80hp Caterham Seven 160 details revealed

Caterham has launched its new Seven 160 – an 80hp entry-level variant of its back-to-basics sports car available that’s available now from £14,995. That’s in kit form: if you’re not keen to build it yourself you’ll have to stretch to £17,995, which still offers a decent fun/money ratio thanks to its kerb weight of less than 500kg: that equates to 160hp-per-tonne. Caterham Seven 165 prototype stars at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show Suzuki power for new entry-level Caterham Power comes from a turbocharged 660cc three-cylinder Suzuki engine which propels the car to 60 in 6.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 100mph.

Max Wolff to become Design Director at Lincoln

Ford's luxury nameplate, Lincoln, is set to welcome a new design director, the first dedicated design director for the brand. The role will be filled by former GM designer Max Wolff, who will head the design team in the new year.  Until Wolff's appointment, Peter Horbury and Moray Callum, Ford's Executive Director of Design, The Americas, oversaw Lincoln-Mercury designs – the two brands were paired before Ford decided to kill off Mercury earlier this year. While Gerry McGovern headed Lincoln-Mercury design for a brief period before becoming director of Advanced Design at Land Rover in 2004, Lincoln itself has never had a design director dedicated solely to the brand.  Wolff brings with him extensive global perspective and luxury design experience; his most recent role was with Cadillac, where he was head of exteriors.

New compact Lexus SUV based on Toyota RAV4 on the way

Lexus are planning a compact SUV to slot in below the RX, and based on the Toyota RAV4, to compete in the compact SUV market. Which explains why Lexus are looking for a model to slot in below the hybrid RX (pictured above) – a full size SUV/Crossover – to keep them competitive. And what easier way to go than to take the new Toyota RAV4 and turn it in to a Lexus?