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Bertone to celebrate 100th anniversary with Nuccio concept

Bertone will introduce its new Nuccio concept car at the Geneva Motor Show as it celebrates its 100th anniversary. The concept – named after the son of the company's founder Nuccio Bertone, who died in 1997 – appears to take inspiration from the 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero, one of Bertone's most famous designs, created by Marcello Gandini. The similarities in these teaser sketches include the extreme wedge profile and hood/windscreen surface, highlighted in orange.

Ferrari F450 – due at Frankfurt in September ’09

Rendering of the Ferrari F450 - due to show at Frankfurt in September and go on sale in 2010 But the new Ferrari F450 is getting closer, and spy shots of the F450 have enabled Auto Express to come up with a rendering that is, we reckon, near as dammit to the finished article due to be shown at Frankfurt in September. Sporting a pair of big side vents that have been enlarged to help the engine breathe and the brakes cool, the F450 is different enough to the F430 to set it apart as a new car – not just an evolution. The F450 is going to have to go upmarket to compete with the likes of the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, and in an effort to compete Ferrari has upped the capacity of the F430, increased the rev limit and produced an engine that, in the F450, should deliver something around 500bhp.

Ford brings stop/start system to U.S.

Ford will equip many of its U.S. cars and SUVs with stop/start technology, beginning in 2012, which automatically shuts down the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop, cutting down on fuel use and emissions. The technology, which Ford calls Auto Start-Stop, will be available with either manual or automatic transmissions.