Hybrid Lexus goes endurance racing

By Phil McNamara Motor Industry 03 June 2007 02:35 A track-honed version of Lexus' GS450h hybrid saloon has completed a 24 hour Japanese endurance race. The racer ran the production car's powertrain: a 292bhp V6 petrol engine supplemented by 197bhp from an electric motor. This petrol-electric hybrid delivers the power of a V8, but with combined fuel consumption closer to that of a four-cylinder engine.

McLaren MP4-12C software fixes done – deliveries re-start

McLaren MP4-12C - back on track The birth of the McLaren MP4-12 C should have been a cause for real celebration; the first new McLaren in a generation (almost) and a Brit competitor for the Ferrari 458. But there have been problems. Like all small car makers, McLaren has to buy-in most of the clever computer whiz-bang stuff all new cars have, which means McLaren’s tech-bods have to work out how to make it all play pretty together.

Mazda Tribute recalled for same fix as Ford Escape

Mazda is recalling 217,500 copies of the Tribute SUV--from the 2001 through 2008 model years--to fix a sticking throttle. The same problem prompted Ford to recall the mechanically similar Escape SUV on July 26. Ford built the Tribute for Mazda, as well as the Escape.