Dacia Lodgy MPV ice racer (2011) first official pictures

Strip away the ice-racing livery – this is being presented as Alain Prost's ice slider for the 2011-12 Trophee Andros – and this is the new Dacia Lodgy, as revealed in our artist's impression. That unusual name signifies the budget brand's new small MPV, which could come to the UK. We won't see the new Lodgy in roadgoing spec until spring 2012, but we hear it could join the Dacia Duster and Sandero when UK sales begin next year.

Cadillac releases second ELR teaser

Cadillac has released the second teaser image of the 2014 ELR electric vehicle ahead of its world debut next week in Detroit. The heavily-camouflaged ELR, which will be unveiled on 15 January, was photographed driving through the mountains of Southern California during development testing. The car will be a sporty two-door coupe that was previewed by the Converj concept, which made its debut at the 2009 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).

Lexus IS 300h promises unrivalled ownership costs

The new Lexus IS - launched at Detroit in January and costing from £26,495 for the IS 250 in the UK – actually offers ownership costs that eclipse diesel offerings from the likes of Jaguar, BMW, Audi and Mercedes, say Lexus. Despite the logical assumption that the complex hybrid powerplant in the IS 300h would cost more to maintain, Lexus say the opposite is true. Because it has no clutch and the starter motor and alternator are integrated they require no servicing or replacement and Lexus has fitted a timing chain instead of a timing belt, so it won’t need regular replacement either.