 percent models ranging from the Fiesta to the 2015 Mustang to the Lincoln MKC, the automaker is counting fuel economy improvements in by single digit percentages: Dynamic cruise control can save up to 10 percent; six-speed transmissions four to six percent; electric-assisted power steering three to five percent.

Although an extra-cost option on some models, Ford estimates it will sell 500,000 cars globally equipped with auto start-stop.

The fate of Holden may boil down to two scenarios, neither of which are particularly palatable to Australians. On the heels of GM’s announcement earlier this week that it will cease Australian manufacturing by 2017, Holden’s future will see major changes.

Chevy Badge Engineering

Holden head Mike Deveraux is quoted as saying, “We are committed to the brand for the long term. The brand is going to be a part of the fabric of this country for a very long time.” It would also cost an estimated $450,000 to $900,000 to switch branding at each of Holden’s 233 dealerships.

However, with unique Aussie models like the Commodore facing extinction, News.com.au is shaking up rumors that the entire brand may be replaced with the bowtie badge. Since all GM cars sold in Australia beyond 2017 will be imported (and likely badged as Chevys already), the case for a separate marque is shrinking, despite GM’s stated commitment to the brand.

A switch to Chevy would allow GM to take advantage of global marketing campaigns such as Chevy’s sponsorship of the Manchester United soccer team. It could also temper backlash to the Holden brand during the withdrawal.

China Connection

Another scenario is that the next generation of Holden sedans will be rebadged sedans built in China. According to News.com.au, a new sedan was slated to be built in both Australia and China. Now, with GM shuttering its Australian plants China will be the sole builder of the new four-cylinder, front-wheel-driver, likely badged as a Buick in China.

Reports of this car being the next Commodore are unconfirmed, but the lack of a V6, rear-wheel-drive passenger car in the lineup will buck decades of tradition. Ford, for its part, announced that it would kill the Falcon when it withdraws.

GM’s announcement sent shockwaves through the Australian auto industry, which may cease to exist in a few years. Ford has already announced a departure and Toyota, the only manufacturer building cars locally, is viewed as very likely to pull out by 2018 due to a shrinking supplier base and a recent court ruling preventing a union contract re-negotiation in light of these new developments.