French racing firm Exagon Motors is continuing the development of its Furtive e-GT, a new all-electric sports coupe that we first laid eyes on at last year’s Paris Motor Show.

The company recently showed off a validation prototype at the Magny Cours racing circuit in France with Nicolas Prost, who is the oldest son of four-time Formula One World Drivers' champion Alain Prost, sitting behind the steering wheel of the 2+2 model.

The Furtive e-GT is scheduled to go on sale in late 2012 with the company planning to build around 100 cars per year. The 2+2 seater coupe will be offered in two flavors, a standard model powered exclusively by two electric motors and a more sophisticated version equipped with an internal combustion engine range extender that works in a similar way to the powertrain system found on GM’s Chevrolet Volt.

Read more »

Read more »

Citroen’s DS3 sales have surpassed the 100,000 mark, more than 10,000 of which have been sold in Britain alone. The French therefore have decided to celebrate the event in their own, flamboyant way, that is, by launching a new range of colors and roof designs.

Read more »

Read more »

Another week, and rather than just another Mazda, it’s another MX-5 special edition. This one is called Karai, which according to the company is Japanese for ‘sharp’, and it comes to us from Mazda’s European division.

The Karai is based on the MX-5 Roadster coupe, which means it is fitted with a retractable hardtop. It boasts a unique lime-green paint called “Metal Green Metallic” for the body and contrasting glossy black finish for metal top, exterior mirrors, trim accents such as the front grille and fog lamp surrounds, as well as the 17-inch multispoke alloy wheels that are shod in low profile performance tires.

Read more »

Read more »

You didn’t think BMW would leave its bread-and-butter 3-Series untouched for the new model year just because it’s actively working on a replacement, did you? Of course not. The changes to the 3-Series range are of far less importance than on the 6-Series and 5-Series lineups, and are mostly limited to the presentation of new special edition models and packages. Read more »

Read more »

After its world premiere in Japan last December as the Vitz, Toyota is gradually introducing the new generation of the Yaris in other markets around the world. Now, with the European version out of the way, it’s time for the Yaris to make its first appearance in Melbourne at this week’s 2011 Australian International Motor Show (AIMS).

Revealed in show car form, the Yaris is fitted with a TRD-like sports kit comprising of a honeycomb grille, a restyled front bumper with larger openings and a chrome trim around the lower grille, side skirts, chunky alloy wheels and a new rear bumper with a diffuser plus a roof spoiler.

Read more »

Read more »

There’s a lot going on in Munich today as BMW has unleashed details on its new model year portfolio. Following the news on the 6-Series, more of which you can read in our previous post here, we bring you the updates to the 5-Series range that includes the four-door sedan, the Touring (station wagon) and the Gran Turismo liftback.

We’ll begin with the changes to the engine lineup of the 5-Series saloon and Touring models. Starting from this fall, European buyers will be able to order the 5-Series with BMW’s brand-new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine, which is offered in two forms producing 184HP and 270Nm (199 lb-ft) in the 520i and 245HP and 350Nm (258 lb-ft) in the 528i.

Read more »

Read more »

BMW is wasting no time in enhancing the range of its recently launched 6-Series Coupé and Convertible models. To sum up the changes, from this autumn (and depending on the market, of course) both body styles will be available with an M Sport package, a new diesel engine and for the first time in the 6-Series model’s history, the Bavarian firm’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system.

Starting with the M Sport option, the package includes an M aerodynamics kit with bespoke front and rear bumpers, LED foglamps, 19-inch M light-alloy wheels in double-spoke design, sports seats with Alcantara/leather upholstery and an M leather steering wheel.

Read more »

Read more »

British consumers will have one more choice when it comes to Renault’s Twingo Renaultsport 133 and the Clio Renaultsport 200 hot hatches as the French firm has added yet another trim level to their range in the form of the ‘Silverstone GP’ limited editions.

Named after the country’s most famous motor racing circuit and home of the British Grand Prix, both models were specifically created for the UK market, with only 50 of each offered for sale from July 1.

Read more »

Read more »

The Camaro is the centerpiece of Chevrolet’s display at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which begun today. And the company thought it was the perfect opportunity to announce the pricing of its UK-bound muscle car that will be available in early 2012.

The Camaro with the V8 engine starts from £34,995 (US$56,040) in coupe trim and from £39,995 (US$64,060) for the convertible, both with a manual transmission. If you want an automatic gearbox, you’ll have to add another £1,500 (US$2,400). In the U.S., the V8 model starts from US$31,070, which is equal to £19,400.

Read more »

Read more »

General Motor’s Holden Special Vehicles unit in Australia is following in the footsteps of Mercedes-Benz’s AMG division as well as more recently, Porsche, with the presentation of a black-themed and named special edition series based on the E Series 3 range launched last September.

Making its world debut at the 2011 Australian motorshow in Melbourne, the SV Black Edition package is offered in the ClubSport R8, Maloo R8 and ClubSport R8 Tourer, which are the sports versions of the Commodore sedan, ute, and station wagon models respectively.

Read more »

Read more »

It’s a global economy we live in and as such, it doesn’t come to much of a surprise when we see the same vehicles launched under different brands and names in various parts of the world.

Of course, it would be somewhat unfair to Holden if we didn’t mention that it has played a key role in the development and design of several GM products including the 5-door Cruze that will be show in pre-production trim at the 2011 Australian International Motor Show (AIMS), which takes place in Melbourne from July to 10.

Read more »

Read more »

The MP4-12C GT3, McLaren’s first race car outside of Formula 1 since the legendary F1 GTR, will make its debut in front of the public at this weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. Based on the new MP4-12C, the GT3 will appear in a revised form after McLaren’s team further honed the supercar. Read more »

Read more »

Say hello to the world’s first car to wear fine porcelain on its body as well as in its cabin, the one-off Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport 'L'Or Blanc'. Admittedly, applying porcelain fittings on one of the fastest and most powerful production sports cars ever made doesn’t seem like a sound move, but when it comes to Bugatti, anything goes.

Created in partnership with Konigliche Porzellan-Manufaktur (KPM), the 'L'Or Blanc' was unveiled on Thursday at the porcelain manufacturer’s workshop in Berlin, German.

“At first, it seems to be an unusual idea to use porcelain in a car, especially in the world’s fastest convertible,” comments Dr. Stefan Brungs, Director of Sales and Marketing at Bugatti Automobiles. “But this is what Bugatti stands for: the realization of exceptional ideas whilst striving for the utmost in quality and aesthetics. This allows us to continue Ettore Bugatti’s heritage, who himself loved to experiment with new materials,” Brungs added.

Read more »

Read more »

At last year’s Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas, Toyota displayed a lightly modified version of the Prius Hybrid to inaugurate its new line of accessories under the PLUS moniker.

Now it’s time for the Japanese automaker to release the production version of its modestly sported up Prius with the commercial launch of the PLUS Performance Package that will be available for order in July in limited numbers.

The package features styling and performance upgrades, and is optionally available on all Prius models with pricing set at $3,699 for the Prius Two, Three, and Four trim levels and $2,999 for the Prius Five.

Read more »

Read more »

Apparently, Aston Martin isn’t the only British automaker to lose contact with reality when it comes to pricing special edition models. Soon after Aston Martin slapped a €48,995 (equal to £44,100 and US$70,700 at the current exchange rates) sticker on its Colette-trimmed Toyota iQ…err… we mean Cygnet, the BMW Group division announced that its new MINI Inspired by Goodwood is priced at £41,000 (€45,600 or US$65,700). Read more »

Read more »

Mazda announced today that sales of the facelifted Mazda Demio, or Mazda2 as the rest of the world knows it, have begun in Japan. The new Mazda2 is the company’s supermini and the target sales for its home market is 6,000 units per month. Read more »

Read more »

The crew over at Autoblog.com is reporting that BMW plants to sell a six-cylinder version of its new 6-Series Coupe in America after all. When the Bavarian automaker introduced the latest 6-Series Coupe and Convertible models, it had stated that the U.S. would only get the 650i with its 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 that delivers 400-horses in NA-trim and 407HP in the EU.

Read more »

Read more »

When Scion announces a new model year change for one of its vehicles, more often than not, it concerns an upgraded audio system and nothing much else. That’s the case with the 2012MY xB which enters the new model year with a standard AM/FM/CD/HD/USB 160-watt maximum output Pioneer audio system, which includes HD Radio technology and Bluetooth connectivity allowing for both hands-free phone connection and streaming audio capability. Read more »

Read more »

The 458 Italia, Ferrari's V8 supercar, is the default choice in its category. Sexy, with a fabulous design and the latest in automotive technology, it is a pure driver’s car to be enjoyed by anyone who can afford it.

Yet McLaren plans to spoil Ferrari’s party claiming that its own brand-new supercar, the MP4-12C, can beat it. On paper, little separates them. But the question for car fanatics remains: which one is better?

To find out, Channel 5's Fifth Gear presenters Tiff Needell and Jason Plato decided to pit the Ferrari against its new challenger from Britain. Their verdict? To find out, just follow the jump and watch the video…

Read more »

Read more »

Gordon Murray is best known as the mastermind behind the creation of McLaren’s F1, which at its time was the fastest supercar of the world – and, before that, for his work and revolutionary ideas in Formula 1 teams such as Brabham. However, that was a long time ago and now Murray is obsessed with creating a unique city car.

So today his company, Gordon Murray Design, unveiled in London their latest ultra compact city car, the T.27. It is a project that was completed in just 17 months from conception to a running prototype, including the design of a new electric powertain by Zytek Automotive Ltd.

Read more »

Read more »