Porsche Panamera upgrades (2010) first details

The 493bhp Porsche Panamera Turbo is about to get even more powerful: Porsche has released details of a new range of upgrades available on the Panamera, including a £14k Powerkit pack. The Powerkit – as its name suggests – delivers an increase in power (and torque) over the standard car, and is exclusively available on the Panamera Turbo. The Panamera Turbo left us a little underwhelmed when we put it through its paces a year ago, chief issues being the packaging, styling and ergonomics.

Vauxhall-designed Santa's sleigh (2009)

Vauxhall's version of Santa's sleigh – complete with Voltec plug-in hybrid tech By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 14 December 2009 20:11 Here's the Vauxhall take on the design project we've set them this Christmas: to design a Vauxhall-branded Santa's sleigh. The boffins at Vauxhall/Opel design HQ have come up with this – a development of the latest GM Europe form language with hints of new Astra here and Ampera plug-in hybrid there.Vauxhall officials claim their Christmas sleigh features specially adapted E-REV tech to ensure Santa has no range anxiety as he flies around the world on Christmas Eve. Very zeitgeisty.'Santa's pleased as punch because he doesn't need to worry about the methane emissions generated by the outgoing reindeers on his 2008 model,' said a spokesman, while munching mince pies and throwing Magna crackers on the log fire.

Boris Dumps the Congestion Charge

Well, not completely – that would be too much to hope for. But London Mayor Boris Johnson has scrapped the recent extension of the Congestion Charging Zone, which took in most of Chelsea, Kensington and Westminster, and was hugely unpopular. Boris scraps the Congestion Charge in Westminster, Chelsea and Kensington The £8 per day charge was the subject of a public consultation, which found that 86% of businesses wanted the congestion charge lifted.