04 05 06 07 08 09 Mazda 3 R. Caliper Rear on 2040-parts.com

Lotus announces partnership with Mansory

Group Lotus has announced its new collaboration with Mansory, which will become its official customization studio. The German tuner will be contributing bodywork, trim and special finishes for the Elise, Exige and Evora in yet another controversial strategic decision for the UK company. Lotus confirmed the first fruits of this new partnership will be the unveiling a new model variant at September's Paris motor show, two years after the highly ambitious announcement of five new models of which the first is yet to become reality.

Alfa Romeo 4C Spider revealed: Geneva Motor Show

The Alfa Romeo 4C Spider (pictured) revealed in Geneva The Alfa Romeo 4C is the epitome of a modern ‘supercar’, with ultra light weight (for a production car) allowing the 4C to produce very good performance from its modest 17500cc engine. So producing an Spider convertible immediately raises the weight issue in a more dramatic way when the car’s abilities are so dependent on it low weight, but it seems the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider – previewed as a production car with a concept at Geneva today – has managed to keep the wight penalties of the convertible 4C down to a minimum. Thanks to a canvas roof and carbon fibre rollover bars, the weight penalty for the Spider is only about 60kg (around a 7 per cent gain) which shouldn’t hurt performance too much.

Mazda6

The second generation of the Mazda6 doesn't stray far from the successful look of the outgoing model.  Though slightly longer, wider and taller than the model it replaces, its styling cues still clearly define the car as a 6. Offered in sedan, hatchback and wagon versions in Europe, the new Mazda6 sedan features a flowing roofline that is steeper at the C-pillar and a sculptured rear end.