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McLaren F1 – The perfect safe haven in troubled times

The McLaren F1 (along with its ‘Super’ brother, the LM) is considered by many to be the ultimate road car. Light, fast and enormously desirable, the F1 has been a stunning success story. Initially conceived in the late ’80s, and coming to fruition with the launch of the first road car in 1995, just 65 road-going F1s where made between 1995 and 1998, with 5 further LMs (6 if you count the prototype, which is still owned by McLaren and promised to Lewis Hamilton if he pulls of the double World Championship by winning in 2009).

Porsche Cayman R (2010) first official pictures

This is the new 2010 Porsche Cayman R, the lightest and most powerful version yet of Stuttgart’s mid-engined sports car, and the closest it’s ever been allowed to get to the hallowed 911. Over and above the Cayman S, the Cayman R has a mere 10bhp more, taking the total to 325bhp – the torque figure is unchanged at 272lb ft. Much more impressive (and important) are the weight reductions: the Cayman R is 55kg lighter than the Cayman S.

Museum benefactor Margie Petersen dies

Margie Petersen, wife of automotive publishing magnate Robert E. "Pete" Petersen and the driving force behind many of the couple's generous philanthropies, died Nov. 25 after a decades-long battle with breast cancer.