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BMW restores classic Mini as it revives production in Netherlands

Mini will be kicking off production in the Netherlands, a country that hasn't built a Mini-badged machine since 1966. In honor of this event, BMW Group Classic, the team responsible for all the cars in the BMW Museum, as well as being a spare parts and restoration company in its own right, revived a classic 1959 Austin Seven. That particular car, number 983, was one of the first Minis to be built in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands' JJ Molenaar's Car Companies built 4,000 Austin Sevens and Morris Mini-Minors between 1959 and 1966, although we imagine Dutch Mini production will be much bigger when it starts up again in summer 2014. A five-person team from VDL Nedcar, the group handling production of new Minis, took to the job of restoring the diminutive British car from nose to tail.
The 34-horsepower engine and the transmission were both completely rebuilt, while the door panels were redone by hand. Help from the Mini community aided the VDL Nedcar team in finding authentic replicas or original parts where possible. All told, the new classic Mini is a striking example of what a good restoration can do to a car. The Seven was repainted in its original Farina Gray, adding to the car's sense of authenticity.

BMW spotted testing new 5 Series Gran Turismo

As previously reported, BMW is going ahead with a second-generation 5 Series Gran Turismo, no matter how silly the first generation of the sedan-cum-hatchback-cum-wagon may be. These are our first spy photos of that new vehicle, which is still on track for a late 2016 debut. Perhaps the best thing we can say about the next 5GT is that it won't be quite so hunchbacked. The seven images provided by our spy photographer show a car with a profile that's far more svelte than the bulbous entry on offer today. The roofline, in particular, is more aggressively raked at the rear and there's a proper, distinguished rear deck, as well. Part of what makes today's 5 Series GT look so bizarre is the combination of an almost fastback tail with a very tall decklid height. While the updated model still features that high rear – you can actually see where the beltline kicks up at the rear quarter window – the fastback styling has been softened so that it doesn't look quite so bizarre. The new Gran Turismo should also be a much better steer than the 5GT currently on offer. Our spies report that this next-gen model will be significantly lighter, which is something we can always get behind. Engine options will consist of gas, diesel, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid, as is the trend, although specifics aren't quite available yet. Spitballing, though, it's almost a guarantee that the next 5GT will share the 5 Series sedan's engine lineup. Expect a number of carryover engines there – 2.0-liter turbo four, 3.0-liter turbo six, 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, and 3.0-liter diesel, probably – along with a plug-in hybrid option, although nothing's been confirmed so far. With an official debut slated for late next year, either Paris or Los Angeles seem like a logical debut location.

Recharge Wrap-up: BMW i8's Engine of the Year, biodiesel producer guilty

BMW has won International Engine of the Year for the hybrid system in the i8. The i8 PHEV uses a 1.5-liter, three-cylinder gasoline engine with a hybrid drive unit including a 96-kilowatt electric motor. BMW beat Ford's 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine by a small margin to win the award for best overall engine. It also took the award for the 1.4-liter to 1.8-liter category, as well as best new engine. Tesla beat BMW to win the green engine category for the electric powertrain of the Tesla Model S. Read more at Green Car Congress, or see all of the results from the International Engine of the Year Awards. The head of Audi powertain development is quitting as the automaker steps up electrification. Stefan Knirsch has worked at Audi since late 2013, and previously worked at Porsche as the head of quality management and engine development. Germany's Auto Motor und Sport magazine had reported that Knirsch was leaving Audi, which Audi confirmed without giving a departure date or saying if he would be working elsewhere. Audi has been feeling pressure from its competitor Mercedes-Benz, and has been working on improving its EV offerings and autonomous vehicle technology. Read more from Reuters. The owner of a biodiesel company has pleaded guilty to fraud. Philip Joseph Rivkin, aka Felipe Poitan Arriaga, took part in a scheme to defraud the EPA, falsely claiming to be producing millions of gallons of biodiesel. This allowed his company, Green Diesel, to receive renewable fuel credits and sell them to oil companies and brokers. "These crimes are a serious threat to an important program that helps combat climate change," says Cynthia Giles of the EPA. "Companies and individual managers should get the message that there are serious consequences for breaking the rules and undermining the integrity of this program." Rivkin faces over 10 years in prison and $51 million in restitution. Read more in the press release below. Biodiesel Fuel Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Clean Air Act Crimes Connected to Renewable Fuels Scheme Philip J. Rivkin faces more than 10 years imprisonment and $51 million in restitution WASHINGTON – Philip Joseph Rivkin, a.k.a. Felipe Poitan Arriaga, 50, today pleaded guilty to a Clean Air Act false statement and mail fraud as part of his role in a scheme to defraud EPA by falsely representing that he was producing millions of gallons of biodiesel fuel.