Steve Davies

Following his headline performance at MINI’s 50th Birthday extravaganza at Silverstone in 2009, mod rock legend Paul Weller has collaborated with MINI to create a one off car which will be sold in a live global online auction with all proceeds going to charity.

The unique MINI Cooper was designed by Paul Weller, built in Oxford and hand-painted by MINI craftsmen. The car will be auctioned for one month from 11 November to raise money for charities Nordoff Robins and War Child.

Earlier today Land Rover released pictures of the 5-Door version of the all-new Range Rover Evoque, which makes its global public debut at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show next week (November 17, 2010).

Measuring 30mm taller than the coupé model, the 5-Door Range Rover Evoque adds further space and versatility. Rear seat passengers benefit from over 50mm more shoulder room, along with better headroom. The key lines remain intact – the dramatic rising beltline, muscular shoulder running the length of the car, and the distinctive taper to the floating roofline – but with a slightly higher rear roof, in all other respects it remains identical to the 3-door coupe which means it stays true to the spirit of the LRX concept design.

MINI New Zealand are running a campaign at the moment to take late night test drives, they'd like to encourage customers to put a brand new MINI through its paces on the open road when it's clear of the usual distractions - at night.

On the face of it, there's no particular reason to take note of with such a campaign - it's perhaps an odd idea to encourage drivers to test an unfamiliar car whilst trying to figure out the position of its indicator stalks, but we've seen worse ideas - I just wouldn't fancy being a sales person accompanying such a test drive.

With all the shenanigans surrounding the recent Paris Motor Show, you'd be forgiven for thinking that Metamorphosis is yet another new Lotus model ready the join the Esprit, Elan, Elite, Elise and Eterne. Fear not, for Metamorphosis is in fact a unique collaboration between Lotus and the award winning French artist Gérard Rancinan – due to be revealed on Friday (12th November) at an exclusive VIP event in Los Angeles.

The Bentley Motors team travelled over to Oman in the Middle East last week, to top up their tans and capture some pictures of their newest model, the 2011 Continental GT coupe together with members of the international press.

EA (Electronic Arts) and KingSize USA are offering an advance-preview of the EA Need For Speed Hot Pursuit game launch in LA on Tuesday 16 November. The Philly based hip-hop duo Chiddy Bang will headline the event, which also features an all-night open bar.

News of KTM's upgraded X-Bow appeared back in September, so we're pleased to hear KTM are on target for its introduction in early 2011. The X-Bow has long been one of our favourite sports cars, but we've worried about its long-term viability given the high cost of producing its exotic carbon-fibre frame.

It's a wonderfully incongruous sight to the see a herd of Lexi strutting their stuff down the 2010 SEMA show catwalk, shakin' their hybrid-booties. More than any other car maker thus far, Lexus has made alternative energy 'cool' and what better way to demonstrate this than at the 2010 SEMA auto trade show in Las Vegas, where mainstream car makers and tuning companies showcase their most thrilling automotive creations.