Aston Martin wants the Le Mans title

Aston Martin will challenge for the overall Le Mans Champion in 2009 Aston Martin won the overall title in 1959 – 50 years ago with the DBR1 driven by Caroll Shelby – and are aiming to bring the title back to the UK with the new car, which is based on the 2008 Charouz Racing System Lola, and powered by the same V12 engine seen in the title winning DBR9s of the last two years. The car will carry the famous Gulf Oil colours, and is being funded in partnership with Lola, Michelin, Koni and BBS. And this is a good time to pick to challenge for the title.

Lotus news at 2009 Tokyo motor show

Lotus was one of only three foreign manufacturers to exhibit at the 2009 Tokyo show, and as well as shouting about the success of the Evora (including a mention of it scooping CAR's PCoTY title), the company unveiled a special-edition Exige. Called the Exige Stealth is Japan – and the ugly-sounding Scura throughout the rest of the world – it's black all over. There's matt black paint, lots of carbonfibre bits and pieces, and the supercharged Toyota engine pushing out 257bhp.

UK drivers disinterested in electric cars

DRIVERS in the UK are not interested in electric cars, with only 5% stating they would think about buying one, according to new research. A further 14% of drivers say they have considered an electric car but rejected and bought a petrol, diesel or hybrid car instead. More than half (56%) of British drivers said they had not even thought about an electric car as a possible replacement for their existing vehicle.