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Beijing motor show: China means (auto) business

By Guy Bird Motor Shows 22 April 2008 05:34 Only a fool wandering around this week's Beijing motor show would still dismiss China as some also-ran automotive market full of rip-off designs and outdated ‘new’ cars based on old Western designs. While all of those clichés were still in evidence at the Chinese auto show, the copycat mentality is much less obvious than even a year ago at last year's Shanghai show. And every western car exec CAR spoke to was in awe of the upward sales trajectory that means China is still the place to do business in 2008.Yes, there are still some odd automotive fish, usually small ‘three-box’ saloon in shape such as the Chinese market only Citroen C-Elysee and the VW Lavida (a Jetta/Bora Plus car with less style).

Toyota Auris Hybrid – Frankfurt debut

The Toyota Auris Hybrid will be at Frankfurt Toyota are calling this the first application of their Hybrid Synergy Drive in a mainstream model. Which makes us wonder if Toyota don’t consider the Prius a mainstream model. They’re also calling this a concept, but we know that Toyota will be producing the Auris Hybrid in the UK next year, so take this as a pretty much production-ready car.

Hexatech F1-spec driving simulator goes on sale

If you’re serious about your gaming – and we mean very serious indeed – then Dutch simulator firm Cruden has just unveiled the last word in driving simulators. The Hexatech is a six-strut hydraulic set-up that’s normally only sold to F1, WRC and NASCAR teams. But it has now decided to unleash it on the public – you just need to find the £120,000 asking price.