L200 picks up the pace

Feast your eyes on the hottest Mitsubishi pick-up ever. This is the L200 Walkinshaw Performance – and as the name suggests, it’s a flat bed which has been tuned by legendary racer and motorsport team boss Tom Walkinshaw.

Rolls-Royce RR4

The Spirit of Ecstasy has landed again - and this time it's in Seventh Heaven! These are the first official sketches of the new RR4 - the 'baby' Rolls-Royce based on BMW's 7-Series and set to touch down in 2010.

The RR4 will prop up the Rolls-Royce range by utilising modified 7-Series underpinnings, including its chassis, drivetrain and some electrical components, meaning the price can be kept down to a bargain £175,000! Still, that's almost £95,000 below the current Phantom saloon.

Big Hyundai hits road

Hyundai is going the whole nine yards with its new executive saloon – or should that be i90?

Our spies caught the i90 undergoing testing as it gets ready to take on Germany’s premium brands. And the Korean manufacturer is promising it will be crammed with the kind of technology usually reserved for Audis, Mercedes and BMWs.

Mazda ASV-4

Here's a car that can see around corners! Japanese maker Mazda started public road trials of its Advanced Safety Vehicle, the ASV-4, which alerts drivers of oncoming traffic at blind corners.

By using vehicle-to-vehicle radar technology, the ASV-4 can detect when a car is approaching at a bend, then will alert the driver before automatically applying the brakes if necessary. Later this year Mazda will also test the new tech - called the Precrash Safety System - as a means of preventing rear-end and right-turn collisions in which a car turns across the flow of traffic.

Diesel revolution in Insignia

It’s a petrol engine, but not as we know it! The Insignia will be the first Vauxhall to be fitted with a revolutionary new power unit.

It’s called Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI). And the technology combines an oil-burner’s fuel eco­nomy with the smooth, free-revving character of a petrol motor, courtesy of some clever engineering.

Hot Scirocco is go, go, go - VW Scirocco GT 24 Concept

Is this the car that will confirm Volkswagen’s place in the supercar elite? Meet the Scirocco GT 24 Concept.

ExCeL chiefs rap no-shows

The British Motor Show has hit back at car manufacturers’ criticism of its London location. According to event organisers, 9 firms are set to boycott this year’s Docklands show, and some have blamed the fact that it is being held in the south-east.

Monaco grand prix

McLaren ace Lewis Hamilton was streets ahead of his rivals as he took a dominant victory around the tight turns of Monaco. Despite treacherous wet conditions and two punctures, the British star drove brilliantly to cross the line first and regain his place at the top of the title table.

Ultra-rare Spider unleashed by Alfa

Take a look at the rarest Alfa Romeo ever! It’s called the Spider Mille Miglia, and only 11 examples are planned for production.

The sleek special edition is being built to mark the company’s success in the famous Italian road race, which Alfa won 11 times between 1927 and 1957 – hence the limited production run.

Child’s play for badges

Ever wondered what car logos were like before they grew up? An advertisement agency has produced a range of baby badges, suggesting how the symbols for all our favourite brands looked when they were toddlers!

FM transmitter rules the waves

Thank to its expanded bandwidth, the Gear4 AirZone FM Dock should suffer fewer reception problems than some rival FM transmitters.

It has a range from 87.5 to 108MHz, so the maker claims there will always be a clear frequency somewhere in the range to provide a strong signal.

Madrid Motor Show Report - Madrid Show Report

SEAT gave the all-new Ibiza its world debut at the Madrid Motor Show. Bosses took the wraps off the supermini at the Spanish brand’s home event, alongside a low emission version of the Alhambra MPV.

Perfect companion?

Taking your sat-nav with you at the end of your journey is usually a security necessity rather than a matter of choice. But HP reckons its new model is different. It says the iPAQ 314 Travel Companion works as well in your hand as it does in your car.

2 scores on doors

Here’s the Mazda -2... doors, that is. The three-door variant of the company’s supermini is launched this month, offering a much sleeker look than the five-door hatchback.

This latest version will broaden the appeal of the 2008 World Car of the Year. The five-door 2 was launched in September 2007, and won acclaim for being lighter than its predecessor, bucking the trend for heavier new models.

Mega XF turns power player

Meet the Jaguar XF with claws! Called the XF AJ 21, it’s a pumped-up version of the firm’s flagship saloon.

And it’s not only the exterior that’s been tampered with – all four engines offered with the standard car are available with power upgrades, culminating in the top-spec supercharged V8. The 4.2-litre unit has been bored out to 4.5 litres and power has increased from 410bhp to more than 500bhp. Other tweaks include sports suspension and a new stainless steel exhaust.

Petrol car’s diesel twist

So, how exactly does the new powerplant work? The fact that GM engineers have been working for the past 10 years to perfect the Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition technology suggests there is no easy answer.

IS gets special makeover

If you’re a Lexus fan, but your budget can’t quite stretch to the IS F super-saloon, help is at hand in the shape of the IS250 SR.

The newcomer is designed to offer some of the range-topper’s sporty touches without the price tag or running costs. Based on the standard IS250, the SR features a chunky bodykit with a deeper front bumper and a subtle bootlid spoiler. The exterior package also includes profiled side skirts and new 17-inch alloy wheels, with 18-inch ‘Tsuki’ rims available as an option.

All-new Z steps out of shadows

Nissan’s new coup is coming out of the shadows! Auto Express can now reveal even more of the successor to the 350Z – the 370Z.

The firm is taking an evolutionary approach, and the new model will retain the same muscular shape as the outgoing version. However, a big change is the introduction of LED headlights. Under the bonnet lies a 3.7-litre V6 – hence the name – which is shared with the Infiniti G37. It gives around 330bhp – 21bhp more than the 350Z. A six-speed manual box will be standard, with a seven-speed auto as an option.

Biofuel bacteria wrecks engines

Biofuel is wreaking havoc with car engines. Due to Government rules, all diesel sold in the UK must be blended with the eco-friendly fuel.

But what the authorities didn’t bank on was the filth inside filling station tanks. With no rules forcing forecourt owners to clean them, the reservoirs are rife with bacteria. And when they come into contact with the vegetable or wheat-based fuel, the result is oil clots, which clog up engines.

Speeding heads driving offences

A report from the Ministry of Justice shows that speeding accounts for 40 per cent of all driving violations.

But it’s not traffic cops who caught these motorists breaking the rules – it’s speed traps. More than two million tickets were handed out in 2006, and a huge 95 per cent were snapped by fixed roadside cameras.

Top high milers named

For a car with space and pace, look no further than a good old-fashioned family motor like the Mondeo and Laguna

All-change again for Kia’s Sportage - Kia Sportage

It's only a few months since Kia unveiled a facelifted version of the new Sportage... but Auto Express can reveal a replacement version for the car is ready to hit the road and is set to go on sale in the UK as early as August.

Gamers on track to race

Here's your chance to prove yourself on the race track, but only computer game wizards need apply! Nissan has teamed up with Sony and its PlayStation 3 console to give two hopefuls the opportunity to race a 350Z in a 24-hour endurance event in Dubai.

Sat-nav plan rubbished

Bin men issued with sat-nav? Get lost! That’s the reaction from refuse collectors at the City of York Council, where bosses have invested a total of £40,000 to install navigation devices in the authority’s 29-strong fleet of dumper trucks.

Red alert for new Volvos

The wild Volvo wagon is on the comeback trail... The Swedish firm plans to revive the spirit of its 850 and V70R models with a newcomer based on its latest large estate.

Called the V70 R-Design, the car combines a bodykit with lowered suspension for improved road manners. While the engine remains untouched, the springs are 20mm shorter at the front and 15mm lower at the rear. Thicker anti-roll bars and tougher suspension bushes also deliver more accurate steering and better stability.

Audi TT Clubsport

Here’s one Audi TT that’s really mean and roofless! Our spies have the first pictures of the stunning new Clubsport version of the stylish German roadster. The special, stripped-out model boasts aggressive new looks and a powerful 300bhp motor.

Brit supercars under hammer

Fans of the MG SV have never had it so good! Even though production of the dramatic coup ended officially in 2005, buyers can now pick up a brand new version at a knockdown price.

We found 17 models up for grabs, 10 of them brand new and unregist­ered, at online auction house Wyles Hardy and Co. Included in the sale are a number of rare development cars, such as the supercharged SV-S, a Paris Motor Show stand model and at least one example used by former MG Rover boss John Edwards. They all represent the last remnants of the MG Sports and Racing Limited high-performance division that was forced into administration in April 2005.

Jaguar F-Type

It seems Ferrari isn’t going to have it all its own way, as Jaguar is also getting ready to launch a stunning GT.

Called the F-Type, the stylish Brit is set to offer a similar driving experience to the California, but at a much lower price. When it arrives in showrooms in 2012, it will sit at the top of the brand’s sports car range – and be the first big cat in many years to get close to capturing the spirit of the E-Type from the Sixties.

You’re star of the show! - GoPro Motorsports Hero camera

Capturing your favourite drives or action from a track day is becoming easier! Although traditional camcorders and digital cameras can be used, they are often heavy and difficult to mount. A dedicated kit is a superior option – and these are get­ting smaller as well as better value.

Stop for coffee on the go

Motorists can now get their caffeine hit in a hurry – at Britain’s first drive-through coffee shop!

The Starbucks branch in Cardiff is a new twist on an already popular concept used by burger chains, cinemas, banks and even chemists. As with these, visitors pull up to a fast-food-style electronic board to place their order, and staff prepare and deliver it to a nearby window.

Ultimate Veyron back in black

The Bugatti Veyron might be automotive nobility, but this latest version has got black rather than blue blood. The Veyron Sang Noir (which means black blood in French) is the latest limited-edition model from the Volkswagen-owned supercar maker.

Hyundai to debut eight-seater MPV

Korean giant Hyundai has been ‘i’ing up the people carrier competition and produced its own eight-seat version.

The i800 goes on sale on 20 June for £19,495, and as with conventional seven-seat MPVs, features three rows of chairs. But unlike most of its rivals, which have a bench for three people across the middle and space for only two in the third row, the i800 has a pair of benches – each with enough room to take a trio of passengers. Sliding rear doors will also ensure easy access to all the back seats.

Mondeo ‘ST’ is here

Here are the official pictures of the car that Ford said it would never build. We predicted a Mondeo ST would make production in 2006, and here it is – in all but name.

This muscular addition to the Mondeo range is the Titanium X Sport, which bears a striking similarity to the one-off ST featured in the 2006 James Bond film, Casino Royale.

New Ferrari GT

The countdown to the arrival of the hotly anticipated Ferrari California has begun. The Italian firm is set to launch the car, codenamed F149, at www.ferrarigtcountdown.com.

While official pictures have already gone live, the site will slowly reveal even more of the Ferrari to fans and enthusiasts, and promises to “guide users through a sensory voyage” over the months leading up to its official public unveiling at the Paris Motor Show.

3-Series heads shock green trio!

Get ready for the greenest 3-Series BMW has ever made! The German giant is readying a tax-busting version of the 318d which will have a sub-120g/km CO2 level. Auto Express has learned it will join the 119g/km 118d as the cleanest car in the brand’s model line-up.

Lexus LF-A

Here are the pictures to prove that plans for the Lexus LF-A are still on track. Our spies caught the stunning supercar undergoing final testing before making its public debut later this month at the German Nurburgring 24 hour endurance race.

As you can see, the range-topping Lexus is running in virtually undisguised form beneath its matte black paintwork. At the front are distinctive swept back headlamps, together with vents cut into the bonnet to aid cooling of the front-mounted motor.

Vauxhall VXR8 wagon

It looks like Vauxhall is ready to load up on performance. This teaser image is the first glimpse of what is set to become the scorching VXR8 estate.

Boasting a 425bhp V8, scintillating performance, a sporty rear-wheel drive chassis and a projected price of less then £40,000, it has the much more expensive BMW M5 Touring firmly in its sights.

Like its saloon counterpart, the newcomer would essentially be a rebadged version of the Australian-built HSV R8 of sister company Holden. As you can see, the model gets the same aggressive nose as the four-door version, complete with a deeper bumper, wider wheel arches and extra cooling vents in the front wings.

Playtime for MP3 fans

Getting MP3 music on the move when you’re on a tight budget can be a bit hit and miss – but not with the new iO Play. It uses wireless Bluetooth technology to beam sounds to your car’s stereo.

The kit comprises a hidden amplifier and receiver, dash-mounted controller and microphone for hands-free calls. DIY auto electricians can fit it themselves, but one of the firm’s installers will have it up and run­ning in less than an hour for about £50.