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Lexus RC F Sport to debut at Geneva Motor Show

Lexus has announced that they'll be unveiling the 2015 RC 350 F Sport at next month's Geneva Motor Show, with the model meant to be positioned between the base RC 350 Coupe and the performance-oriented RC F. The automaker is promising that the RC F Sport will offer enhanced driving dynamics as well as exclusive exterior styling cues which will set it apart from the base version of the car. However, they're not making promises about the performance of its 450-hp performance of its 450-hp RC F sibling, which will be positioned at the top of the range.

Ferrari posts huge profits - by building fewer cars

AP Ferrari today announced an 8% jump in trading profits to €363.5 million in 2013 - despite selling 5% fewer cars. It's all part of the supercar maker's planned reduction in supply to keep values and demand for Ferraris rock-solid, Maranello reported. Turnover and profit all surpassed previous records, despite the reduction in the number of cars built.

One Lap of the Web: California, Corvette

-- Los Angeles is a city so tied to dysfunctional traffic that locals give it nicknames. Carmageddon, Rampture, Carmageddon II -- construction closure names become coping mechanisms. Hence Jamzilla, the name given to the closure of the 405 Freeway this long President's Day weekend, serving to impede the wanton roaming of Angelenos just when they finally have time to do so.

Dutch factory announced for new Mini

THE NEW Mini is to be built in Holland as well as the UK, owner BMW has announced. The German motor giant said production of the Mini Hatch will be split between its factory in Oxford and a site in Nedcar in Born. Around 1,500 workers will build the new Mini in Holland from this summer at a factory run by BMW's Dutch partner VDL Nedcar.

Shocking bald tyre sparks safety warning

A TYRE that was completely bald after being taken off a high-performance BMW has sparked warnings from tyre safety charity TyreSafe. The shocking pictures of the incredibly dangerous tyre, whose owner is lucky to be alive, show the extent of the lengths to which some people are pushing the limits of safety. As it is, the tyre would be almost completely ineffective in wet or damp conditions, and how the driver had avoided an accident is a mystery.

Young driver insurer pairs with safety charity

SPECIALIST young driver insurer Marmalade is throwing its weight behind safety charity Brake’s 2014 ‘2young2die’ campaign. Brake, the national road safety charity, launches its 2014 workshops and awards scheme this week, and announces Marmalade as its funding partner. Marmalade’s financial support enables Brake to run eight regional educational awareness workshops in the UK’s key cities this year.

Fisker goes to China's Wanxiang

China's Wanxiang Group won an auction for Fisker Automotive Holdings Inc., the maker of luxury plug-in hybrid cars, with a $149.2 million bid, almost six times what Fisker was seeking when it filed for bankruptcy. Wanxiang topped Hybrid Tech Holdings during the auction, which began on Wednesday and went through 19 rounds of bidding, with an offer that includes $126.2 million in cash and $8 million in assumed liabilities, Fisker said Friday in a statement. U.S.

Vauxhall ADAM with new 1.0 ECOTEC 3-Cylinder engine will debut at Geneva

The Vauxhall ADAM (pictured) gets the new 1.0 litre 3-pot ECOTEC engine At the Frankfurt Motor Show last year, Vauxhall announced they would be offering the Vauxhall Adam with their new 1.0 litre 3-cylinder ECOTEC engine in 2014, and we now know it will debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month before going on sale in the spring. The new 1.0 ECOTEC 3-Cylinder engine is Vauxhall’s answer to Ford’s 1.0 litre EcoBoost proliferating across Ford’s range, and if it’s half as good as Ford’s unit it should make the 3-pot Adam a fun and appealing option. Available in two states of tune – 89bhp or 113bhp – with both delivering 122lb/ft of torque and with a new 6-speed manual ‘box that’s 30 per cent lighter, the new engine delivers 30 per cent more torque than Vauxhall’s 1.6 litre petrol but can manage 62mpg and emissions of 99g/km for the 89bhp version.

2014 Volkswagen Scirocco & Scirocco R facelift tweaks the old Scirocco

The 2014 Volkswagen Scirocco (pictured) gets a facelift Before you get too excited, the 2014 Volkswan Scirocco isn’t a nice new version of the Scirocco based on the new Golf Mark 7, but a minor titivate designed to make the ageing Scirocco look a little fresher. Volkswagen has employed the usual facelift tweaks to make the 2014 Scirocco look subtly different to the current model with new bumpers, modified grill, new bi-xenons, new LED tail lights and black diffuser at the back. There’s also a new range of colours on offer and, although the standard Scirocco gets 17″ alloys, you can option 18 and 19″ too.

McLaren 650S (2014) first official pictures

By Phil McNamara First Official Pictures 17 February 2014 13:00 Punchier, a few kilos lighter, more incisive to drive yet more luxurious, McLaren has overhauled the 12C to create the 650S. The new supercar – which makes the 12C look obsolete – is in production now, and will cost punters around £195,000 for the coupe. A folding hard-top spider will also be available, for around £215,000. In a strategy reminiscent of Aston Martin’s continuous improvement of the DB9 and its transformation into the Vanquish, McLaren has revamped the carbonfibre 12C with 25% new parts.

Ultimate Street Car Association opens registration for 2014 season

Back in November, the Ultimate Street Car Association was announced at SEMA as a national race series to oversee the Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational and Qualifying. Registration is now open for the first event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Those of you who picked up any tuner mag from the last six years will remember the Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational, which played host to some incredible cars -- and demonstrated an overwhelming bias toward Camaros, it turns out.

Toyota files for 'Supra' trademark

Adding more grist to the new-Toyota-sports-car mill, the automaker has filed with the USPTO for a “Supra” trademark covering “Automobiles and structural parts thereof.” On one hand, it's routine for companies to protect their dormant trademarks; Toyota previously filed to protect the "Supra" mark back in 2010; that protection expired on January 27th of this year. The new filing was made on Feburary 10th, in the midst of the post-Detroit, FT-1 enthusiast froth. We can't help but hold out hope that there's a bit more weight behind this application than simple maintenance of the status quo.

2014 McLaren 650S: pictures and full details

The McLaren 650S has been revealed ahead of its official debut at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show next month. The new model is based on the existing 12C and McLaren says that it bridges the gap between that car and its P1 ‘hypercar’. Prices start at £195,000 for the 650S coupe and £215,000 for the convertible 650S Spider and represent a premium of about £20,000 over the equivalent 12C and 12C Spider models.

Victorious Mercedes debuts at Amelia Island

The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance brings out some of the rarest and most beautiful cars on the planet. We'll be keeping our eye on one particular gem at this year's show: a 1914 French Grand Prix-winning Mercedes. The rugged racer will be the centerpiece of Mercedes-Benz's display along with the car's owner, George Wingard.

One Lap of the Web: Mock the Week Edition

-- Mazda Europe designer Peter Birthwhistle talks about the future of Mazda: potential hybrid and electric powertrains for the Skyactiv-obsessed company, and how we'll all be driving Mazda-branded pods in the 22nd century. But he also mentions, rather interestingly, how certain Mazdas capture a quintessentially long-hood, RWD look -- and not just the Miata, either, which is RWD. No, it's the exhaust systems on those Skyactiv engines that force a longer, larger hood compartment, and the "long, flowing looks" not usually found on FWD engines.

Land Rover Discovery XXV Special Edition celebrates 25 years of the Discovery

The Land Rover Discovery XXV (pictured) celebrates 25 years of the Discovery The Land Rover Discovery was launched 25 years ago as a ‘Lifestyle’ Land Rover product complete with funky interior from Jasper Conran. And now, with the Discovery 4 nearing the end of its life, Land Rover is commemorating that anniversary with a special edition model – the Land Rover Discovery XXV Special Edition. The Discovery XXV is based on Land Rover’s top spec Disco – the HSE Luxury – and comes in a choice of four colours - Causeway Grey, Santorini Black, Fuji White and Indus Silver – with Narvik Black for the grill surround and door mirrors and Dark Atlas on the grill and vents.

Finance rates confirmed for fastest Seat ever

SEAT HAS announced finance deals that should see its fastest-ever car leave the showroom at furious pace. The entry-level Leon Cupra 265, so named for its count of horsepower, after a £1,000 deposit contribution from Seat, could be yours from £265 per month. Over 36 months, the 4.9% interest deal is fully flexible, and the monthly payments can be reduced with a larger deposit if buyers have something to add to the £1,000 leg-up.

Vauxhall launches powerful 1.0 petrol engine

OLD-FASHIONED 1.6-litre petrol engines in Vauxhall cars are about to be replaced by a clever new 1.0-litre alternative. The tiny newcomer has only three cylinders, but thanks to a turbocharger it coughs up more power and torque than many normal 1.6-litre equivalents. It’s set to debut in Vauxhall’s funky Adam supermini, although the new engine will be display-only when it emerges at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

UK gamer turned racer signed by Red Bull

When Nissan and PlayStation got together to develop the GT Academy, and started offering Gran Tursimo gamers the chance to become real-life racers, surely no-one expected the programme to be so incredibly successful. GT Academy graduates have raced all over the world, competing in all kinds of cars and succeeding in many famous events – including at Le Mans. Now 2011 GT Academy winner Jann Mardenborough could well be on his way to Formula One.

Land Rover Discovery XXV Edition (2014) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 17 February 2014 00:01 Happy birthday, Land Rover Discovery. The first example of Land Rover’s famous family 4x4 hit showrooms in 1989 – to celebrate, here’s the inevitable special edition model. It’s the Land Rover Discovery XXV, based on the top-spec model of the recently revised Discovery 4, and packing a few bespoke touches.

McLaren MP4-12 650S hits the Web ahead of official Geneva reveal

Images of the new McLaren MP4-12 650S have leaked to the Internet ahead of a planned unveiling for the British supercar at the Geneva Motor Show in early March. Created in response to customer demand for an edgier version of the McLaren MP4-12C offering greater levels of driver engagement, the 650S runs a more heavily tuned version of McLaren's twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 direct-injection engine producing a claimed 25 hp more than the variant used by standard sibling for a total of 641 hp (as its name suggests 650 ps -- metric hp). Further details remain scarce ahead of the MP4-12C 650S's official public unveiling in Switzerland two weeks from now, although information passed on to prospective customers at a private presentation of the new two-seater held last week suggest it is also in line to receive a series of modifications to its seven-speed dual clutch gearbox, suspension, steering, brakes and aerodynamics -- all aimed at providing it with a more aggressive nature and added racetrack ability.

Teenager's sinkhole supermini replaced by car website

A TEENAGER whose car was swallowed by a sinkhole has expressed her delight after a motoring website bought her a replacement. Zoe Smith, 19, discovered the 30ft-deep crater in the driveway of her family's home on February 2. She went into hysterics after discovering her prized Volkswagen Lupo had disappeared into the ground.

VW Scirocco 2014 update for Geneva Motor Show

The Volkswagen Scirocco is set to get a new look and extra power at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. The restyled ’Rocco arrives 40 years after the original made its debut in Geneva back in 1974, and brings with it extra performance and improved efficiency.   New look for 2014 Volkswagen Scirocco The update to the Scirocco’s appearance is subtle but distinct, giving the car a flatter-looking nose and an increasingly Golf-like rear end.

VW Scirocco and Scirocco R (2014) more power for tweaked coupe

By Damion Smy First Official Pictures 17 February 2014 10:00 VW’s Scirocco is rearming ahead of the new Audi TT’s reveal at the 2014 Geneva motor show. VW wants to blow Audi’s 2+2 coupe into the weeds with a double-whammy of more power and fuel economy. So, along with tweaked looks and new interior toys, that’s exactly what all six Scirocco variants have been given.

New McLaren 650S Coupe & Spider: OFFICIAL

The new McLaren 650S Coupe (pictured) officially revealed After an initial tease last week, we had the first official photos of the new McLaren 650s yesterday which has prompted McLaren to do the right thing and officially reveal the new 650S today. Just as we’ve already reported, the 650S is a more focused 12C with front end styling that takes its lead from the McLaren P1, more power – up from 616bhp in the 12C to 641bhp (650PS) – and more focus on driver engagement. That new P1 front end new LED headlights mark the 650S out from the 12C, with a more integrated front splitter increasing downforce and door blades behind the front wheels directing air from the trailing edges of the splitter for better front end grip.

Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic (2014) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 17 February 2014 07:21 This is the 281bhp Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic. That long-winded name might lull you into thinking this is just a new trim level, but not so fast. This Evoque, with its highly tuned turbocharged engine, upgraded brakes, and retuned chassis system, is the hot hatch of Evoques.

Prime Minister visits Jaguar Land Rover

DAVID Cameron paid a visit to Jaguar Land Rover’s new Engine Manufacturing Centre at the weekend. The Prime Minister was given a tour of the new plant where he saw the on-going installation of the manufacturing equipment first hand. Based at the heart of the UK, it is ideally located between the company’s three other manufacturing sites at Halewood, Castle Bromwich and Solihull.

2014 Geneva Motor Show preview

The 2014 Geneva Motor Show opens its doors on 4 March and it will be a showcase for all that the world’s car makers have to offer. Some major new cars will make their public debut at the show, including the Audi TT, BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, Ferrari California and Renault Twingo, all of which will be on sale by the end of 2014. There’ll be plenty of concept cars on display, too: some will be outlandish visions of the future, but others – including the Skoda Vision C – will hint at production models that will be on sale soon.

2014 Porsche Macan video review

The all-new Porsche Macan is likely to become the brand's best-selling model. The compact SUV is a rival for cars such as the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Range Rover Evoque and MSN Cars got behind the wheel to test the Macan's abilities on the road, off-road and on a test track. The Macan is Porsche's second SUV - it's a baby brother to the larger Cayenne and goes on sale in April, with prices starting from £43,300.

Top Gear Tonight: Road Trip to Ukraine, Zenvo ST1 & SIARPC is James Blunt

Jeremy Clarkson with the Zenvo ST1 on tonight’s Top Gear Top gear returns tonight for episode three, and we have a road trip by our intrepid trio as they take three small hatchbacks for an adventure on the Crimean Peninsula. Jeremy Clarkson takes the new VW up! city car, Richard Hammond has the Ford Fiesta and James May the Dacia Sander (what else could he have taken?) as the boys traverse one of the biggest countries in Europe (and encounter many lorries, it seems).