Honda has released the first picture of the production version of the new Insight hybrid, which is billed as the most affordable car of its type.
It’s certainly a world away from the original Insight coup. That model, launched in 1999, used aluminium and plastic to achieve a kerbweight of less than a tonne, and returned economy of around 80mpg. Becasue of the car's specialist design, only 18,000 were sold.
Think the 380bhp 4.3-litre Aston Martin V8 Vantage is not powerful enough? The firm is now offering a 20bhp upgrade for owners of the recently replaced coupe. The retrospectively fitted kit features a revised induction system that boosts bhp up to 400, while torque is increased by 10NM to 420. What’s more, those drivers can also specify the Sports Pack handling upgrade as seen on the new 4.7 V8 Vantage. Both upgrades are available from franchised dealers costing £1,500 and £3,300 plus fitting, respectively.
Nissan has revealed official details of its European-specification GT-R models – and it's good news for UK customers. The supercar, which arrives here next April, has benefitted from a host of improvements over US and Japanese editions.
Stumped at what to buy the car nut in your family this Christmas? Join us as we name this winters must have motoring accesories! Our list will be updated daily, so don't forget to check back regularly.
Xmas Gift Guide Pt 1
Best sat-nav systems reviewed
Roll up, roll up! America’s ‘big three’ – GM, Ford and Chrysler – are selling assets to try to avoid bankruptcy. The firms’ bosses went to the US Government in search of $22.9billion in loans.
Ford’s Alan Mulally, GM’s Rick Wagoner and Chrysler’s Bob Nardelli have agreed to sell private jets and work for $1 a year to persuade senators to bail them out! GM is believed to be selling its HQ in Detroit, plus vacant manufacturing buildings in Europe, to raise $4bn. It may also offload Saab, Suzuki, Pontiac and Saturn.
Car plants are grinding to a halt in the wake of falling sales. The gates to 68 factories worldwide will close as demand slumps.
In the UK alone, Honda will shut its Swindon site for two months after Christmas. Nissan has cut the working week at its Sunderland factory to three days, while Ford and MINI plants in Southampton and Oxford will close for the next month.
It’s the end of the road for Honda in F1. In a shock announcement, the Japanese giant has confirmed it is withdrawing from grand prix racing with immediate effect.
In a statement, Honda’s President Takeo Fukai outlined the company’s reasons for making the radical cut. “This difficult decision has been made in light of the quickly deteriorating operating environment facing the global auto industry”, he said. “Honda must protect its core business activities and secure its long term future.”
Times are tough in the US car industry – but if there’s one legend that can help consumer confidence, it’s Ford’s Mustang.
Taking a bow at last week’s LA Motor Show was an all-new version, and every element – but for the fastback shape – is fresh.
These are the first official pictures of the all-new Mazda3 five-door hatch! A four-door saloon version was unveiled at last week’s LA motor show, but Mazda has chosen next week’s Bologna expo to reveal the more European-orientated version of the 3.
A car is only as clean as its driver, that is the thinking behind Honda’s forthcoming Drive Assist dashboard.
Say hello to L.A's most wanted, crowds at the unveiling of the new Nissan Cube proved that it really is hip to be square at this year's spectacular.
The five door model, which gets a distinctive interior as well as a brand new chassis was mobbed after its unveiling.
Say hello to L.A's most wanted, crowds at the unveiling of the new Nissan Cube proved that it really is hip to be square at this year's spectacular.
The five door model, which gets a distinctive interior as well as a brand new chassis was mobbed after its unveiling.
Say hello to L.A's most wanted, crowds at the unveiling of the new Nissan Cube proved that it really is hip to be square at this year's spectacular.
The five door model, which gets a distinctive interior as well as a brand new chassis was mobbed after its unveiling.
Say hello to L.A's most wanted, crowds at the unveiling of the new Nissan Cube proved that it really is hip to be square at this year's spectacular.
The five door model, which gets a distinctive interior as well as a brand new chassis was mobbed after its unveiling.
Say hello to L.A's most wanted, crowds at the unveiling of the new Nissan Cube proved that it really is hip to be square at this year's spectacular.
The five door model, which gets a distinctive interior as well as a brand new chassis was mobbed after its unveiling.
Say hello to L.A's most wanted, crowds at the unveiling of the new Nissan Cube proved that it really is hip to be square at this year's spectacular.
The five door model, which gets a distinctive interior as well as a brand new chassis was mobbed after its unveiling.
Say hello to L.A's most wanted, crowds at the unveiling of the new Nissan Cube proved that it really is hip to be square at this year's spectacular.
The five door model, which gets a distinctive interior as well as a brand new chassis was mobbed after its unveiling.
Say hello to L.A's most wanted, crowds at the unveiling of the new Nissan Cube proved that it really is hip to be square at this year's spectacular.
The five door model, which gets a distinctive interior as well as a brand new chassis was mobbed after its unveiling.
Will the Fed Put a Stop to the Dollar Rally?TODAY'S BIGGEST PERCENTAGE MOVERS AUD/JPY (-838 pips or -11.18%)NZD/JPY (-596 pips or -10.19%) AUD/USD(-516 pips or -7.67%)THE STORIES IN THE CURRENCY MARKETUSD: WILL THE FED PUT A STOP TO THE DOLLAR RALLY?EUR: EURO TESTS 1.25, EMERGING MARKETS TO SUFFER FROM DOLLAR STRENGTHGBP: SEES SHARP REVERSAL AFTER HAVING BEEN DOWN 1000 PIPSCAD: OIL PRICES BELOW $65 A BARRELAUD: HITS 5 YR LOW AGAINST USD, 8 YR LOW AGAINST JPYNZD: HITS 5 YR LOWJPY: YEN HITS 1995 HIGH, WILL THE BANK OF JAPAN INTERVENE?EXPECTATIONS FOR UPCOMING FED MEETINGS
It’s one of Britain’s hottest hatches, and a fierce contender for Auto Express’s Performance Car of the Year award, as our line-up in the special supplement in the centre pages reveals.
That’s not the only trick up the John Cooper Works MINI’s sleeve, though. Despite packing enough punch to cover 0-60mph in only 6.5 seconds, the supermini can now add wallet-friendly 50mpg-plus fuel economy to its impressive list of credentials. That’s 25 per cent more than the maker’s claimed 40.9mpg combined figure. But only if you know how to handle this hot hatch...
Feast your eyes on Lamborghini’s ultimate supercar. Spied here testing at the famous Nurburgring circuit, this is a prototype for the next Murcielago – and with a new 700bhp 6.0-litre V12 engine, it promises to be the fastest raging bull in history.
Here’s a new Golf with every reason to be blue!
Volkswagen has today unveiled the Golf BlueMotion concept, which emits only 99g/km of CO2 – meaning buyers won’t have to pay a penny in annual road tax!
After months of spy shots and more recently an official teaser photo, could this image finally reveal the Porsche Panamera?
There’s no doubt the four-door shape is close to the real thing. The sleek nose, with its swept-back lights, resembles the 911’s, while the truncated rear sits low and squat.
The game is up for the 370Z! This screen grab reveals Nissan is repeating its trick with the GT-R and giving the coup its world debut in a video game.
The 350Z replacement, due in 2010, has been spotted in trailers for the latest Need for Speed title from Electronic Arts – and is only partially obscured by gangsters. We recognise the dramatic sloping roof, plus the shape of the wheelarches at the rear, from recent spy shots.
Here's a cool new city car set to create a buzz! It’s the electric-powered B0 – or B-Zero – and it’s the work of legendary Italian style house Pininfarina.
Our exclusive spy picture below - the best yet of the compact MPV - shows how the entry-level version will get a unique rear end.
While its stablemate features a near-vertical tailgate to maximise headroom in the third row of seats, the smaller version has a stylish sloping rear windscreen instead. Unique tail-light clusters and a kinked window line also set it apart from the larger model. With minimal overhangs at the rear, the smaller C4 Picasso has a sportier profile, although it will share engines with the seven-seater. That includes the maker's 143bhp 2.0-litre petrol units, as well as 110bhp and 138bhp versions of the frugal 2.0-litre HDi diesel. Smaller powerplants may join the line-up in the future.
Online gaming has just got a whole lot more interesting! A new racing simulator has been launched that not only lets you compete with up to seven other online opponents, but allows you to lay stakes and win real money.
What’s your favourite car ad? Whether it’s Citroen’s robot or Honda’s skydivers, they all cost money to make.
To calculate just how much of a new car’s price goes directly on publicity, industry analyst Ebiquity used registration figures and ad budgets for 2008 so far. Renault tops the table with £389 spent per car sold. Yet Ford, the UK’s best-selling brand, spends £114 per car and BMW only £22. An Ebiquity spokesman said: “Such firms have already built a reputation, so don’t need to try as hard.”
More drivers are looking to cut commuting times and costs by switching to a scooter – and the new Gilera Nexus 300 is perfect for those with long trips to work.
Using a 300cc motor, it’s easily capable of keeping up with motorway traffic, yet can still slice through jams. It bridges the gap between the 125cc and 500cc models, and offers a good compromise between economy and performance – although the size of the engine means drivers switching from four wheels will need to pass their full bike test.
It’s the spark we’ve been waiting for from BMW – the electric MINI is almost here! And our spies have managed to capture a fully working prototype out testing.
Due to make its debut at next month’s Los Angeles Motor Show, the MINI EV will be built in limited numbers by BMW and will first go on sale in the US, and then eventually to customers in large cities across Europe.
As winter closes in, so do the cold and damp – and even the best garages can’t protect your car completely. That’s where a dehumidifier such as this Prem-I-Air DD122FW-Mk2 comes into its own.
Keeping your speed in check will be even easier with the help of this clever new key from Ford. Boffins have developed the all-new ignition key, which contains a chip that can be pre-programmed to limit the driver’s pace – perfect for parents letting teenagers loose on their own set of wheels. The device can also give a seatbelt warning alert, and an early low-fuel warning. MyKey will come as standard on US versions of the Focus, plus Lincolns and Mercurys, from 2010.
Going to the hassle of setting up a jet washer, sponge, bucket and chamois to wash a car can be a drag, but thanks to wheel specialist Wolfrace you can get your car gleaming with only a bottle and a cloth.
The Mac is back – and Auto Express has the spy shots to prove it! These amazing exclusive images show that McLaren engineers have hit the streets at last in the much-anticipated successor to the legendary F1 road car.
Due to go on sale in 2010, the exciting new machine was caught undergoing testing not far from the Formula One team’s base in Woking, Surrey by an eagle-eyed Auto Express reader.
It wasn’t long ago that tuning engines was seen as a black art: the preserve of boy racers. Today it’s a different story. Chipping your motor is no longer simply about boosting power. Some kits claim they can significantly improve fuel economy, too!
BMW unveiled the X1 at Paris, but don’t let the name fool you... this is no mini-SUV! At a mere 108mm shorter than the X3, the concept’s sheer bulk shocked onlookers.
The model has a four-wheel-drive transmission that is used on the 3-Series in overseas markets, and the X1 is hailed as a ‘crossover’ by the firm.
Listening to music on your phone and taking hands-free calls can be a tricky business in the car, involving various leads and wires. But Bluetrek says you can do it all with its new Duo Stereo.
TALKING to your car and giving it instructions might seem like a wild idea from a sci-fi film – but voice recognition technology is already here and slowly creeping into vehicles.
And there’s no need to be daunted by it, as most of us will already use it. Far from being inspired by movies, automated speech commands have been around for a long time. Whenever you call your bank, mobile provider or train company to be given a list of options, it’s probably the same technology that’s now used in cars. It all started in the domestic sector, and was developed thanks to computer dictation software.
The next chapter in Audi’s small car future has just been written. This sensational model is the new A1 Sportback – and it’s a five-door version of the German manufacturer’s forthcoming compact hatch.
Sporting its new slimline rear end, the Mgane took centre stage at the Paris show last week. And all eyes were on the homegrown sporty Coup, as it made its public debut alongside the five-door hatch.
Silk handkerchiefs at the ready, it’s going to be a tearful goodbye! This is the last-in-the-line Arnage, a model that stretches back 10 years and was the ultimate in opulent design and crushing performance. Appropriately named the Arnage Final Series, the car’s Paris appearance was a chance to bid farewell tothe much loved saloon.
TYRE pressure gauges should be included with every new car, motoring campaigners claim.
Having the device on board would make it easier for drivers to keep a regular eye on their rubber, according to Rob Beddis, from campaign group TyreSafe. He said: “We’re not talking about something fancy – just a cheap one that could live in the boot with the locking wheelnut key and jack,” he explained.
Quality counts when buying a multitool. And maker Gerber seems able to give its products a premium feel at a fraction of the price of high-end rivals.
Its latest offering is the Evo, which is just as impressive as its Suspension stablemate, which won our Issue 983 test.
it’s only 13mm thick, but the latest visor-mounted phone hands-free kit from Parrot isn’t thin on features.
Everything from voice recognition and voice synthesis to phonebook synchronisation is included, while it offers more than 400 hours of standby time. So the Minikit Slim punches above its measly 83g weight.
Citroen is stealing all the headlines in Paris, announcing the return of the 2CV, pulling the covers off a new supercar and revealing its new C3 Picasso in the metal.
Watch out Mondeo – SEAT is taking on the traditional family car class for the first time with the Exeo.
It's based on the previous-generation Audi A4, but the Exeo gets styling tweaks inspired by the latest Ibiza. The new saloon was revealed at the Paris Motor Show and goes on sale early next year with a starting price of around £16,000.
Lamborghini has taken the wraps off the Estoque saloon at the Paris Motor Show - unveiling details of one of the most exciting four door saloons ever!
The new MINI has been caught with its top off! This is the all-new Convertible, snapped on test by our spies.
It’s the first time the production-ready drop-top has been seen undisguised.
The Insignia is yet to appear in Vauxhall’s UK showrooms, but the firm has already pulled the covers off the ultra-frugal ecoFLEX variant.
Revealed on the firm’s Paris Motor Show stand, the green version of the Ford Mondeo rival promises to cut your running costs and carbon emissions without compromising on refinement – in fact it’s the quietest Vauxhall ever built!
EVEN if electric cars do emit more CO2 than their petrol equivalents, manufacturers aren’t being deterred from pushing the technology further!
Chrysler has revealed a trio of battery-powered models – but only one of the Chrysler EV, Jeep EV and Dodge EV will go into production, from 2010. And bosses won’t say which.
