VW Concept BlueSport at Detroit auto show 2009

By Tim Pollard Motor Shows 12 January 2009 05:29 CAR's been tipping it for ages, but today we finally saw the first proof of VW's ambitions to build a Lotus Elise-style back-to-basics roadster. The Concept BlueSport is a mid-engined sports car with the emphasis firmly on the lack of frills – to the benefit of performance, handling and the car's environmental credentials. The BlueSport is compact at just 3999mm long and that mid-mounted engine keeps weight distribution even-Stevens at 45:55.

Tokyo Motor Show: Lexus RC Coupe

JAPANESE car maker Lexus has unveiled a new two-door coupe at the Tokyo show. Designed to appeal to a broader range of customers than the usual Lexus buyer profile, the car has been shown with both petrol and petrol-electric hybrid power. Based on the look of the LF-LC concept first shown at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show, this car boasts a long, low-slung profile but with seats for four.

New Michelin Premier A/S with EverGrip tyres promise better grip when worn and 60,000 miles

New Michelin Premier A/S with EverGrip tyres (pictured) promise better grip when worn and 60,000 miles We all know that tyres for a car don’t seem to last five minutes, and every mile you drive from new makes the tyres less effective. But Michelin reckon they’ve turned that logic on its head with their new Premier A/S with Evergrip. Due to launch in the US in spring – and hopefully the UK and Europe later in the year – the Michelin Premier A/S with EverGrip has new tyre technology that actually improves grip as the tyre wears, and promises 60,000 miles of useful life.