Following the up! concept shown last month at Frankfurt, Volkswagen has revealed the longer wheelbase space up! at the Tokyo Motor Show. The interior features four individual seats, three of which can either be folded or removed completely to allow for up to 1,005 litres of luggage space. Access to the boot area in confined spaces is made easier through the adoption of a pair of side hinging rear doors intersected by a Volkswagen roundel. Full Article

An open-topped concept known as the 'Round Box', will be revealed by Nissan later this week. Much attention has been paid to the effects of motoring roofless, with the aim of heightening sensations of speed and exhilaration. Contributing to the shared sensation of speed are unique "road surface windows." These are small glass panels placed close to the ground on both sides of the car, providing passengers with a view of the rapidly passing road surface, without the risk of road contact. Full Article

Details of the new Nissan GT-R have been leaked ahead of the official unveiling next week at the Tokyo Motor Show. Despite a summer of rumours, teaser and spy photos, Nissan has been tight-lipped about the new performance coupe. Powered by a twin-turbo 3.8-litre V6, the GT-R can boats 434PS of torque and 473bhp. Traction comes from the four-wheel drive system, and the transmission will be a six-speed manual with paddleshifters, and a dual clutch. Performance figures indicate the GT-R will hit 60mph in 3.5 seconds and the top speed is 192mph. Full Article

Skoda has revealed the recipe for the life-sized cake car featured in its latest TV advert. Skoda enlisted the help of the country's finest chocolatiers, bakers and bricklayers to construct the scrumptious Fabia and the attention to detail was pretty impressive. From the sugar-dusted white roof down to the treacle-filled engine, the cake car is as close to the real thing as it's possible to get with sponge. Full Article

MINI hatch models are to receive technological revisions later this year, resulting in improved performance and efficiency figures. Already BMW Group's cleanest ever car, the MINI Cooper D will be capable of returning 72.4mpg, with CO2 emissions of just 104 g/km. Even the high-performance Cooper S will emit just 149 g/km - down from 164. When production of the revised models begins in August 2007, all variants will be supplied as standard with high-tech engine tweaks plus Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Start-Stop Function and Switch Point Display at no extra cost. Full Article

Nissan Motor Co.'s new Qashqai model has been awarded the maximum five-star rating for adult occupant protection from the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP). The crossover SUV was awarded 36.83 points out of a maximum 37 points by the independent crash test organisation, receiving almost full scores in Euro NCAP's strict front and side impact tests, as well as a full score for seatbelt reminders. Full Article

SEAT has released the first pictures and details of the rugged new Altea freetrack, which will make its world debut at the Barcelona Motor Show on 7th June. The Altea freetrack is the first SEAT designed to be driven off-road, and as such features Haldex-type four-wheel drive, 40 mm of extra ground clearance and 4x4-inspired body addendum over and above the Altea XL, on which the new model is based. The newcomer will only feature powerful 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines - a 200 PS T FSI and 170 PS TDI. Full Article

National Car Rental is to offer customers a more environmentally friendly driving option in the shape of the innovative Toyota Prius. The Prius is the world's most successful hybrid power vehicle and the cleanest family car on the road today, likely to make this a popular addition to the National fleet. The new fleet of vehicles are exempt from the London Congestion Charge and will initially be made available to National's corporate customers in and around the London area. Full Article

After a much publicised restyling, the Subaru Tribeca has bounced back with a five star crash rating in the US. The US Tribeca received the highest rating in the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) crash tests. The Subaru Tribeca received 5-stars in both the frontal and side- impact crash tests for both the driver and passenger seating positions. Full Article

Skoda's New Fabia will be on sale from the 17th May, with seven engines, three trim levels and new features to tempt British buyers. Prices start at £7,990 for the 1.2-litre Fabia 1 model and range up to £13,015 for the 105bhp 1.9-litre TDI PD Fabia 3. Insurance groupings start at a lowly group 1 for the former and rise to group 4 for the latter. In basic Skoda fashion, trim levels are simply named 1, 2 and 3. The Fabia 1 gets dual front and side airbags, ABS, central locking, electric front windows and an immobiliser as standard. Full Article

The new 9-3 range features new styling, inspired by the Saab Aero X concept car. With all-new bonnet, front bumper and wings, 'signature' lighting, new door panels and rear styling features, the latest generation 9-3 acquires a more focused, assertive stance. Most noticeable is the sharper frontal styling, which adopts grille and bonnet themes first seen on the Aero X concept, together with a return of Saab's classic 'clamshell' design. Full Article

An island off Papua New Guinea is using coconuts to power the local economy. Islanders living on Bougainville have developed mini-refineries to create a power source extracted from the locally grown plant. Cars, lorries and power generators can all run from the coconut oil, which has similar properties to diesel. The new fuel has generated interest from all over the world, putting Bougainville well and truly on the map. Like many remote places, the island was reliant on fuels imported from overseas at great expense. Shortages were commonplace. Full Article

Mercedes-Benz will in future also market its SLR McLaren super sports car in the form of a roadster with a top. In common with Formula 1 vehicles of today, it, too, will be made of carbon fibre, a material that will endow the vehicle with a very high degree of safety as well as extreme torsional stiffness at the same high level as the coupé version. The roof opens and closes semi-automatically in less than ten seconds, thereby combining the desire for convenience with the puristic character of the roadster. Full Article

The Peugeot 207 CC has been awarded a maximum Five Star Euro NCAP rating for occupant protection. Sharing the same platform as the Peugeot 1007 has given the 207 CC additional strength, but adding an active roll over protection system exceeds the requirements of Euro NCAP. The 207 CC borrows from the 407 the use of two impact absorption structures which distribute impact energy more efficiently in the event of a collision and also enhance reparability and pedestrian impact protection. Full Article

A new environmentally friendly vehicle company is offering alternative transport for Londoners. Future Vehicles offers a range of economical and Congestion Charge exempt vehicles aimed specifically at the city dweller. For those seeking a more traditional combustion vehicle, LPG cars are able to travel over 100 miles for the price of a gallon of petrol. Future Vehicles' Electric Mopeds have a top speed of 42mph and a range of up to 40 miles between charges. A full charge costs about 10p. Full Article

Italian coachbuilder Zagato has returned to the Villa d'Este with a world preview of the new Maserati GS Zagato. Paolo Boffi, a well-known entrepreneur in the furnishing and luxury design sector, commissioned a customised look for his Maserati GS Spyder. As a result, Zagato shaped a car with lines evoking the historical Maserati A6 G Zagato of 1954, a supercar at the top of many collector wish lists.The Maserati GS Zagato, like its celebrated ancestor, has all-aluminium bodywork and bears the Trident on the bonnet and the Z on the wing. For purists of the compact coupé, afficionados of the Milano-based brand, it is a two-volume, two-seater, hatchback with a streamlined profile and a neat tail.Full Article

The new MINI Cooper has received the highest-possible score of 5 stars in the Euro NCAP Crash Test. Good results in head-on and side-on/pillar crash tests showed risk of injury to occupants to be minimal. The new MINI Cooper achieved 13 out of 16 points for deformation behaviour in a head-on collision, and 16 from 18 points in the side-on and pillar collision. Child safety testing also produced impressive results. In the offset frontal crash test, the structure of the passenger cell was maintained. 4,000 individual welding points in the body shell optimise the MINI Cooper's structural safety. Full Article

A V12 four-seater 612 Scaglietti liveried in police colours is to be used when Ferrari's 60th Anniversary relay starts the UK leg on 18th April. The relay is part of the celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of when the first Ferrari car was produced in 1947 by Enzo Ferrari. Ferrari has provided a dedicated 612 Scaglietti HGTS liveried in police colours, which will be driven by police officers at the front of the UK tour throughout the 1500 miles from Belfast to London. All of the police officers driving the 612 are volunteers from five forces across the UK, and are driving in their free time (not as part of their normal duty) to support the tour. Full Article

A new Bollywood movie featuring a selection of private car registrations has just reached the cinemas. Number plate specialist Regtransfers was asked to assist in finding suitable personal registrations for some of the movie's main characters. Namastey London, directed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, tells the story of a young Indian girl living in England. Despite her enthusiasm for Britain and its way of life, and the fact that she already has a British boyfriend whom she intends to wed, Jazz (the girl) finds that her father has plans for her to marry a Punjabi boy. The word "Namaste" or "namastey" in the movie title is a respectful greeting, often used by Hindu and Sikh people as a polite "hello". Full Article

BMW UK has announced details of the new BMW M3 Coupé, a model that 21 years ago created an entirely new segment for super-high-performance compact cars. Originally powered by BMW's first 16-valve four-cylinder engine and subsequently by 3.0-litre and 3.2-litre powerplants, BMW M3 engines took top category honours on a record six successive occasions in the Engine of the Year awards. The new M3 Coupé engine develops 420hp at 8,300rpm and 400Nm of torque at 3,900rpm from its 3,999cc V8-power unit, and red-lines at 8,400rpm. Like its predecessor, the new V8-powered BMW M3 can go from zero to 62mph in 4.8 seconds and on to a limited top speed of 155mph. Full Article

Perodua have officially announced that the £1000 cashback offer on all Myvi Sxi and Ezi models will now stay open until the end of June. This means that a Myvi 1.3 Sxi (manual) can be purchased for £6,799 OTR and the Ezi (automatic) with the same specification for £7,499 OTR. Due to expire at the end of March, the £1000 cashback offer was originally introduced to celebrate the launch of the Myvi, Perodua's brand new 5-door supermini, in the UK last September. However, thanks to high demand for this new model, Perodua have decided to extend the offer for a second time, to ensure that customers waiting for vehicles to arrive will not miss out on this great price. Full Article

Kia Motors Corporation is staging the world premiere of its all-new KND-4 concept car at the Seoul International Motor Show. "The KND-4 is an exciting new concept which showcases Kia's passion for design and technology. It hints at the increasingly sophisticated styling and advanced technologies that will give our future products an even stronger and more distinctive road presence," commented Mr Yong-Hwan Kim, Senior Executive Vice President and COO of Kia Motors Corporation. "Over time, elements of this concept SUV will evolve into our next-generation lineup, ensuring continued popularity of our already competitive 4x4 models." Full Article

Research has uncovered a 'depreciation trap' affecting some of Britain's best-selling cars. EurotaxGlass's, the publisher of Glass's Guide has revealed that five-door variants of some family hatchback models suffer from significantly higher rates of depreciation than their three-door equivalents. For example, in the case of a Vauxhall Astra 1.6 Design, a five-door model bought last March ('06-plate) would have had an identical list price to the three-door version. Yet just one year and 12,000 miles later the trade value of the five-door model is £1,250 less than the three-door. Full Article

The only thing missing from modern day motoring is a butler in the passenger seat, according to new research by an online insurance provider. The majority of the 1001 drivers polled by www.motorinsurance.co.uk treat their cars more like their homes, concentrating on anything but the road ahead. The biggest culprit is hunger. Two thirds (66%) of people admit to eating and drinking whilst behind the wheel. More bizarrely, we treat our driving seats like a bathroom, with nearly a third of drivers (31%) shaving whilst driving, 26% changing their clothes and 18% applying make-up behind the wheel. Full Article

Fifty years after Colin Chapman unveiled the first Seven, Caterham launches the latest in a long line of pure racing-bred British sportscars, the Superlight R400. Inspired by the track, and designed for the road, the R400 packs a mighty 400bhp per tonne punch thanks to the introduction of an engine tuned in-house by Caterham Motorsport. The new powerplant of the legendary R400 is a 210bhp 2.0 litre Ford Duratec based unit, set to reach 60mph in less than 3.8 seconds. The all-alloy unit produces 152lbs ft of torque at just 5,750 rpm. Full Article

To celebrate the success of Corvette in sports car racing, and in particular the prestigious Le Mans 24-Hour event, a limited run of just 250 'Victory Edition' Corvette Coupes is being produced. Since Corvette Racing made its debut in 1999, the team has won more than 50 races, including five class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans between 2001 and 2006. The Corvette Victory Edition is priced at £51,285. The Victory Edition Corvette is based on the Corvette C6 Coupe, which shares strong links with the Corvette C6.R race car and the high performance Corvette Z06. Full Article

Toyota is introducing some feature changes for the Avensis range this spring, most notably upgrading the standard satellite navigation. The new system will feature on the T3-S, T4, T Spirit and T180 grades and change from a turn-by-turn to a full-map, touch-screen system. Planning and following your route is made easier than ever thanks to enhanced graphics displayed on a 6.5-inch LCD monitor with 32,000-colour fine resolution map. Landmark buildings are shown in 3D effect and a city and motorway lane guidance function helps ensure you move to the right lane at the right time at complex intersections. Full Article

In keeping with most typical undergraduate lifestyles and budgets, a student has created a car made from biodegradable components. Eco One however is an environmentally-friendly race car with a shell made from hemp, tyres made from potatoes and brake pads made from cashew nut shells. Created at the University of Warwick, the car also runs entirely on bio-fuels and bio-lubricants. Designed originally with a top speed of 125mph, project manager Ben Wood has 'tweaked' the original Formula Student engine and claims he can achieve up to 150mph - given a long straight and a tailwind. Full Article

Porsche has raised its stake in Volkswagen (VW) to 30.9%, triggering a takeover bid as required by German law. Contrary to expectations however, Porsche was quick to clarify it did not want to take a majority stake in Volkswagen. The law in Germany states that any holdings above 30% require a takeover bid be initiated. The German sportscar maker would therefore offer only the minimum price required by law.Wendelin Wiedeking, CEO of Porsche, said the move was designed to protect his company from hedge funds, which could dismantle Volkswagen. Full Article

After 12 months of highly secretive development, the Caparo T1, which looks and performs like a Formula One car, will be launched in the summer with a new and more powerful engine than previously mooted. The higher specification is reflected in a launch price for the T1 of £180,000 plus taxes. The bespoke lightweight, all aluminium V8 has a higher capacity of 3.5 litres and is now normally aspirated. The engine has a mass of less than 100kgs and can produce power outputs of up to 200bhp-per-litre. Full Article

Fiat has offered registered users a sneaky peek at the new Fiat 500, a day earlier than anticipated. Members registered with the promotional website fiat500.com are able to view an animated video featuring the hotly anticipated new supermini. The short animation enables users to view the inside and out of the new Fiat 500 from various angles. The Italian carmaker is set to release full details about the new car on Thursday 22nd March.Full Article

Visitors to the Eden Project's Sexy Green Car Show will see vehicles spanning Ford's rich biofuel heritage - a 1920s Ford Model T, the latest Ford Focus flexifuel vehicles and a Formula Ford racing car. All of these can be driven on bioethanol, a renewable transport fuel which is produced from UK-grown crops and which offers technologically the easiest move towards carbon neutral motoring. In 1916 Ford Motor Company's visionary founder Henry Ford said: "All the world is waiting for a substitute for petrol. The day is not far distant when, for every one of those barrels of petrol, a barrel of ethanol must be substituted." Full Article

Despite commercial deployment being at least two decades away, hydrogen powered vehicles are already having an impact on today's automobile market. This is one of the conclusions of a report published this week by Cambridge, UK based analysts CarbonFree. The report highlights examples of automobile manufacturers and energy companies experimenting with hydrogen powered automobiles to add a shade of green to their existing brands. However, CarbonFree believes it would be difficult for incumbent players to commercialise these next generation vehicles without cannibalising revenue from existing products. Full Article

Daihatsu's cute Copen sports car has become more potent with a new 1.3 litre engine. The popular roadster also benefits from higher gearing to enhance refinement and a sharp new price of only £10,995 on-the-road. Originally conceived for the Japanese Kei-car market only, the UK's importer, Daihatsu Vehicle Distributors Limited, persuaded the factory to re-engineer the tiny 660 cc turbo petrol engine to comply with European Whole Vehicle Type Approval. Full Article

Tickets are now available for the Ferrari Racing Days spectacular at Silverstone from 8-9-10 June 2007. The meet will feature the UK round of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli with over 30 equally matched Ferrari F430 Challenge cars jostling for position on one of the fastest F1 Grand Prix circuits. The ultra-exclusive FXX which will also be making its only official UK appearance. Ferrari Racing Days will be an action-packed weekend of Ferrari festivities which will appeal to Ferrari clients and the ever-faithful Tifosi. Full Article

BMW engineers have used two decades of M3 experience to create the new M3 Concept Car. The concept study presented to the public for the first time at the 77th International Motor Show in Geneva gives a first impression of what a future BMW M3 might look like. The BMW M3 Concept Car, with its Chrome Shadow exterior finish characteristic of previous BMW concept studies, is a derivative of the new 3 Series Coupé. However, few components are adopted directly from the 'standard' model. Just the headlights, rear light clusters, the two doors and the boot lid are carried over.Full Article

Citroën has teamed up with the world famous Espera Sbarro School to develop the remarkable Cruise Crosser all-terrain concept car. A vehicle to tackle the roughest possible road and weather conditions, the Cruise Crosser will be unveiled on the Espera Sbarro stand at this year's Geneva Motor Show. Based on Citroën's first SUV, the C-Crosser, that will also make its world debut at Geneva, prior to going on sale later this year, this new concept features three axles and six wheels to provide outstanding traction to tackle even the harshest of off-road conditions.The Cruise Crosser invokes the spirit of the early 1900s when Andre Citroën, Full Article

Tesco has promised to pay for repairs to cars damaged by a batch of faulty petrol sold in stores across parts of the south-east of England. The supermarket chain has printed full-page apologies in several newspapers, saying stores have been refuelled with a "fresh, clean supply". Its advert adds: "More to the point, we'd like to pay for the repairs." Tests on samples of unleaded fuel from a storage facility in Essex found it to be contaminated with silicon.The advertisement appears in a number of papers under the headline: "Tesco petrol. It's back to normal and we're sorry." It carries a telephone number - 0800 028 6428 - for customers to obtain further information and advice. Full Article

With 326PS and 760 Nm of torque, the Audi Q7 is the most powerful diesel SUV on the world market. A state-of-the-art eight-cylinder engine with common rail fuel injection and Piezo injectors demonstrates outstanding efficiency, as the 4.2 TDI achieves a combined fuel economy figure of 25.4mpg. Under the bonnet of the new Audi Q7 4.2 TDI is the most powerful diesel engine the brand has to offer. The Audi Q7 accelerates from standstill to 62mph in 6.4 seconds and has a top speed of 146mph. Audi's "adaptive air suspension" is standard on this most powerful of diesels - it unites dynamic handling with the ride comfort of the luxury class. Full Article

The Gallardo Superleggera, to be launched at the 2007 Geneva motor show, presents an uncompromisingly high-performance sports car. Thanks to increased power (an additional 10 hp) and a 100 kg reduction in weight, the new range-leading Gallardo Superleggera is even more dynamic than the already very sporty Gallardo. The Superleggera also has the fastest acceleration in its class. It needs only 3.8 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph); 0.2 seconds less than the basic model, and boasting speed and grit under various driving conditions. Full Article

The Fiat Bravo, the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Legend have all been awarded the maximum five star rating for adult occupant protection. The latest Euro NCAP figures have yet to be released in full, only detailing five vehicle results in the first round. The Honda CR-V and the Mitsubishi Outlander were both awarded four stars for adult occupant protection. It seems seat belts continue to be one of the most effective ways of increasing the protection provided to car occupants. Both Hondas have scored maximum points for their Seat Belt Reminder (SBR) systems which cover front and rear seats. Full Article

Volkswagen's new Golf Estate, combining sharp dynamics with space and versatility, is set to make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show on 6 March. With the largest loadspace of any Golf to date the new estate extends the versatility of the Golf range. The tailgate section is designed to maximise bootspace without compromising style and intersects a set of bold new rear lights. Finishing off the look are a set of roof rails and a subtle aerodynamic spoiler mounted on the trailing edge of the rear window. The expanded loadspace is accessed through a wide,Full Article

Vauxhall has announced the arrival of a new Aussie musclecar - the VXR8 - and it's more powerful than even the legendary Monaro. The dramatic-looking new saloon is powered by the same 6.0-litre V8 as the outgoing Monaro VXR, but revisions to the engine have made it even more efficient. It now develops 420PS and 550Nm of torque, giving it enough grunt to sprint from 0-60mph in just 4.9 seconds. No other supercar offers this sort of power for the VXR8's price. Full Article

Kia's exciting all-new ex_cee'd cabrio concept car will be premiered at the 77th Salon de l'Automobiles in Geneva. The styling of the eagerly anticipated ex_cee'd cabrio is the work of Peter Schreyer, Kia's new Chief Design Officer, and hints at the future direction Kia vehicles could be taking under his guidance. Based on the new three-door cee'd hatchback, due to go into production at the Zilina factory in Slovakia from December, the ex_cee'd shares the same platform, but features all-new exterior panels and a powered folding fabric roof. Full Article

At a recent vehicle auction in the USA, one of the world's most exclusive and powerful vehicles went under the hammer. The 1966, 800bhp, Shelby Cobra 427 'Super Snake' was once part of Carroll Shelby's personal collection and sold for an astounding $5.5 million (£2.8 million), making it one of the most expensive vehicles ever sold at auction. With such a prized car on offer. The auctioneers called on Meguiar's for it to undergo extensive detailing using the company's latest So1o 'One Liquid' System. However, just a week prior to the sale the car's owner, Harley Cluxton III, Full Article

Leading carmakers from around the globe are gearing up to exhibit at the world's first-ever 'green' car show at the Eden Project in Cornwall. The Eden Project, home to the biggest greenhouses on earth, will be 'bedded in' with impressive eco-friendly machines for The Sexy Green Car Show from March 30 to April 15 2007. The planet's premier eco-car show, sponsored by Co-operative Insurance, is attracting carmakers eager to showcase the very latest in 'green' driving, alongside innovators in car design, transport leaders and fuel manufacturers. Full Article

To celebrate the fourth and final year of one of the UK's best-loved diesel pocket rockets, Skoda has produced 1,000 Special Edition vRS hatches. The car features individually numbered black leather seats, sporty red callipers and Race Blue metallic paint - the only colour available and the first time it's been offered on a Fabia. In addition to this, the Special Edition also benefits from cruise control, 'sunset' glass and a six-disc CD changer. You can even choose the number you want on your seats (001-1,000). However, this is on a first come first served basis. Prices for the limited run start at £12,990 (standard vRS' cost £12,375). Nearly 11,000 Fabia vRS' have been sold in the UK since the sporty model's introduction back in 2003. Now in its final year, the frugal yet feisty favourite will be phased out during 2007. Full Article

The new Roadster is available to order now with aluminium and steel hybrid construction, magnetic ride and new fully automatic roof for Audi's second generation TT. The car is the successor to the acclaimed TT Roadster, which made its international debut in 1999 and was launched in the UK in 2000. There are six-speed manual and six-speed S tronic transmissions available for both engine versions. Customers will benefit from the new fully automatic 'hands-free' roof operation with improved sound insulation, and an optional magnetic ride system for optimum handling composure. A retractable spoiler maintains downforce to maximise stability. The successor to the still sought-after original TT Roadster is now available to order with prices starting from £26,915 OTR, and will arrive with its first UK customers in April.Full Article

Lexus is presenting the European premiere of its new F-marque at the Geneva motor show, with the new IS-F sports saloon and LF-A supercar concept taking centre stage. The Lexus F designation identifies vehicles specifically designed and engineered for ultra-high performance and exceptional sports driving dynamics. F-badged models further emphasise Lexus's pursuit of perfection and its aim to continuously push the limits of automobile engineering. The IS-F is powered by a sports-tuned 5.0-litre V8 that delivers more than 400 DIN hp and 500 Nm of torque. Acceleration from rest to 62mph takes 4.9 seconds and top speed is a governed 168mph. Full Article

Mihai Panaitescu, a Romanian design student studying in Turin, has created the Flux, the winning project in the fourth on-line Peugeot Design Competition. The runners up in second and third places were Njooy (Wesley Saikawa from Brazil - aged 27) and Allscape (Gustavo Ferrero from Venezuela - aged 29). At 20 years old, the youngest ever winner of the Peugeot Design Competition, Mihai submitted a project that fits in perfectly with its environment. The Flux is a fun vehicle that suits a variety of lifestyles.Flux is also a hi-tech vehicle with a non-polluting fuel cell engine, in-car communication facilities and high-performance lighting, based on LED technology. Full Article

Ford has released the first images of the all-new Mondeo ahead of its world debut at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show. During its life, the Mondeo has appeared every year in the nation's top 10 favourite cars. A total of over four million Mondeo models have been built at the Genk plant since launch in 1993 with more than 1.5 million of those being sold in the UK. "The exciting new Mondeo is very important to us", said Roelant de Waard, Ford of Britain's Chairman and Managing Director. "It's probably the most elegant car we've ever launched, and it's certainly the most technologically-advanced. Like the S-MAX, Full Article

At the heart of the Peugeot stand in Geneva will be a car that captures the most significant attributes of the forthcoming SW model. The 207 SW Outdoor Concept features a panoramic glass roof, split-opening rear hatch, huge modularity and spacious qualities - but as a Concept car it has a distinctive and dynamic 'outdoor' styling character. The specification includes tough exterior materials, bluish chrome detailing, light grey leather and parachute type fabric, enhanced with fluorescent orange ribbing to protect the load space area.Also on display will be the new 4007, presented for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show. Full Article

Joining a 1929 Grand Prix Alfa Romeo on the front of the grid for H&H's classic car sale on March 1 sale at Cheltenham is an ex-Jim Clark Lotus 25. Clark drove the 1962 single-seater, Chassis No.R5, to victory in the Pau and Imola Grands Prix of 1963, en route to his first World Championship. His team-mate Trevor Taylor then took sixth position in the Monaco GP before crashing R5 heavily in the ensuing Belgian event. Cedric Selzer, who had been Clark's Lotus mechanic throughout 1963, then rebuilt it in the '80s. This splendid historic racecar carries an estimate of £300,000-400,000.Another recent consignment is a 1935 1.5-litre Aston Martin MKII. Full Article

A small number of desirable Alfa 147 Collezione models have just become available in the UK. The price includes metallic paint, leather interior and unique 17 inch spoked alloy wheels. With prices from £13,950, this limited edition version of the Alfa 147 (only 500 examples are coming to the UK), offers a choice of three distinctive metallic paint and leather colour combinations. On board this eye-catching model, drivers will enjoy the benefits of steering wheel mounted controls for the CD player; and the vehicle is equipped as standard with manual climate control, an alarm system, and six airbags, along with ABS anti-lock brakes with EBD, and ASR traction control. Full Article

Honda will display its continued commitment to hybrid car technology with the unveiling of a hybrid sports car at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The Small Hybrid Sports Concept is a sports car that features advanced hybrid technology – proving stylish design and driving enjoyment can be combined with low environmental impact. It was designed by Honda R&D Europe, based in Offenbach, Germany. The move comes after Toyota recently revealed a similar car, the FT-HS sports hybrid, at NAIAS in Detroit.Further demonstrating its confidence in hybrid cars, Honda (UK) has also announced that it plans to sell more than three times as many Civic Hybrids this year than in 2006. Full Article

As part of the new Toyota retail concept store launched at Bluewater Shopping Centre, visitors can see a full sized car rotating in mid-air. Musion Systems, the projection technology behind the seminal video holograms of Sir Richard Branson, Madonna and virtual band Gorillaz, this week completed installation of the largest virtual 3D video hologram ever to appear in a single unit retail outlet. The projection is of a full size Toyota Auris family car spinning midair, complete with a life size human test driver. Musion Eyeliner is a new and unique high definition video projection system allowing spectacular freeform 3-dimensional moving images to appear within a live stage setting. Full Article

Glamorous 'Hips-Don't-Lie' pop star, Shakira, has helped SEAT design a unique Leon Cupra as a competition prize, in order to raise money for her own charity. At a press conference in Berlin at the weekend – officially kicking off her European tour – SEAT and Shakira revealed the special Cupra that will benefit the star's charity, the Fundación Pies Descalzos (Bare Feet Foundation). The car, aptly named the Leon Pies Descalzos, is immediately identifiable by its striking lilac metallic paint, a colour also highlighted on several details inside.SEAT announced its partnership with Shakira at the end of last year, a co-operation which involves supporting her European Tour, as well as her charity work. 'The support for Pies Descalzos is very welcome,' said Shakira. Full Article

Nanjing Automobile Corporation has announced that production of MG cars is to resume at the Longbridge plant in the West Midlands, UK. The Chinese automaker, which purchased certain assets of the former MG Rover Group, will realise plans to "revive, maintain and develop MG," with the manufacture of the MG TF 2-seater sports car for retail in both the UK and China. Since signing the 33-year lease in 2005, NAC MG has moved the majority of the original MG Rover assembly equipment to its all-new plant located in the New Technology Economic Development Zone in Pukou, Nanjing Province, China. The newly established manufacturing line in Nanjing will be responsible for much of the assembly process, but all right-hand drive MG TF roadster customer orders will be subject to final assembly in the revived Longbridge plant,Full Article

Motoring legend Quentin Willson paid a visit to the Motor Show at a shopping centre in Milton Keynes. Between 16 – 21 January 2007, motor dealers showcased the latest models and developments in their industry, at thecentre:mk's Middleton Hall, an indoor events area. More than 50 new cars were represented at the Motor Show, which has now become a twice-yearly event for the city. With a massive display of quality and prestige cars in one venue, customers were able to browse the models at their own leisure, with an opportunity to find out more or arrange test drives. The event spilled out into the surrounding malls and was free of charge.Quentin Wilson said "This is a great, slick, glossy, clever event that people find really welcoming, not at all intimidating; Full Article

Nissan's new UK designed, engineered and built QASHQAI crossover is now available for ordering at the company's dealers with deliveries due to start March 1. There's a choice of 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol engines, as well as new 1.5 litre and 2.0 litre dCi diesel units. The entry level Visia 1.6 comes in at £13,499 and features Bluetooth phone integration, air conditioning, 16" alloy wheels and front / rear electric windows. Safety is enhanced on the more powerful 2.0 litre models which also have ESP as standard. To tackle any potentially hazardous driving conditions that may come your way, a four-wheel drive option is available.This switchable ALL-MODE 4x4 system, first featured on the X-TRAIL, can be added for £1600 with 2.0-litre engines only.Full Article

Chrysler Group has unveiled two new special editions for spring 2007 – the PT Cruiser 'Pacific Coast Highway' and the Grand Voyager 'Signature' models. The 'Pacific Coast Highway' model features special Ocean Blue metallic paint and a matching interior. Based on the standard PT Cruiser Touring model, it adds cruise control, leather steering wheel and chrome gear knob plus a six-disc CD/radio. The exterior styling has been enhanced with 17" alloy wheels, lowered suspension, chrome bodyside mouldings and tailpipe and a body colour roof spoiler. The PT Cruiser 'Pacific Coast Highway' is available with a 2.4-litre petrol engine and manual or automatic transmission or as a manual-only 2.2-litre CRD diesel version. The special edition model is priced at £15,550 for the 2.4-litre manual, Full Article

The first 70 Maserati Quattroporte Automatics have left Modena for the European markets. Maserati dealerships in France, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Belgium, as well as those in Italy, will be the first to take delivery. Italian dealer representatives opted to personally take delivery of the vehicles from Modena. A week from the presentation at the Detroit Motorshow, the new Quattroporte Automatic took pride of place at Modena's prestigious Military Academy. The vehicles then wound their way through the streets of Modena to Piazza Grande where Chief Executive Roberto Ronchi symbolically handed over the keys of the cars to the European dealer representatives. Full Article

Auris is a new name for an all-new Toyota, a family hatchback designed, developed and engineered for the European market. The best selling models will be built in Europe too, with the most popular models coming from Toyota's Burnaston factory near Derby. The Auris is set to transform Toyota's profile in one of the most significant and competitive market sectors. Built on a new platform, the Auris is available in three and five-door body styles and with a choice of two petrol and three diesel engines, three transmissions and four model grades.Sales start on 1 February, with T180 and three-door models joining the line-up from 1 April. Full Article

The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class makes its world debut today with the release of first photographs and information. Mercedes-Benz offers three individual model lines with the emphasis on a balance of comfort and an exhilarating driving experience: SE, ELEGANCE or SPORT. The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class is the first car in its market segment to be awarded an Environmental Certificate, for its environmentally focussed development. This highlights advances over the entire vehicle lifecycle in areas such as fuel consumption, exhaust emissions and selection of materials used in its design and construction. Full Article

New analysis by EurotaxGlass's indicates that negative press about prestige-brand SUVs has had a negligible impact on the registrations and residual values. Such vehicles are often referred to as 'Chelsea Tractors' by opponents. "Dealerships have not been reporting any meaningful drop-off in demand for prestige SUVs, with sales of new and used examples currently in line with what we saw at the same point last year," explains Richard Crosthwaite, Prestige Car Editor at EurotaxGlass's. "Given the investment required to purchase and run this type of vehicle, the scale of the proposed increases in Congestion Charge penalties and the new road fund duty are unlikely to impact sales significantly. Full Article

A new flagship 'Executive' model has been added to the all-new Volvo S80 saloon range. The all new Volvo S80 offers distinctive Scandinavian design, innovative technology and high levels of spaciousness and comfort. The S80 Executive enhances this further with a range of features including bespoke Executive badging, chrome accents, unique 18in alloy wheels, a refrigerator in the rear, walnut wood inlays, Dynaudio Premium Sound, Personal Car Communicator with Keyless Drive, RTI and heated front and rear seats. There are three powerful engines available for the Volvo S80 Executive, the D5, 3.2 (front wheel drive or All Wheel Drive) and V8 AWD, all with six-speed Geartronic transmission as standard. Full Article

The Audi brand has exceeded its past worldwide sales totals for the eleventh year running, prompting speculation that it is set to become the world's most successful premium car brand by 2015. Globally, 905,100 vehicles were delivered to customers in 2006, up from 829,109 in 2005, representing an increase of 9.2 percent, or almost 76,000 cars. A total of 41 markets set new sales records, including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, China and the USA. Audi UK recorded a 5.7 percent increase, reaching a new peak of 86,003 cars, up from 82,496 in 2005 - the sixth year in succession in which sales have risen.The USA remains the largest Audi export market, Full Article

General Motors rounded off a week of exciting concept launches by revealing the most ordinary car it's shown all week – but arguably the most significant. Already the Chevrolet Malibu is being spoken of as the first serious GM competition to the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, the cars that dominates the US saloon car market. GM has consistently failed to match these Japanese models in sales terms; indeed not since the heyday of the Ford Taurus in the early 1990s has a 'Big Three' model mounted a serious challenge.Chevrolet is on a roll in the US – rebuilt from the ground up with small cars developed by GM-Daewoo in Korea and retro sports models such as Corvette and Camaro. Full Article

Subaru's work with electric vehicles has attracted a top award from Japan's Minister of the Environment for helping prevent global warming. Parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, received the '2006 Commendation For Global Warming Prevention Activity' award. This is for developing the Subaru R1e electric vehicle in conjunction with Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc (TEPCO) and NEC Lamilion Energy, Ltd. FHI was commended in the technological development and commercialisation category for the jointly-developed Subaru R1e electric vehicle and its high-speed charger. Subaru's 2+2 city car is light, efficient and ideal for metropolitan use with a battery which can be recharged in 15 minutes. Full Article

Mercedes-Benz is continuing its U.S. diesel initiative with the presentation of another concept vehicle at this year's Detroit Auto Show. With its powerful V8 diesel engine, which develops 290 hp and a massive 700 Nm (515 lb-ft) of torque, the "Vision GL420 BLUETEC" offers high performance, yet complies with the stringent U.S. "BIN 5" emissions standard of 9.8 litres per hundred kilometres (24 mpg) and therefore has a range of up to 600 miles on a full tank. These figures, say Mercedes,"underline that BLUETEC vehicles are ideally suited to the American market where strong customer demand (especially in the SUV segment) for vehicles with torquey, Full Article

Toyota is set to reveal the FT-HS hybrid sports concept at the 2007 North American International Auto Show. The FT-HS concept was a joint undertaking of CALTY, Toyota's North American-based, research and design centre located in Newport Beach, California, and Toyota's California-based Advanced Product Strategy Group. "Drivers today are not satisfied with cars that are simply fast," said Kevin Hunter, vice president, CALTY Design Research. "In addition to driving enjoyment, today's drivers are concerned about safety, ecology and social responsibility." The FT-HS incorporates hybrid capability while maintaining sports car essentials, such as a sleek profile, Full Article

Porsche has again set a new sales record in North America in the 2006 calendar year. With 36,095 vehicles delivered, the manufacturer of sporty, premium vehicles beat its record for the previous year (33,859 units) by seven percent. This growth was driven by the sports cars. This many 911 model series vehicles have never been sold before in the US and Canada in a calendar year: the new 911 Turbo, which was launched on the North American market in July 2006, also contributed 1,243 units to the 19% increase to a total of 12,702 deliveries. However, the highest growth rates were recorded for the Boxster model series with growth of 46% to 12,163; 7,313 of these units were Cayman models. Full Article

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will unveil its new Phantom Drophead Coupé at the Detroit Motor Show on Sunday 7 January. The two-door, four-seat convertible uses the lightweight rigidity of an all-aluminium spaceframe, and marries modern technology to a sleek, streamlined convertible body. Its exterior lines echo the styling of the great Rolls-Royce cars: a long bonnet, large-diameter wheels, short front and long rear overhangs and the quintessential dynamic line descending along its flanks. Inside, the design emphasises the airy openness of top-down motoring, embracing the elements and creating a luxurious social environment. Full Article

Pictures of the new C-XF have been revealed on various websites ahead of their 'official' release by Jaguar. We understand the 'C' is for Concept and so far, the only official image was a teaser of the rear light and shoulder detail which suggested a four-door coupe-style body. We now see this flowing along deep flanks to a more aggressive, bluff front end than that on the XK Coupe. Door handles have been cleverly concealed within the B- and C-pillars.The slick interior is highlighted with blue neon detailing while the dials in the binnacle hint at a retro theme.The shallow side windows and low roofline suggest rear headroom may be at a premium but this is unlikely to put off potential buyers. Full Article

Noted American film director, producer and screenwriter George Lucas, an avowed high-performance car aficionado, could certainly buy any car on the planet. Interesting then that he chose a black-on-black Mosler MT900S from Mosler Automotive – the kind of car you imagine Darth Vader would drive. In mid-December at his ranch in San Rafael, California, Lucas, who created the epic Star Wars saga, took delivery of the first street-legal production Mosler MT900S. He first became interested in the Mosler six months ago when his 13-year-old son brought a car magazine into his office.The boy was fascinated by the car and it caught Lucas' eye as well.Full Article

BMW's new 3 Series Convertible makes its world debut at the 100th North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit on 7 January 2007. The Convertible is differentiated in design at the front, back and side from the Saloon and Touring variants with its visually elongated lines and wide stance. The new Convertible also features the first electronically-operated folding hard-top roof offered by BMW and is the world's first car to be offered with SunReflective seat cooling leather. Special pigments embedded into the leather help reflect infra-red radiation ensuring treated areas that are exposed to sunlight for a prolonged period can remain up to 20 degrees cooler compared to untreated leather. Full Article

A luxury convertible design study from Stuttgart has resulted in the Concept Ocean Drive. Apart from the four doors, the outward distinguishing marks of the concept car include a very large and upright radiator grille, LED headlamps and taillights, two-tone paintwork and a striking interplay between taut lines and large, restful surfaces. This lends the one-off special an air of superiority, power, elegance and forward-flowing energy. The long side-window opening which, typically of a convertible, is not interrupted by a B-pillar or window frames, ensures continuity between the exterior and the interior, even when the top is up.Full Article

Vauxhall have come up with a novel way to insure a new Corsa. In a new type of deal for the motor industry, Vauxhall is offering buyers three years' fully comprehensive insurance for a one-off payment of just £399. The package is available to all drivers aged between 21-80 on the best-selling Club models, or 23-80 on the sportier SXi variants of the restyled hatchback. The pioneering scheme could mean significant savings, especially for younger drivers who could save more than £2,800 over a three year period, based on quotes obtained from a leading insurer. Full Article

As much as £50m of government aid set aside to help MG Rover workers after the collapse of the UK car firm has not been used, official estimates show. Rover collapsed in April of last year with the loss of 5,000 jobs. The government put aside £175.6m to help workers, staff of supply firms and other people affected by the bankruptcy of the Birmingham-based carmaker. Industry Minister Margaret Hodge said that the impact on suppliers had not been as severe as first thought. Rover collapsed in April of last year with the loss of 5,000 jobs. In a written Commons answer, Ms Hodge said: "In the event, the impact on MG Rover's suppliers and their workforce was not as severe as had been feared and the full amount set aside was not required. Full Article

Kia has released a design sketch of its newest concept car – the Kue. The Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) will be revealed at the upcoming North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. With distinctly grand SUV styling, the Kue majors on greater driving dynamics and performance, with Kia's focus very much about an exciting driving experience. The Kue is based around a dynamically focused monocoque chassis and features bold seven-spoke 22-inch alloy wheels. Size wise, the Kue measures up with an overall length of 4,720mm and a 2,900mm wheelbase. This compares to 4,810mm and 2,890mm for Sedona and 4,590 and 2,710 for Sorento.Full Article

The Peninsula Hong Kong has today unveiled a fleet of 14 new Rolls-Royce Phantoms – the largest single order ever for this car. Each of the special Extended Wheelbase models has a host of bespoke features and is finished in a unique colour named Peninsula Green. Ian Robertson, Chairman and Chief Executive of Rolls-Royce, presented the keys for all 14 cars to The Honourable Sir Michael Kadoorie, Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Limited at a ceremony today. The Peninsula has used Rolls-Royce cars exclusively for its guests, since 1970 – except for one short interlude – and this latest purchase is the eighth record-breaking order for the marque. Full Article

Renault has added a hint of summer to winter motoring with the launch of its revised 2007 Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet range. For 2007 the softtop will benefit from no price increases, more generous equipment levels on every model and a new Dynamique S special edition. For the year to the end of October, Mégane has outsold the Vauxhall Astra, Peugeot 307 CC and VW Eos, selling double that of the Astra for example. Renault has now upgraded the standard equipment levels on every version of the Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet, as well as adding a new Dynamique S special edition to tempt retail buyers. Prices remain unchanged. Full Article

Planet 4x4 magazine has announced the results of its 2006 4x4 Awards. In first place, the Range Rover TdV8 Vogue was voted as the best off-roader in a competitive market sector. The January 2007 issue contains the full story of a landmark triumph for British manufacturing, with Land Rover taking the top three places – and being named 4x4 Manufacturer of 2006. The Land Rover Discovery 2.7 TdV6 HSE came runner up, followed by the Range Rover Sport Supercharged HSE. In the budget category, Korea's Kia Sportage 2.0 CRDi XS made the top spot. Full Article

A bold look for the next generation Honda Accord Coupe will be unveiled at Detroit's North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), in January. The Accord Coupe Concept's exterior styling and sporty design features provide an early indication to the direction the next Accord will take. The reveal of the concept car will not impact the marketing of Accord in the UK, and the current model will continue to be sold throughout 2007. The display of the Accord Coupe Concept will mark the first time an Accord concept has appeared at a major car show. Full Article

A replacement for Peugeot's successful 206 CC is coming in early 2007. The Peugeot 207 CC comes in two trim levels, is powered by two petrol engines and one HDi diesel and features a new fully automatic electric folding roof. It was in the 1930s that Peugeot started the concept of the Coupé Cabriolet, with the 401, 601 and 402 "Eclipse". This concept was to become one of Peugeot's trademark features and today's cars, the 206 and 307 CC have made the marque the No1 seller of Coupé Cabriolets, with today world wide sales of more than 500,000 vehicles, since 2001. All the engine variants are combined with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Full Article

Ford is previewing a new look for the Ford C-MAX at this year's Bologna Motor Show. The new Ford C-MAX benefits from a refined new front-end design including elements of the company's "kinetic design" form language, plus an updated interior and a host of new features. The new Ford C-MAX will sit alongside the Ford S-MAX, voted Car of the Year 2007, to offer two sporty multi-activity vehicles. "Although we originally launched this vehicle as the Ford Focus C-MAX, we have chosen to give the freshened model its own identity, similar to the S-MAX", explains Stephen Odell, Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Service for Ford of Europe. Full Article

A fully functional Honda FCX Concept vehicle went on display to the general public at the current Los Angeles Auto Show. Seen in public for the first time, the FCX Concept features a newly developed compact, high-efficiency Honda FC Stack as well as a low-floor, low-riding, short-nose body. The FCX Concept is equipped with a V Flow fuel cell platform consisting of a compact, high-efficiency fuel cell stack arranged in an innovative centre-tunnel layout. The drive motor has been positioned coaxially with the gearbox for a more compact design, with output increased by 15kW. Overall, the power plant is about 180kg lighter than that of the current FCX and about 40% smaller in volume. Full Article

Volkswagen has unveiled its compact 4x4, the Concept Tiguan, at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The carmaker also announced that the first examples of the SUV will be delivered to customers by the end of next year. The first news of the Tiguan's development came with the debut of Concept A in Berlin earlier this year. The naming of the model followed in July, decided by the result of a poll of more than 350,000 readers of magazines of the AutoBild group. This latest development in Los Angeles takes the Tiguan one step closer to production and hints strongly at how the final version could look. Klaus Bischoff, who was responsible for the exterior design of the car said: 'It was very important for us to have the car appear powerful and muscular. For us that was a higher priority than anything else. Full Article

Jaguar Cars today announces that a new sports saloon, the Jaguar XF, will make its public debut next autumn. Positioned in the luxury mid-size segment, the new Jaguar XF will replace the S-TYPE saloon in the Jaguar model line-up. Designed and developed at Jaguar's Product Development Centre at Whitley in Coventry, UK, the new Jaguar XF will be built at Jaguar's Advanced Manufacturing Centre at Castle Bromwich in Birmingham, UK. "The Jaguar XF is a new sports saloon that will challenge people to think again about Jaguar as daring and different," commented Bibiana Boerio, Managing Director of Jaguar Cars. "Our new XK sports car has been very well-received and is enjoying great success. Full Article

After 6 years and 639,000 units, the last Nissan Almera is set to roll off the production line in Sunderland. Launched in January 2000, Almera production created 800 new jobs at the Sunderland plant and NMUK became a three model plant. In the first year of production, more than 115,000 units were built and over its lifetime, the Almera has been exported to more than 45 countries around the world. Vice President of Manufacturing at NMUK Trevor Mann commented: "Since its launch, the Almera has been very important in supporting Nissan's sales targets right across Europe and further afield, most recently in Russia where it has proved extremely popular. Full Article

The 200,000th Boxster has just rolled off the production line at Porsche partner factory Valmet Automotive in Uusikaupunki in Finland. To celebrate this production milestone a landmark vehicle, a meteor grey metallic Boxster S, is being delivered to a customer in the US. Michael Macht, Executive Vice President Production and Logistics, said: "Ten years ago, no one would have believed what a huge success this Porsche mid-range roadster has become. Thanks to our flexible production system, we can manufacture the Boxster model series at both our main plant in Zuffenhausen and at Valmet.Today's milestone will especially inspire employees at both plants to continue the success story that is the Boxster." Full Article

Proton's 4-door Impian saloon has been refreshed and updated this winter having new styling both inside and out, whilst retaining many of the standard features. The Impian has a re-designed front grille and back end and a new, innovative rear light cluster. The look is completed with new alloy wheels. Customers can choose between a selection of colours – a solid Impian Red and metallic shades including brand new Carbon Black, Aurum and Sterling Silver.A brand new interior, designed to complement the exterior, gives the Impian a new dashboard fascia with wood trim and contemporary chrome dials on GSX models, which also have full leather seats, headrests and door trim inserts, plus a brand new wood grain and leather steering wheel. Full Article

The Saab 9-5 2.3t BioPower goes on sale in the UK next week with on-the-road (OTR) prices starting at £23,270. BioPower technology allows Saab cars to combine the benefits of 'going green' through substantially cutting fossil CO2 emissions, with the enjoyment of even sportier driving performance. A further practical advantage of the BioPower formula allows customers to run on petrol and/or bioethanol E85 fuel in any proportion without any adjustment needed by the driver. Bioethanol fuel is produced commercially from agricultural crops, such as corn, grain, sugar beet and sugar cane. Full Article

Haynes have published a new manual for the defunct Rover 75 and MG ZT for 1999-2006 models. When MG Rover ceased production many owners of MG Rover models faced an uncertain future for maintenance and servicing. This was particularly true of the Rover 75 and MG ZT models – of which over 100,000 had been sold in the UK alone. Consequently many owners contacted Haynes to see if there was an Owners Workshop Manual covering these cars. Given the unprecedented level of interest from owners and the unfortunate demise of MG Rover, Haynes brought forward publication of this title to earlier than planned. Full Article

Eight classic Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts dating back to the early part of the 20th Century will lead a new Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended Wheelbase at this year's Lord Mayor's Show. It will be the first time that this spectacular line-up will have been seen anywhere in the world. Jointly organised by the 20-Ghost Club, Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited, each car has a remarkable story. A 1914 H. J.Mulliner Tourer, originally owned by His Grace the Duke of Westminster, was one of several Silver Ghosts used in the First World War as a scout car and subsequently for the King's Messenger Service. Full Article

SEAT has revealed the UK price for their eagerly awaited hot hatch, the new Leon Cupra. SEAT's most powerful model to date, the new Leon Cupra can sprint from rest to 62 mph in 6.4 seconds, before hitting a maximum speed of 153mph – performance worthy of the Leon Touring Car, which helped SEAT secure the BTCC Manufacturers' Trophy 2006. The new model offers bixenon headlights with AFS (Adaptive Front lighting System), six airbags, ESP (Electronic Stability Programme), dual zone climate control, MP3-compatible CD player with AUX IN for directly connecting, for example, an iPod, plus front and rear electric windows. Full Article

Volvo revealed three highly customised Volvo C30 SportsCoupes at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) tradeshow in Las Vegas, USA. Volvo Cars North America, in conjunction with three aftermarket tuning companies, commissioned three highly modified, high performance versions of the new Volvo C30 SportsCoupe. Built purely as design concepts and prototypes, each tuning company took a decidedly individual approach to creating its ultimate Volvo C30. Full Article

Responding to the needs of some exacting customers, Bristol Cars have created a special Fighter variant. The new car will remain as a compact and enjoyable car to drive around town or as an exhilarating track car. For further excursions, the Fighter T will take two people and their luggage in great luxury and ease for trans continental travel. The new Fighter T has a twin turbocharged and intercooled 8 litre V10 engine, generating 1012 bhp at 5600 rpm and 1036 lb.ft of torque at 4500 rpm. Full Article

Japanese car firm Toyota has seen strong results for the three months to end of September and raised its annual forecast, after strong sales. The firm saw operating profits rise by 44% during the quarter, to reach 581bn yen ($4.9bn; £2.6bn), as it managed to counter higher raw material costs. The results beat expectations and the firm now expects operating profit for the year to reach 2.2 trillion yen. Toyota has been expanding in the US, at the expense of local competitors. Full Article

The Jaguar XJR is positioned to take a special spot in the collector car enthusiast market. One of Europe's best secrets, the Jaguar XJR has the best of all criteria used by the industry's top investors in the collector car market, poised to score where most other European autos have yet to breakthrough. "In the car collector world, European cars never seem to have the same value or collector status of famous American cars unless you go back about 50 years" says Gino Niccoli a leading Classic Car Specialist in Tempe, Arizona. Full Article

Sales of nearly new cars, under the age of one year old, dropped significantly during the second quarter of 2006. According to Experian, the global information solutions company, sales of nearly new cars had been leaping each year since 2001 until 2005 when they saw their first drop in sales – down 6.6 per cent compared to the same period in 2004. The trend has continued this year, with sales of nearly new cars dropping by 8.1 per cent during quarter two 2006 on the same quarter last year. Full Article

Volvo is setting up a joint Traffic Accident Research Centre in China which it hopes will help contribute to road safety in the world's most populated country. Volvo's in-house traffic accident research function is already one of the best-developed in the automotive industry. From its centre in Gothenburg, Sweden plus other local operations in the USA and Thailand, Volvo has built up a unique database of information about almost 40,000 accidents, involving more than 50,000 people. Full Article

Ford vehicle security experts partnered the Metropolitan Police's motor vehicle crime squad and produced immediate results on a four-week decoy operation in East London. Two cars were supplied by Ford's technical centre, at Dunton, in Essex, and parked at the ExCel exhibition centre. The Ford Focus and Ford Mondeo were left in prominent positions with equipment such as sat nav devices and mobile phones in view. When thieves struck, they were caught out by the covert operation which traced criminals' movements and led police to them. Over 25 arrests followed and vehicle crime plummeted by 18 per cent in the ExCel area. Full Article

Following on from a profitable 2005, Skoda has continued set new company records so far in 2006. Three quarters of the year was enough for the Skoda Auto Group to surpass its 2005 pre-tax profit of £238.6 million. Breaking another record, the company's pre-tax result as at September 30, 2006 was £250.8 million (+56.6% compared to last year). Simultaneously with efforts aimed at increasing revenues, the company also improved its results by cutting the costs of materials through a number of process optimisation programmes. Full Article

This startlingly attractive car represents everything the UK's driving public wants in a motor, according to a new survey. The search for the ideal car was carried out by motorists' online buying guide, NEW CAR NET (www.newcarnet.co.uk). During the last two months, the website invited motorists across the land to choose which elements of existing vehicles they particularly like, from body shapes and engine power to their top safety features and accessories. Full Article

Families that drive together thrive together as the car plays a key role in family bonding. According to the latest research, the car is the perfect environment for encouraging kids to chat on topics from school bullying to romance. A study of UK parents from car company Vauxhall found that British families spend a total of 258 hours or 10 days a year together in the car with much of the time spent in confidential chats and problem solving between parents and their kids. Full Article

Jaguar's new XK Coupé has been awarded the Scottish Car of the Year title for 2006. Now in its ninth year, the awards recognise the achievements of new cars launched during the past 12 months across eight categories – Small, Family, Luxury, Drop Top, Sporting, Diesel, MPV and SUV. Judged by members of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers (ASMW), more than 50 new models were in contention for the 2006 accolade. Each vehicle was assessed on a range of qualities – including performance, safety, value for money and Scots appeal. Full Article

Citroën has announced first details of its new Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). The Citroën C-Crosser boasts four-wheel drive capability, exceptional levels of space and comfort, as well as an advanced, fuel efficient HDi diesel engine equipped with environmentally-friendly Diesel Particulate Filter System. The C-Crosser will be available with Citroën's new generation 156bhp 2.2HDi engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. Capable of producing 380Nm of torque this diesel powerplant also offers low fuel consumption, the ability to run on 30% bio-diesel and a Diesel Particulate Filter System that reduces particle emissions to virtually immeasurable levels. Full Article

Following its world debut at the Paris Motor Show, UK prices for the new SEAT Altea XL have been announced. The new range will initially be offered with three engines, the 1.6 102 PS petrol, plus 1.9 TDI 105 PS and 2.0 TDI 140 PS diesels. All models benefit from air conditioning, an MP3 compatible CD player with Aux-In socket (for iPod or other auxiliary device connection), electric front windows, six airbags, and remote central locking.Full Article

Spring 2007 marks the introduction of BMW's new 3 Series Convertible. Available initially in 325i and 335i guises, but followed closely by smaller engined variants and diesel-powered models, BMW's new open-top will deliver the ultimate in performance and refinement thanks to a number of innovations. The model now comes with a three-piece electronically-operated retractable hard-top – a first for BMW. The new BMW 3 Series Convertible can also be specified with the world's first Sun-Reflective Technology leather upholstery.Full Article

Mitsubishi has built a new research vehicle, the Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle (MiEV) for a next-generation development project. The electric vehicle (EV) will be used for joint research programmes with power companies that have been working on the promotion of EVs. The power companies will conduct field tests, gather data and evaluate the commercial viability of the vehicle. In return, Mitsubishi will provide power companies with EVs and analyse field test data collected by them. Full Article

Ford of Europe's design team has unveiled a new crossover concept called the Iosis X at the 2006 Paris Motor Show. "We're calling this car iosis X as a deliberate link to our 'kinetic design' concept car lineage which we started last year," said Martin Smith, Ford of Europe's Executive Design Director. "The link is not just in the name – there's a powerful visual relationship between the two cars, and the 'X' signals the new vehicle's crossover capabilities.". At the front, iosis X features the bold new Ford face translated into a more rugged look to convey the strength of the vehicle. Full Article

Mazda is introducing a third special edition model of its Mazda RX-8 fourdoor sports coupé. Called the 'Mazda RX-8 Nemesis', the latest model builds on the success of the earlier Mazda RX-8 Evolve and Mazda RX-8 PZ. The 'Nemesis' features unique paint colours and interior trim, plus an exclusive accessory package, all at the price of £22,995 (on-the-road), £330 less than the model on which it is based – when similarly specified. Taking the standard 192PS version of Mazda RX-8 with leather and a five-speed transmission as its foundation, the Nemesis has several unique exterior and interior features. Full Article

French carmakers are pulling out all the stops at this year's motor show in Paris. Faced with tough competition, the firms are unveiling butch new models they hope will help them survive amid the turmoil that has shaken the car industry in recent months. Peugeot is taking a bold step into muscle car territory with its aggressive looking 908 RC, powered by a 700bhp diesel engine that aims to showcase its diesel technology. Sister marque Citroen is pushing the technology one step further, in a somewhat different direction, with its C-Metisse hybrid that combines a diesel engine with electric motors. Full Article

Kia Motors has revealed the first image of its latest concept car that is scheduled to debut at the Paris Motor Show next week. The concept, named pro_cee'd, is based on the forthcoming three-door sporty hatch version of the all-new Kia cee'd. This five-door family hatchback has its world premiere (in production-ready form) at Paris and will be manufactured at Kia's European assembly plant in Slovakia from November 2006. Gregory Guillaume, Chief Designer Kia at European Design Centre commented, "Following on from the original cee'd concept, our design brief for pro_cee'd was to create a teaser for the all-new cee'd sports hatch which will become the third model in the cee'd line-up." Full Article

Land Rover has released prices on the all-new Freelander 2, starting from £20,935 and rising to £33,990, on the road. Set to go on-sale at the end of this year, the Freelander 2 was first seen at the British International Motor Show 2006 in London. The vehicle is all-new from the tyres upward with a fresh design, Terrain Response™ and two new engines – a 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel and a 3.2-litre straight-six petrol. The Freelander 2 range starts with the entry-level TD4 S diesel at £20,935 rising to the i6 HSE petrol at £33,990 on the road. Test drives in the Freelander 2 can be organised through the Land Rover UK dealer network or via www.landrover.co.uk Full Article

Peugeot will reveal the "207 EPURE" concept car at the Paris Motor Show later this month. The company says that the "207 EPURE" concept car is a glimpse of a future "CC" version of the 207. The concept car is powered by an electric motor combined with PSA Peugeot Citroën Group's new "GENEPAC 20" 20 kW experimental fuel cell which has been designed in partnership with the French AEC (Atomic Energy Commission). The electricity produced by the fuel cell is used to provide extra power and operating range to the vehicle's electric motor or the "lithium-ion" battery.Full Article

Volkswagen has revealed its Iroc sports car concept at a special event in Berlin. The Iroc marks the return of the Scirocco, Volkswagen's iconic sports coupé, which made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show 33 years ago. With its Viper Green metallic paint, the Iroc harks back to the Scirocco, where this exact shade was available in the 1976 model range. The Iroc has distinctive dimensions, with a very long roof and steeply sloping rear, which gives it an aggressive and sporting appearance and also liberates space in the back for two adults plus luggage. Full Article

Honda will reveal production versions of the new CR-V and the high-performance Civic Type R, at the Paris Motor Show in September. The completely new CR-V is said to combine SUV practicality with saloon car-like driving dynamics, sophisticated styling and an upmarket, well-equipped interior. It will also be available with the advanced Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Collision Mitigation Brake System (CMBS). A new 2.0-litre petrol engine, together with Honda's renowned 2.2-litre i-CTDi diesel engine, ensures the CR-V continues to offer class-leading fuel consumption and performance. Full Article

The latest concept car from Citroën will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show later this month. The C-Métisse is designed to prove that a high performance car can also be green, combining a top speed of 155mph with the ability to cover around 45 miles per gallon on the combined cycle. Crammed with hi-tech innovations and neat touches, the C-Métisse combines coupé styling with 4-door practicality thanks to the show-stopping gull-wing front and rear doors. In particular, the C-Métisse has been developed to offer outstanding environmental credentials.Full Article

The new, refreshed, Kia Sorento is in the showrooms now. The revised 2.5-litre turbodiesel and new 3.3-litre V6 petrol engines are said to deliver improved performance; while suspension modifications provide a better balance of ride and handling and safety is enhanced with state-of-the-art accident-avoidance features. The revised model uses the same body panels as the original car but with new front and rear bumpers, projection-style headlamps, tail lights and body mouldings. The overall length has increased by just 20mm as a result of the new bumpers. Full Article

As fuel prices continue to rise, cash-conscious car buyers are able to rely on Perodua to help them keep motoring costs down. Until the end of September, the Perodua Kelisa Ex, claimed to be Britain's most affordable new car to own and run, is now even better value for money. At just £4499 delivered (plus £93 road fund licence and first registration fee (6 months), Perodua have slashed £200 off the usual price of their lead-in model. Full Article