1974 Pontiac Gto 73 74 Ventura Sprint Roof Emblems "custom" 9658006 on 2040-parts.com

Hyundai puts Michel Nandan in charge of WRC effort

Hyundai has appointed former Peugeot WRC technical director Michel Nandan to head up their assault on WRC. As Hyundai matures in to a credible mainstream force, improving brand perception is crucial to its long-term goals and 2012 is all about improving Hyundai’s brand experience and perceptions of the brand. A part of that focus is to take Hyundai back in to WRC rallying with a much modified i20, where Hyundai are hoping for a better experience than they had when they went rallying a decade ago – which should be a given considering the big strides Hyundai has made in its cars in the last few years.

918 Alert! Porsche's stinging spyder grows closer to becoming reality

The first fully road-going prototype of Porsche's upcoming 202-mph hybrid-powered 918 Spyder has been seen during shakedown runs at the company's R&D center in Germany. Porsche released its own lightly disguised photographs of the cars being tested. The mules are “camouflaged” in livery meant to summon the famous 917 racer.

Peugeot HR1 concept

Alongside the new 508, Peugeot unveiled a B-segment SUV concept called the HR1 in Paris. The new car builds on the new design identity established by the SR1 concept, but also features elements of the diminutive BB1 concept revealed at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show. Read our opinion of the new design in our 2010 Paris Motor Show Highlights, and see more photos, sketches and renderings of the HR1 concept in our photo gallery below.