Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport hits 268 mph

Bugatti is claiming a new production-car top-speed record with a combined two-run average of 267.9 mph (431.072 kph) with a new Veyron 16.4 Super Sport model, smashing the 253.76-mph record set by a standard Veyron 16.4 in 2005. It also betters the existing world-record mark of 256.23 mph (412.28 kph) established by Shelby SuperCars with its Ultimate Aero on a 12-mile stretch of road in Nevada in 2007. Confirming details of the attempt run under tight security at parent company Volkswagen's 13-mile Ehra-Lessien test track in late June, Bugatti says the new Super Sport set the record in the hands of its test driver, Pierre-Henri Raphanel, and under the auspices of officials from the Guinness Book of Records.

BMW 520d EfficientDynamics (2011) first official pictures

Company car choice will be made even more difficult in September 2011 with the launch of BMW’s new 520d EfficientDynamics saloon with some extraordinary economy and CO2 emissions figures of 119g/km and 63mpg. BMW 520d EfficientDynamics: how it’s so clean The 520d ED is fitted with a longer final drive ratio to reduce revs at motorway cruise speeds, low-drag alloy wheels and low-rolling resistance tyres on top of the standard 520d equipment. Most Fives already have stop-start and an Optimum Gear Shift Indicator to let the driver know when the most efficient time is to change gear.

Tesla unveils Model S electric saloon (2009)

By Ben Oliver First Official Pictures 27 March 2009 09:00 Tesla last night launched the Model S, a seven-seat electric hatchback capable of 60mph in 5.5 seconds, with a range of up to 300 miles and a charging time as low as 45 minutes. When it goes into production in 2011 the Tesla Model S will cost US buyers around $50,000 (£34,600) after a federal tax credit. Without a tax break, European buyers can expect to pay closer to £50,000.