One of the BMW X6′s biggest criticisms, the lack of a fifth seat, will be put to bed starting this spring, as the coupe-like crossover will have the option of a fifth seat, making it slightly more functional but no less confusing.

Along with new 20″ dubs and interior leather choices (as well as some new interior lighting), the fifth seat represents the major changes coming for the X6. A notable exception is the X6 ActiveHybrid, which will remain a four seater only.

Hit the jump to read the official press release

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NHTSA is investigating certain Volkswagen Golf and Jetta TDI cars, as well as the Audi A3 TDI for a suspected fuel pump defect that could cause vehicles to stall at highway speeds and render them unable to restart.

The agency claims that it has received 160 complaints and one accident report relating to the defect. The TDI diesel vehicles uses high pressure fuel pumps which may fail and clog the fuel system with debris. Volkswagen is co-operating with NHTSA as it investigates the 97,272 cars sold between 2009 and 2010 which may be prone to the defect.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Although the Smart ForTwo hasn’t been warmly received by American buyers, there is hope for the quirky maker of diminutive city cars, as parent company Daimler is backing the brand with new products and utilizing their alliance with Renault-Nissan to give the lineup a boost.

A Smart representative confirmed that a four seat model will arrive sometime in the future, a vehicle that will doubtlessly expand Smart’s appeal to a much broader customer base. While this car will arrive in a few years, a 5-seater hatch with 5-doors reportedly based on the Nissan Micra is set to bow in the last quarter of 2011. A revised ForTwo, which will share a jointly-developed Renault-Nissan platform will also debut, but on an unspecified time frame.

[Source: Autoblog]

Despite rumors to the contrary, MINIs aren’t about to get any more or less mini. In a sit down interview with MINI USA boss Jim McDowell, at the Chicago Auto Show he dispelled rumors of a MINI-minor, as well as the possibility that the Countryman could get an even larger sibling.

“I don’t anticipate a third size or that we’ll ever have large MINIs,” he said, stating that future vehicles will be based on one of the two current MINI platforms, the R5X for the hard-top, convertible and Clubman and the R60 for the Countryman.

Later, McDowell commented that his remarks apply only for the U.S., perhaps hinting that a smaller MINI model could be in the cards for Europe.

MINI may, however, explore outside these two platforms when it comes to concept vehicles. “MINI will continue to push the limits with our concept studies, which are open for discussion and criticism, allowing us to incorporate some or all of the study elements into a future production vehicle,” said McDowell. “While the size of such concepts will no doubt vary, the MINI product family will remain true to its values of ensuring a ‘premium small car’ experience; and to do so in the U.S., we are likely to stay within the size range that is currently established.”

With plans to introduce a coupe and roadster model in the near future, MINI will then launch the Paceman, a two-door sportcross based on the Countryman’s architecture. Described by McDowell as a “very flexible platform,” MINI isn’t likely to stop with just two crossover variants either.

After sticking it to Ferrari on the Nurburgring, Pagani has one-upped its Italian rival once again with the Zonda R – this time on Top Gear’s test track.

Posting a 1’08.5 lap time, the car is nearly 7 seconds faster than the Ariel Atom 500 and a solid 2.2 seconds faster than the Ferrari FXX (driven by Michael Schumacher no less). In a release by Pagani, it states that the FXX was using racing slicks, although we’re left to assume the Zonda R also used slicks as it’s a purpose-built track car.

That being said, it’s not likely to officially hold the title as it would be classified as a race car and not a street car.

Broadcast on the BBC last night, online video of the record lap isn’t available yet. Until it is, check out the record-setting Nurburgring lap video after the jump:

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Apart from the news, Top Gear might just be the biggest thing to ever come from the BBC, spawning local versions from Australia to the U.S. with the original watched by millions around the world. Now another country is set to get in on the irreverent fun, China.

China isn’t big on free speech, however, so don’t expect any off-the cuff rants from a Clarkson-esque personality, insulting other races, cultures or political leaders. (Definitely not political leaders.)

In order not to diminish the impact of the show too much, some antics will still be involved, but as a result the show won’t air until after midnight.

Currently the world’s largest auto market, it looks like sales of DVRs in China are about to hit an all time high too.

[Source: Telegraph]

As a part of Fiat’s control of Chrysler, the company will breath new life into its Lancia division by re-launching it using rebadged versions of Chrysler products – including the new 2011 300.

Powering many of the vehicles will be Chrysler’s new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, as well as several diesel choices. Lancia has not said if it will offer a Hemi-powered version of the Thema (rebadged 300) in Europe.

In addition, the new Lancia lineup also includes a compact car that isn’t offered in North America, the Ypsilon. It’s based on a stretched version of the Fiat 500 platform and could make its way to the U.S. in one form or another.

Set to be unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show, look for updates from the show and photos of the new Lancia lineup starting March 1st.

Just think, now you can feel at home when you rent a Lancia Flavia from Hertz to cruise the Mediteranian coast.

GALLERY: 2011 Lancia Lineup

K-Pax Racing has fielded a team of Volvos in the SCCA’s World Challenge season with considerable success over the past few years and have announced they continue to do so in 2011.

With the series set to get underway at St. Petersburg, Fla., in late March, the new cars won’t debut until April at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah. Until then we’ll have to settle with a teaser of the 2011 S60 model.

With it, K-Pax is looking to defend its Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ championships from last year.

Engineered to make you forget the C230 hatchback ever existed, Mercedes-Benz has just revealed its new C-Class Coupe with a planned world premiere at the Geneva Auto Show in March.

With a profile similar to the E-Class coupe, it gets a slightly more simplistic front end borrowed from the C-Class sedan. It has a sportier edge to it as well, thanks to a roofline that is 1.5-inches lower.

The most exciting news is that the C350 Coupe will be powered by a new direct-injection version of Merc’s 3.5-liter V6 making 304-hp. Using the automaker’s 7-speed automatic transmission, it will hit 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds. Also available will be the C250 coupe using a new turbocharged direct-injection 4-cylinder that makes 201-hp and 229 lb-ft of torque for a 0-60 mph time of 7.1 seconds.

Along with a long list of safety features,the 2012 C-Class coupe gets an Agility Control adjusting suspension and an updated COMAND system.

Look for live photos from the Geneva Auto Show, with coverage starting March 1st. Until then, see AutoGuide’s 2011 Geneva Auto Show preview here.

GALLERY: 2012 Mercedes C-Class Coupe

Official release after the jump:

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Announced several months ago, details on the new GT-R Egoist edition were limited – and so were the photos. Nissan has solved that problem by releasing an extensive gallery of pictures of the rare GT-R that features some much-needed luxury updates.

Not that there’s anything wrong with the GT-R for the price, but the Egoist raises the car’s luxury level to the same height as its performance, putting it on an even keel with the world’s most exotics machines in every area.

With the Egoist, owners can select from 20 interior choices with all the interior components being hand-stitched by the experts at Seton Company, Inc. in Germany. The steering wheel features a special GT-R emblem made by Mr. Sakae Kubota, a Japanese lacquer expert, while a Bose audio system is tuned to the ears of each owner. Outside, the Egoist model gets a carbon rear spoiler and titanium exhaust system (from the SpecV model), while special Blue Sword Chrome Rays wheels finish off the package.

GALLERY: Nissan GT-R Egoist

[Source: Nissan, Autoblog]