The Mini Clubman trades the hatch back for rear split doors. It's the wagon version of the prized Mini, boasting a sleek, dynamic silhouette and four side doors. Now Mini has unveiled its latest generation of the Clubman. It's a whole 27 centimeters longer and nine centimeters wider than the standard five-door Mini and offers considerably more space.The new Clubman also has a newly designed cabin - while still retaining the trademark Mini look. We try out the new Mini Cooper S Clubman with a four-cylinder 141 kW petrol engine, equipped with BMW's TwinPower turbo technology.

Mercedes is celebrating the maiden voyage of the world’s first self-driving, series-production truck. Armed and ready with its Highway Pilot system, the Mercedes Actros performed its first self-driven kilometer out in public traffic on the German autobahn near Stuttgart. The vehicle was not completely left to its own devices though. The truck is not designed to ever operate without a driver.The Highway Pilot is similar to an airplane’s autopilot mode. While the system can fully operate the truck on highways, the driver still needs to observe the traffic and be ready to take back control at any time if necessary. With the premiere of the new Actros, Mercedes is celebrating an important step towards releasing a self-driving truck onto the market.

With the second generation of the Aygo, Toyota has created another nippy little car for the city. Inspired by Japanese youth culture, its striking design makes it stand out from the crowd, with a dramatic "X” swooping across the front and back. Since the summer of last year, over 70,000 models have sold in Europe.We test the Cyan Splash edition, with its eye-catching combination of blue and black. The features in this small car also leave nothing to be desired.

In 1971, the legendary Alfa Romeo logo graced the radiator grille of a front-wheel drive compact for the first time: the Alfasud. The Italian automaker hoped the car would help it attract new customers. The Alfasud boasted plenty of space, an aerodynamic shape and sporty performance. There was just one problem: rust!By the time the first vehicle inspections rolled around, some parts had completely rusted through. That was a shame, because otherwise the Alfasud was a well-engineered car. And it had nearly all the ingredients that would, three years later, make the first Volkswagen Golf such a success.

In its most powerful version, the R8 V10 plus is the fastest Audi ever to go into series production. It takes just 3.2 seconds to power from zero to 100 km/h and can reach a top speed of 330 km/h. The new R8 was developed in close cooperation with racing engineers and racing drivers - to bring that motorsport experience to the general public.Former racing driver Klaus Niedzwiedz put it to the test on a racetrack in Portimao, Portugal.

The VW Golf has traditionally left the rest of the compact class in its wake. Opel is now out to challenge that dominance with the fifth generation of the Astra. Slick design, an ambitious weight-loss program and a new set of engines are intended to make the new Astra a genuine contender.There’s a variety of new technological features such as the matrix LED lights - the first on a compact. Despite its enhancements the Astra remains an affordable prospect, with prices starting at €17,260 in Germany. Opel throws down the gauntlet ...

In this edition of Drive It! we check out the natural gas/gasoline-powered Seat Leon ST TGI, examine the sporting prowess of the Toyota GT86, and attend a gathering of blasts from the past at the Porsche Rennsport Reunion in California.Present it! Opel AstraThe VW Golf has traditionally left the rest of the compact class in its wake. Opel is now out to challenge that dominance with the fifth generation of the Astra. Slick design, an ambitious weight-loss program and a new set of engines are intended to make the new Astra a genuine contender.There’s a variety of new technological features such as the matrix LED lights - the first on a compact. Despite its enhancements the Astra remains an affordable prospect, with prices starting at €17,260 in Germany. Opel throws down the gauntlet ... Test it! Toyota GT86Toyota hopes its GT86 will appeal to enthusiasts. The low-slung and extremely aerodynamic 2+2-seater features a compact, high-revving front-mounted engine with rear-wheel drive.The two-liter four-cylinder boxer puts out 147 kW and accelerates the GT86 from zero to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds, with a maximum speed of 226 km/h. A low curb weight of just 1,239 kg and a low center of gravity mean the GT86 can really corner. In Germany, it's also available with a manual 6-speed gearbox, starting at €30,750.Examine it! Porsche Rennsport Reunion V at the Laguna Seca RacewayPorsche has been inextricably linked to motorsports for decades. The mean machines from Stuttgart have graced racetracks around the globe - including the US.The Porsche Rennsport Reunion series, named after the carmaker's racing division, has become a pilgrimage for fans. Fans can check out legends of racing from yesteryear - both the cars and the drivers. Drive It! popped along to the three-day extravaganza. Taste it! Seat Leon ST 1.4 TGI ErdgasFor those looking for a drive technology that's both environmental and economical, a bivalent drive system would seem a promising option. Seat has one such model: the Leon ST 1.4 TGI. The wagon is powered by a turbocharged 1.4 liter engine with direct injection, which can run on either natural gas or gasoline.Filled up with 15 kilograms of natural gas and 50 liters of normal fuel, the manufacturer claims a combined range of over 1,300 km. Drive It! looks at whether the car is really as green as the car maker says.Vintage! VW Beutler Pickup von 1950The VW Beetle is a legend. It was in production for 65 years, from 1938 to 2003. More than 20 million were built, with the last one rolling off the production line in Puebla, Mexico.The version we're looking at, however, is anything but mass-produced. Only 10 handmade Beetle pickups were ever built - and not in Germany or Mexico, but in Switzerland. The rare specimen is named Volkswagen Beutler Pickup and was given an extra cargo area to carry goods in 1950.

Toyota hopes its GT86 will appeal to enthusiasts. The low-slung and extremely aerodynamic 2+2-seater features a compact, high-revving front-mounted engine with rear-wheel drive.The two-liter four-cylinder boxer puts out 147 kW and accelerates the GT86 from zero to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds, with a maximum speed of 226 km/h. A low curb weight of just 1,239 kg and a low center of gravity mean the GT86 can really corner. In Germany, it's also available with a manual 6-speed gearbox, starting at €30,750.

The VW Beetle is a legend. It was in production for 65 years, from 1938 to 2003. More than 20 million were built, with the last one rolling off the production line in Puebla, Mexico.The version we're looking at, however, is anything but mass-produced. Only 10 handmade Beetle pickups were ever built - and not in Germany or Mexico, but in Switzerland. The rare specimen is named Volkswagen Beutler Pickup and was given an extra cargo area to carry goods in 1950.

For those looking for a drive technology that's both environmental and economical, a bivalent drive system would seem a promising option. Seat has one such model: the Leon ST 1.4 TGI. The wagon is powered by a turbocharged 1.4 liter engine with direct injection, which can run on either natural gas or gasoline.Filled up with 15 kilograms of natural gas and 50 liters of normal fuel, the manufacturer claims a combined range of over 1,300 km. Drive It! looks at whether the car is really as green as the car maker says.