High-octane car chases, outrageous stunts, explosive events and humourous commentary from the team continues to make the MPH show unique among motor shows and allows performance car enthusiasts to get closer to the action than ever before. Between the three live shows a day, show goers can get intimate with automotive exotica from marques that have previously included Aston Martin, Bentley, Caterham, Invicta, Jaguar, Noble, Pagani, Radical, Saleen and Ultima. There's also the chance to learn about events like the exclusive Gumball 3000 and handle cutting edge gadgetry. Full Article

Honda is to unveil a new 3-door Civic at the London Motor Show in July - completing the 'Built in Britain' line-up of Honda hatchbacks. The 3-door makes its world debut at the London event and is joined by the award-winning 5-door Civic and the Civic Type R Concept. Honda's luxury saloon, the Legend, is also on display at the show. The Legend features safety equipment in the shape of CMBS – brake technology that can predict collisions – and SH-AWD, an intelligent all-wheel drive system that delivers extra cornering performance. For motorsport fans, a specially-commissioned Formula 1 exhibit makes an appearance. Full Article

The Peugeot 907 – a V12 GT coupé concept – is making its UK debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July. Powered by a 6.0-litre 500bhp V12 engine, the one-off carbon fibre concept is being demonstrated in the Supercar Run at approximately 1.20pm on Saturday and Sunday, 8 and 9 July. The 907 concept was created as the archetypal grand touring car – a two-seater coupé – and with a nod to the era of the great coachbuilders, this coupé combines a large capacity engine within a classical shape. It also provided the first clue to the frontal style identity of the new 207 which has just gone on sale in the UK. Full Article

The most secure and theft-resistant model range in the UK is built by Audi, according to experts at the Thatcham Research Centre, on voting the brand, 'Best Manufacturer' in the 2006 British Insurance Car Security Awards. The company says that not only will owners of the new TT Coupé be driving a car developed with the benefit of award-winning security expertise, but also award-winning engineering know-how, as the new Audi sports car's 2.0-litre Turbo FSI engine has just received an International Engine of the Year honour. The Best Manufacturer Award in the Thatcham Security Awards is given to the car maker delivering the highest level of security throughout its complete model range. In addition to this top award, Audi also won through in the Executive Car category with the A6 Saloon. Full Article

The MINI GP has sold out in the UK before a single customer has driven the car and extra allocation of the exclusive 2000 models being built for the globe has been secured. The MINI Cooper S with John Cooper Works GP Kit was announced in October 2005, and only 444 UK customers were given the chance to own one from July 2006. Such has been the demand for the fastest, most powerful production MINI yet, that MINI UK has been negotiating with other countries and has managed to snatch 15 more of the models. Only 10 of these extra models remain today. America, Germany and Switzerland have also been eager to increase their share of the 2000 cars. Full Article

Pixar's animated comedy Cars has raced to the top of the US box office chart on its first weekend of release. The film's three-day take of $62.8m (£34m) makes it the company's third most successful opening after The Incredibles and Finding Nemo. Jennifer Aniston's comedy The Break-Up, last week's number one, fell to two. The Omen, a remake of the 1976 horror classic which opened on 6 June, made $15.5m (£8.4m) at the weekend, taking its total US tally to $35.7m (£19.3m). Full Article

The Ford Focus has won the award for Best Fleet Car in the 2006 Fleet World Honours. The Fleet World Honours are presented annually to those motor manufacturers and service companies who have achieved the highest possible level of excellence in their sector, as judged by Fleet World magazine. Fleet World editor 'Ken Rogers' commented, "Focus continues to be a truly great success story for Ford. It's rare for a very high volume, top-seller in both the fleet and retail markets to be considered a "benchmark" product but Focus still is. It presents that rare combination of being a good value, effective work-horse - and a great driver's car.Full Article

Thousands of drivers from outside the UK are not paying London's congestion charge, the BBC has learnt. Transport for London (TfL) is chasing more than 88,000 foreign drivers who have left owing £8.8m in unpaid bills since January last year. So far only 25,000 of them have been identified and just £500,000 collected. TfL said lack of a Europe-wide agreement on traffic fines meant UK local authorities had "great difficulty" tracing foreign drivers. But a TfL spokesman said the £500,000 it had clawed back was "the highest recovery of foreign debt for traffic offences amongst local authorities in the UK". Drivers from France were the worst offenders, leaving 25,930 unpaid bills, with Germans in second place with about 13,000. Full Article

Vauxhall's new five-door Corsa has been revealed for the first time and is set to make its debut alongside the three-door at this year's British International Motorshow in London. The five-door Corsa is slightly larger than its predecessor and has a deliberately different look to the three-door, which Vauxhall says is aimed at a younger, sportier market. GM Europe's design chief, Bryan Nesbitt said, "Dynamics and functionality are not mutually exclusive. Our new five-door Corsa, like its big brother Astra, renders a completely unique design for the three-door versus the five-door. In short, these are tailor-made cars for different types of customer." Full Article

Following last year's success, the 2006 European Limousine and Chauffeur Show's venue has changed from Sandown Park to ExCel London. Thousands of visitors last year saw an impressive collection of limousines and luxury cars, including Audi, BINZ UK, Coastal Coachworks, Chrysler, Volkswagen, BMW, Moonlight Industries, LCW, H6 Limo World , Executive Coach, Tiffany, NLA , Star Limos, Oceanview Limousines, Move Amerdica and Cars for Stars all under one roof. The show is also said to be good for the industry with last year's exhibitors enjoying increased sales and territory reach, with some recording sales in markets as far apart as Japan, Belgium, Switzerland, Dubai and Eastern European states. Full Article

Citroën have come up with a unique opportunity to help owners of older cars buy a modern new car and do their bit for the environment as well. Customers buying most C1, C2, C3 or Xsara Picasso models in June will receive a minimum of £800 or £1000 for their old car, over and above Citroën's cashback offers. With this offer, private buyers can now own a Xsara Picasso for less than £9,000. This offer will give drivers of older, less safe and more polluting cars the opportunity to own a new Citroën – a range that is said to include some of the most environmentally friendly cars available, with the C1, C2 and C3 being three of the four most economical diesel cars in the UK. Full Article

Porsche has announced the October, UK launch of the new 911 GT3 RS. According to Porsche, the GT3 RS is distinguished by its performance capability and a driving experience that is said to be similar to that of a racing car. But while suited for use on the track, the car also meets all requirements for road-legal sports cars. The reference "RS" has been seen on such models as the Carrera RS 2.7 of 1972 and the 1991, Type 964 911 RS and, in common with its predecessors, the new 911 GT3 RS provides an homologation model for use in a range of racing series. Full Article

Honda has developed a plant-based fabric for use as a material for car interiors. The 'Bio-fabric' is designed to offset all CO2 emissions produced during the disposal stage of the car, through the CO2 absorption that occurs during the growth stage of the plants used as the raw materials. In the past, plant-based fabric has not been used commercially for car interiors due to concerns about limited durability and aesthetic issues. However, the new bio-fabric developed by Honda is said to be a soft and smooth material appropriate for the surface of car interiors, with high durability and resistant to colour fading.Full Article

Skoda's model range grows with the addition of the Skoda Roomster, which will go on sale in the UK this September. The Roomster follows the lines of a compact MPV but differs from its competitors thanks to its unconventional design. To maximise the available interior space, the design team at Skoda created two different areas within the cabin. The front zone is a "driving room" with a clear cockpit design and the rear of the Skoda Roomster is designed as a comfortable and flexible "living room". Three petrol and three diesel engines are offered for the Roomster. The petrol range starts with a 1.2-litre 70bhp petrol engine, while further up the performance range sits a 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 85bhp and 132 Nm torque. Full Article

The all-new Kia Carens compact MPV made its world premiere at the Madrid Motor Show yesterday and will go on sale across Europe later this summer. The all-new New Carens will be marketed in Europe in two versions – with seven-seater and five-seater cabins – both featuring 'European-specific' frontal styling with unique twin-chrome-bar grille, lower centre air-intake and front bumper with inset air-intakes or fog lamps.Full Article

Toyota brings some good news for the UK's car manufacturing industry with the unveiling today of its new, British-built 2007 Avensis range at the Madrid Motor Show. The company tells us that the new Avensis has fresh styling inside and out, increasing its dynamic and premium quality appeal. For the UK market, it also benefits from two new engines from Toyota's latest generation of clean, efficient and refined D-4D common rail diesel units. They are the 175hp D-4D 180, which exclusively powers a new flagship Avensis T180 model, and the D-4D 130, a more powerful replacement for the previous 2.0-litre D-4D engine, with additional gains in fuel consumption and lower exhaust emissions. Full Article

Following the launch of the Cayman S in autumn 2005, Porsche is introducing the Cayman, a new version of the mid-engined sports coupé that will go on sale in the UK in the summer. Based on the Boxster series, the two-seater is powered by a 2.7, six-cylinder 'boxer' engine that develops 245bhp (180 kW). It has a top speed of 160mph, and with manual transmission accelerates from 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds. Porsche says that the Cayman is proof that outstanding performance statistics do not necessarily mean high fuel consumption. Full Article

Kia's all-new Magentis completes the total regeneration of the Korean company's passenger car range in less than two years. The oldest model on the fleet is now the Picanto, introduced in July 2004. And with all-new versions of the Sedona and Carens MPVs and a refreshed Sorento SUV also scheduled to arrive in 2006, Kia says it has one of the most modern product portfolios currently on offer from any manufacturer. Kia also says that the new Magentis saloon with diesel power, modern and dynamic styling, European-standard ride and handling and top-level safety, is more capable than ever of meeting the expectations of both private and fleet users. Full Article

The Tudor Red 1985 Bentley Continental Convertible once owned by Sir Elton John is to be auctioned by H&H Classic Auctions at Syon Park, London, May 24. This suitably flamboyant motorcar famously starred in the video for Elton's hit song Nikita. The body was specially crafted by premier coachbuilder, Mulliner Park Ward of Harlesden and the car's long list of special fitments included: colour-coded radiator veins, Parchment trim piped in red, extra speakers and a 10-disc, boot mounted CD player. H&H sold the car to its current owner in 2002. Managing Director and Chief Auctioneer Simon Hope said, "This is a rare opportunity to acquire a piece of well-documented pop history, though the Bentley will be equally appealing to any lover of these desirable automobiles." Full Article

Pump-injector fuel injection and piezo technology combine for the first time in the new 170PS 2.0 TDI engine for the Audi A3 and A4. Pump-injector fuel injection and piezo technology combine for the first time in the new 170PS 2.0 TDI engine for A3 and A4. The new four-cylinder, 2.0-litre TDI unit is the first in the Audi range to combine 'pumpe-duse' or 'pump jet' direct diesel injection with the piezo crystal injector technology from the 2.7-litre V6, 3.0-litre V6 and 4.2-litre V8 TDI engines. It is said to deliver power, torque and acceleration to rival a six-cylinder TDI but with four-cylinder fuel economy. Full Article

SEAT will pull the covers off its hottest new Leon at next week's Madrid Motor Show (25th May), with the world debut of the new FR. The new FR sees the Leon step up a gear in the visual department with a host of sporty design touches. The front air intake design with honeycomb grille is very distinct from that found on other Leons, and takes its inspiration from the Leon Touring Cars of both the BTCC and WTCC. At the rear a black mock-diffuser is also race-track inspired, while silver-painted door mirrors and 17-inch alloy wheels (with 18-inch versions available as an option) complete the look. The distinctive red and black 'FR' badge appears, not only the rear of the car, but also extensively throughout the sporty interior - on the specially designed leather-covered steering wheel, silver gearknob, within the rev counter and is embroidered on to the backrests of the sports seats. Full Article

Vauxhall has released the first official pictures of its new SUV, the Antara, which will debut at the Paris motor show in September. Fractionally larger than an Astra estate, the five-door Antara will feature an on-demand four-wheel drives system linked to an electronic stability programme and a form of hill-descent control. The first cars to arrive in the UK will be powered by an all-new 2.0-litre common-rail turbodiesel producing 150PS. Both manual and automatic gearboxes will be available. The UK launch date and prices will be announced nearer the official show debut in September.Full Article

Vauxhall is showing a collection of its classic models to the public for one day only. To coincide with the Luton Festival of Transport and over 100 years of being based in the town, Vauxhall is holding its annual open day at its Heritage Centre in Park Street, Luton, on Sunday 11 June 2006, where visitors can view over 50 classic Vauxhall models completely free of charge. From the very first 1903 Vauxhall through to 'modern' classics such as the Lotus Carlton, the Heritage Collection contains over a century's worth of classic Vauxhall models, including family favourites from yesteryear such as the PA Cresta, Viva and every generation of Cavalier. In addition to the collection of classics, visitors will get an opportunity to see some of Vauxhall's latest models up close, including the new Astra TwinTop and the hot new VXR versions of the Zafira, Meriva and Vectra. Full Article

Six months after the launch of the New Clio, the Clio Renaultsport 197 is now available to order prior to its launch day of 18th July – the opening day of the British Motor Show. Ordering opens today exclusively for registered members of the www.renaultsport.co.uk community before anyone else as a special acknowledgement to their loyalty and devotion to the Renaultsport brand. Ordering officially opens to everyone on 30th May. Priced at £15,995, the Clio Renaultsport 197 features a 2.0-litre engine producing 197hp at 7,250rpm and 215 Nm of torque at 5,550, a new six-speed gearbox, resulting in 0-62mph in just 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 134mph. Full Article

Modern technologies and historical styling are said to combine in the new BMW Concept Coupe Mille Miglia. Modern technologies and historical styling are said to combine in the new BMW Concept Coupe Mille Miglia. With hints of today's BMW Z4 Coupe and one of BMW's most famous racing cars, the BMW 328, the BMW Concept Coupe Mille Miglia 2006 was unveiled in Brescia this week as this year's Mille Miglia entrants were scrutineered ahead of the event. The car benefits from an extremely lightweight chassis, which incorporates an aluminium shell 'stretched' over a lattice frame. The body is also constructed from lightweight materials, with carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) clothing the entire vehicle. Full Article

Nigel Mansell has confirmed that he will make his debut appearance at this year''s Goodwood Festival of Speed. Said Nigel: "I am delighted to be invited to Goodwood, as I have heard many good things about the event. I am really looking forward to driving some of my old cars again, and being able to put on a show for the British fans who have always supported me so brilliantly." The former Grand Prix and Indycar Champion – and the only man to win these titles in consecutive years – is expected to drive several of the F1 cars from his illustrious career, including a JPS-liveried Lotus 91 from his early career, (the last Colin Chapman GP-winning car), plus one of his famous Williams GP cars.Full Article

One day, all MPVs will be like this, but in the meantime the Mercedes-Benz R-Class creates a genre all of its own. I would have been no good in the resistance, especially if I'd been asked to go into hiding. I don't seem to have the knack. I am writing this from a place of concealment but all the driver needs to do is open the shed door, and 'Allo, 'Allo, I'm bubbled. Driver? Yes: any moment now I am expecting someone to call and collect the Mercedes-Benz R Class, but I am hoping to elude him so that he will have to call another day. Full Article

Aston Martin has unveiled the new DBS which will be driven by James Bond, in the next 007 film, Casino Royale. In true Bond style, specific details of the new DBS remain top secret, although Aston Martin Design Director, Marek Reichman, said: "This car encapsulates a link between our elegant DB9 road car and the powerful DBR9 race car. While hinting at our future design direction, the DBS also has very clear links with our heritage – it is instantly recognisable as an Aston Martin." Full Article

This weekend (5, 6, 7 May) the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli starts the European Championship at Silverstone. Featuring 50 of the all-new Ferrari F430 Challenge racing cars it promises to be an action-packed weekend as the Ferrari drivers have the first chance to see how the new car will match their driving style in a tough competitive environment with drivers from across the world. The Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli is arguably the world's most exclusive single-make racing series and was specifically for Ferrari owners who want to race. Full Article

Peugeot has announced prices for the new 207, starting from £8995 for the 3-door 1.4 8v Petrol Urban model and rising to £15345.00 for the 5-door GT HDi 110. The 207 will be available at launch as either a three or five door hatchback, but will be joined later by other body styles as the range evolves. A range of five trim levels – Urban, S, Sport, SE and GT – will be available powered by one of six engine options, all fitted with a five speed manual gearbox. The 207 also has two distinctive looks, the "Classic" look available on the Urban, S and SE models and the "Sport" look available on the Sport and GT. Full Article

Today marks the official launch date of the Volkswagen Fox, supported by a free servicing offer. From launch until 30 September 2006, Volkswagen Finance is offering all retail customers who purchase a Fox with a Solutions finance package free servicing for three years or 30,000 miles (whichever comes sooner). The free servicing package comprises lubrication service at 10,000 miles or 12 months; inspection service at 20,000 miles or 24 months; and a lubrication service at 30,000 miles or 36 months.Full Article

The new E-Class Mercedes Benz is said to be the first car in the world to offer adaptive headlamps. Developed by the lighting specialists at Hella, its new Intelligent Light System adaptive headlamps adjust to different driving and weather situations. Based on Bi-Xenon headlamps, the new system offers five different lighting functions – country, motorway, active-bend lighting, fog and cornering. The command to provide the differing light distributions is sent by the intelligent control electronics to a small electric motor.Full Article

Nissan has announced that its Infiniti luxury brand will launch across the European market during 2008. Infiniti will be distributed in Europe through a dedicated sales and service network that will start operations during 2008. Full details of the final product range, ownership experience and business structure will be disclosed closer to launch. "This is the ideal time for Infiniti to launch in Europe," said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Nissan Europe. "This timing allows us to bring the next generation of Infiniti models, including a fully competitive line-up of petrol and diesel engines, specifically designed for the demanding needs of our European premium customers," Carolin added.Full Article

While most of the Northern Hemisphere is emerging from winter, rural Arjeplog, Sweden, remains veiled in ice and snow. Its frosty climate, however, generates piles of wealth by drawing car companies who perform cold-weather testing there. Arjeplog is like Death Valley, California, which attracts car companies for the same—if opposite—reason (“Two Days in the Valley,” Sept. 6, 1999). Arjeplog, in pristine Lapland, is Sweden’s fourth- largest municipality in terms of area (the size of Belgium). Its population of around 3300 grows by more than 1000 from autumn through spring due to testing crews. Arjeplog’s reputation and wealth started coincidentally. In winter 1973 three pilots cleared a stretch of snow on Lake Hornavan to make a runway. Full Article

An exclusive look into the world of Citroen has arrived at the Beaulieu National Motor Museum. Officially opened by Lord Montagu on 27 April, the exhibition includes an extensive collection of Citroen cars through almost 90 years of the marque. The exhibition displays an array of the most famous Citroen cars including the Traction Avant, 2CV, and DS19. Director of Communications, Citroen UK, Marc Raven said: "With our reputation for innovation this exhibition gives us the opportunity to showcase to over 350,000 visitors exactly what Citroen can offer. Citroen stands for style, innovation and technology, but linked to these core values are also safety and value for money." Full Article

Honda's British-built Civic is the most reliable small family car on the road according to Warranty Direct's latest Reliability Index. Based on the cost of repairs versus the number of garage visits, the Honda Civic (2001 onwards) achieved an Index rating of 16.75, a long way ahead of second-placed car, the Rover 45, which scored 28.63. Just behind, in third place, is the Citroen Xsara with a score of 28,87. Warranty Direct spokesman, Duncan McClure Fisher said Honda's Civic was 'historically and repeatedly' the most reliable small family car. Full Article

Lexus has introduced a new diesel model to its IS range of sports saloon cars. The 220d Sport uses the same 175bhp, four-cylinder diesel unit as the regular IS 220d, but is said to deliver '…an even more rewarding driving experience'. The principle factor in achieving this is a change in the differential gear ratio in the rear axle from 2.474 to 3.200. This delivers flexible performance, enabling the driver to fully exploit the engine's torque (400Nm from 2,000rpm) through the car's new six-speed manual transmission. Full Article