Will the Fed Put a Stop to the Dollar Rally?

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

50mpg in fastest-ever MINI!

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...

New Murciélago spied

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.

Volkswagen Golf MkVI Bluemotion

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!

Porsche saloon reveals all... or does it?

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.

Z’s small screen debut

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.

Plug-in Pininfarina set to tackle Smart

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.

Citroen Picasso five-seater

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.

Game’s odds-on winner

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.

So whose ads pay off?

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.”

Is scooter the Nex big thing?

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.

Electric MINI spied

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.

Damp buster sees off winter’s worst

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.

Ford keys in speed curb

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.

Waterless wash ditches the dirt

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.

McLaren supercar

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.

The MPG boosters

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!

Compact’ X1’s big shock

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.

Hi-tech phone set is a sound choice

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.

Speak easy

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.

Audi’s new baby steals the show

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.

Out with the bold for Mégane 3-dr

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.

Top Arnage gets last hurrah

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.

Call for action on tyres

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.

Gerber Evo multitool - tested

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.

Parrot Minikit Slim hands-free - tested

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 steals the show at Paris

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.

Gear4 AirZone FM Follow Me and CarDock FM Follow Me iPod kits - tested

SEAT Exeo debuts - SEAT Exeo

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.

Lambo Estoque at Paris - Lamborghini Estoque

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!

Sun-seeking MINI out in the open

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.

Vauhall Insignia ecoFLEX

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!

New trio charges up

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.

Skoda updates Octavia - Skoda Octavia

Compared to the glitz and glamour of some Paris Motor Show stands, Skoda’s was relatively understated - surprising given the facelifted Octavia was handed its debut.

BMW X1 Concept

Just one day before its Paris Motor Show debut, BMW has taken the wraps off the X1.

The small 4x4 is officially a concept car at the moment, but the X1 unveiled in Paris will hit showrooms in Autumn 2009 virtually unchanged.

The X1 SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle) shares its underpinnings with another diminutive 4x4 on the horizon – the MINI Crossman. The chassis is actually a reworked version of the current BMW 3-Series’s, which means the X1 will be able to accommodate a wide range of petrol and diesel engines.

New Merc Gullwing

The Gullwing has taken flight! This is the Mercedes supercar that’s set to perch right at the top of the tree when it hits showrooms in 2010.

Our spies have captured a pre-production prototype of the Gullwing out testing in heavy disguise (below). However, its unique, cartoon-like proportions instantly gave its identity away! A long, exaggerated bonnet and set-back cabin make it obvious that this is the successor to the Mercedes SLR McLaren.

AA Essentials Valeting Range

THE AA might be better known for fixing breakdowns, but now it has decided to use its expertise to keep your car looking its best as well. The six-piece Essentials Valeting range features wash and wax, trim, tyre, upholstery and wheel cleaners, plus glass polish.

MINI Convertible

The new MINI convertible has sprung a leak! These low-res images have appeared on MINI blog website MotoringFile - presumably leaked by an insider at MINI, because they appear to be brochure scans.

The open top MINI isn't due to make its debut until the Detroit Motor Show in January (leaving the Paris show limelight for the MINI Crossover Concept), but the car is evidently ready to hit showrooms now.

Evo-inspired Colt is ahead by a nose

As this teaser shot (above) shows, Mitsubishi is trying to keep us in the dark about one of its world debuts in Paris. But Auto Express can see beyond the smoke and mirrors!