Ps Engineering Apollo Sl15 Audio Selector Panel W/microphone Jacks on 2040-parts.com

Driven: BMW X3

The BMW X3 had the premium CUV market to itself when launched in 2004. Skip forward to the launch of the second generation and not only does the new version have a whole host of competitors for company, it also has to fit around its X1, X5 and X6 siblings. We took the 2011 BMW X3 (known internally as F25) to the Austrian Tyrol and spoke to its exterior designer, Erik Goplen, to find out if it still has the segment covered.

Lexus IS Coupe arriving in 2014 & IS F V8 on the way

Now it looks like Lexus is going to bring the LF-CC to production life in 2014 as the Lexus IS Coupe (although there are rumours it could be the RC, but that may be for a production version of the even more appealing LF-LC as a range-topping Lexus Coupe) and equip it with the same petrol engine and hybrid options as the IS saloon. What is also in prospect is a return of the IS F – complete with sizeable V8 power – which, if it does arrive, will see the IS Coupe coming with the F engine option and making a very promising foray in to the powerful V8 Coupe market. What doesn’t seem likely is that Lexus are going to bother with a diesel option for the IS or Coupe, despite conventional wisdom saying they need a diesel option to compete in Europe because - as they’ve already demonstrated with the IS 300h – they can deliver an appealing and competitive hybrid with decent performance and price, and bring it in with under 100g/km emissions – perfect for the business market.

Audi A6 Hybrid will arrive in mid 2012

Audi A6 Hybrid - arrives in the UK & Europe mid 2012 Audi released all the bumph on the 2011 A6 at the end of 2010, and we’d expected that they would deliver up the Audi A6 Hybrid by the end of this year at the latest. After all, car makers need to have an eco-halo car in each of their model ranges to be squeaky-green (or so they seem to think), and with all the hybrid gubbins for the A6 being nicked from the Q5 hybrid we thought it would a racing certainty that Audi would bring it to market this year. But it’s not happening.