Volkswagen is thinking seriously about greener public transport options and an important step is the showcasing of the Milan Taxi concept at the Hanover Trade Show. The Taxi concept targets space optimization and all eco-friendly options which could make such taxis popular in big cities like NY and Moscow.

The Taxi concept has a single sliding door that opens to the pavement side. The door extends partly into the roof and slides forward to the point of reaching the A pillar. The Milan Taxi is reflective of VWs future design elements including the elimination of the radiator grille and the incorporation of a transparent crossbar between the headlights. Also, there are two eight-inch touch screens on each for the passengers and the driver. We expect this concept to turn real somewhere in 2013.

The Fiat 500 4-door hatchback is finally a reality, and as per Autonews, this special version has been approved to arrive in Europe and the US as early as next year. The upcoming 4-door 500 will compete with the likes of the Opel Meriva and the Scion xD which are all basically categorized as small MPVs. Though Fiat hasn’t confirmed anything, we’re expecting a more powerful engine taking into consideration the extra weight courtesy of the bigger platform and the larger cargo space. One last thing. No one really has a problem with Fiat 500 expanding its lineage but they’ll better come up with a different name for the four-door hatch. [via autonews (sub req)]

There’s a new online competition to celebrate the launch of the Auris X, with prizes including R15 000 cash and a PS3. But even if you aren’t out to win the competition is still worth checking out – it’s a challenging and entertaining game that will test your mental agility as you embark on a journey which will see you hunt for Xs all over the internet.

It works like this:

The game is based here, where you will find a map of South Africa. There are Xs all over the internet. You need to find them and then place them on the map you will find on the site, in order to mark your turf and eventually find a hidden Auris X Showroom. For now, you need to do is register and start hunting for those Xs. In case you need some help there are bunch of clues from Buddy the Boxer and his friend Chi Chi the Chihuahua to help you on your way.

The hunt will take you all over the net and even back in time, you will have to answer questions, find clues and play games within the game. Some Xs are easy to find, others will really test your mental strength. The more Xs you use to mark your turf the better your chance at winning prizes worth R30 000 smackeroos!

The prizes are:

1st Prize: R15 000 Cash

2nd Prize PS3 120GB Console

3rd Prize: PSP Black

4th Prize: Apple iPod nano 8GB – Black

5th Prize: Apple iPod Shuffle 2GB

Enjoy the ride, it’ll Xhilarate you! Happy hunting. You never know, there may even be an X hidden somewhere on this page!

But what about the new Auris X?

The Auris X is the next generation Auris, offering a sleeker and more sophisticated driving experience than its predecessors, and it’s also more fuel efficient. The idea is to deliver superb economy with minimal environmental impact, and with 74kW and 132Nm it delivers class-leading performance, along with a whole bunch of extra attention to quality and safety. For more on the Auris X including full specs, go here.

25 year old Briton Lewis Hamilton is finding himself making news for all the wrong reasons this year. His ‘weaving’ defensive driving act at the Malaysian Grand Prix has been heavily criticized by a number of F1 experts and news is that the weaving act will be discussed by at the pre-event drivers’ Briefing in Shanghai.

Hamilton was severely criticized by Brazilian veteran Rubens Barrichello of Williams and Pole Robert Kubica of Renault for his car handling when he defended against Kubica’s team-mate Russian Vitaly Petrov. Barrichello also mentioned that the drivers also have a kind of verbal agreement that you should move only once during the protection of your line.

Hamilton’s defensive tactics were worthy of punishment as it was against the sprit of the competition. Mark Webber is however of the opinion that this issue should be “tidied up” when the drivers congregate for their pre-race briefing in Shanghai.

The fist photos of the pre-production Chevrolet Camaro Convertible surfaced back in 2008, and since then, the development has taken a pretty long time. GM has finally revealed the first images of the production ready 2012 Camaro Convertible prototype through social media outfit Facebook. The convertible looks similar in design to the Coupe and a few noticeable changes include a repositioned third brake light, a trunk-mounted antenna, and a key slot for opening the rear trunk. The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible will feature the same engines as the coupe including a 312hp 3.6L V6, a 400 hp 6.2-liter V8, and a 426hp 6.2L V8 option. We expect the convertible to arrive by April 2011.

I know it’s not exactly car news, but anyone that likes awesome will enjoy this video. It’s about a crazy man called Robbie Maddison on a little two stroke bike defying certain death by charging over some obstacles to reach the correct speed to do this jump.

The adrenalin that must’ve gone through this guy’s body must’ve been enough to jump start a dead elephant. The true question I suppose is how he managed to make the jump with a scrotum filled with steel?

Spy photographers finally headed elsewhere to catch a glimpse of the models ready to invade the Asian markets and they managed to capture the 2011 Buick Excelle compact sedan. The commuter based on the highly successful Opel Astra Platform was caught undisguised in China.

From what we see it features a waterfall grille, distinctive headlights, hood-mounted porthole vents, and controversial taillights. On the inside the 2011 Buick Excelle appears discreetly similar to the Astra minus the badge on the steering wheel. The Chinese model of this automobile shall be showcased at the Beijing auto show while the US aspirers of the Buick Excelle will have to wait a little longer. It is noteworthy that Buick has already released a hatchback version of this car — Excelle XT hatchback in China only and that variant looks utterly different that this sedan.

The Nürburgring circuit in Germany is one place to be if the upcoming automobile models are what get you excited. It is sometimes difficult to keep track of all cars that get tested here day in and day out; and the latest one nabbed by spy photographers is the 2012 Mercedes Benz B-Class. The hatchback will feature a more spacious front and it will sport a more aggressive look courtesy of LED lighting and a rear spoiler. This upcoming model will go on sale in 2011 and will be based on the BlueZero Concept — a design study that was showcased at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. We’re not that much into it to be honest … at least not the design.