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Mercedes AMG Vision Gran Turismo: 5 to be built – unless Mercedes set their lawyers loose

There are plans to make the Mercedes AMG Vision Gran Turismo (pictured) a reality With the launch of Gran Turismo 6, Mercedes took the opportunity to build a one-off version of the Mercedes AMG Vision Gran Turismo Supercar, and took it off to the Los Angeles Auto Show to sprinkle a bit of Gran Turismo fairy dust on proceedings. There are no plans by Mercedes to build the stunning looking AMG Vision Gran Turismo, but that hasn’t stopped Florida company J & S Worldwide Holdings from stepping up and offering a short run of recreations of the car. J & S are advertising their take on the AMG Vision Gran Turismo on James List and say they are going to build just five cars – 2 for Europe, 2 for the Middle East and 1 for the USA – and say they’ve already sold one.

Lamborghini Huracan: Is this the name of the new Gallardo?

Do we now have to get used to calling this the Lamborghini Huracan? We’re currently suffering a spate of teases for the successor to the Lamborghini Gallardo – which we expected to be the Cabrera – but it seems it won’t get the Cabrera moniker after all – it’s apparently going to be the Lamborghini Huracan. So says Auto Express who’ve been tipped the wink by someone who seems to know.

2014 Renault Megane Coupe-Cabriolet facelift revealed

The 2014 Renault Megane Coupe-Cabriolet (pictured) gets a bit of a facelift for 2014 The Renault Megane range has had a bit of a facelift for 2014, and so far we’ve had the reveal of the Hatchback, Coupe and Sports Tourer Meganes and their UK prices. But now it’s the turn of the Renault Megane Coupe-Cabriolet to bow in with its facelift. The facelift tweaks for the Megane Coupe-Cabriolet are not exactly startling, as they’re much the same as the rest of the Megane range with a titivated nose with new headlights, a new bumper and a big Renault logo bang in the middle.

New Vauxhall VXR8 GTS will finally debut at the Performance Car Show next month

The Vauxhall VXR8 GTS (pictured) will finally debut in January We got details of the new Vauxhall VXR8 GTS back in May, with a promise from Vauxhall that the first cars would be delivered by the end of the year. But that hasn’t happened. But now, just a bit late, Vauxhall has revealed that the VXR8 GTS will debut at the Performance Car Show alongside Autosport International next month.

Van Damme Does The Business For Volvo

WHO said selling trucks had to be dull? Volvo has already used a hamster to sell its big rigs – it helped steer a truck if you don’t mind – and now the Swedish firm has employed the services of Jean-Claude Van Damme. Called ‘The Epic Split’, the action movie star is seen doing the splits while balancing precariously between two moving Volvo trucks.

Go racing... on a Segway

FORGET supercars burning rubber around a circuit – a track-day organiser is now offering off-road driving experiences on Segways. Volunteers can take to a specially-designed rally course on one of the self-balancing upright scooters, after being given some basic instruction in how not to fall off. Organisers TrackDays.co.uk said in a press release: “Driving the Segway is easier than it looks.

Brits talk up new Bentley racer's chances

BENTLEY’S first mainstream racing team since 2003 has been talking tough about their all-new car’s chances as it runs through its race preparation. Guy Smith, who was part of the team that won the overall Le Mans 24-hour crown in a Bentley Speed 8 10 years ago, is leading another team of three as the Continental GT3 racer hits the track at next month’s Gulf 12-hour endurance race in Dubai. “After four months of hard work and development testing, we definitely feel ready to start focusing on our race performance,” Guy said.

New BMW M3 and M4 revealed for 2014

This is it, folks – this is your early petrolheaded Christmas present: BMW has released full details of the new BMW M3 Saloon and M4 Coupe. And we do mean full details. Output of 431 turbocharged horsepower is the headline, but really it’s the extent of the engineering overhaul carried out by BMW’s M division that really stuns the senses here.

BMW reveals ferocious new M3 and M4

IF YOU’RE no fan of Top Gear-style wheel-spinning, tyre-smoking oversteer, then it’s probably best to look away now, because BMW has unveiled the new M3 and M4. Essentially the same car underneath, the main differences come in the number of doors and the suspension settings, with the M3 built as a four-door, slightly more forgiving saloon and the M4 as a harder-edged two-door coupe. But both will go very sideways, if that’s the sort of thing that revs your engine, thanks to a shared 425bhp six-cylinder engine that sends all that juicy power to the rear wheels.

Australia's Holden to cease production after 2017, GM says

General Motors, in the latest blow to Australia's auto industry, will end vehicle and engine manufacturing and scale back engineering operations in the country by the end of 2017. The company's Holden unit, a mainstay in Australia for decades, cited the high cost of manufacturing in one of the world's smallest but most competitive markets and one that has also been upended by a steady rise in imports, mostly from southeast Asia. There has been widespread speculation of the move in recent days and earlier Tuesday, in Australia, GM officials said no decision had been made.

Honda CR-V 1.6i-DTEC does 77.86 mpg in the ‘Real World’

The Honda CR-V 1.6i-DTEC (pictured) does 77.86 mpg in the ‘Real World’ Official car economy figures are pretty useless at being anything other than a guide to the relative economy of cars on sale. But Honda are trying to prove that’s not true. They’ve taken their new CR-V 1.6i-DTEC – which has official economy of 62.8 mpg – out on a mission to prove it can do even more miles to the gallon in the real world than in official tests.

One Lap of the Web: a drifting luxobarge and an 80s hot hatch

-- If you've been wondering for the past few months since the release of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-class what it would look like if it was forced to drift around a racetrack (and who hasn't?) along with a Nissan 200SX drift machine, this video should answer that question. -- Remember the Shelby GLHS of the late 1980s? Those things were powered almost entirely by turbos, it seemed, and the whoosh they made is epic even by today's standards.

Volvo Concept XC Coupé shows how new design language translates to SUVs

Volvo's Concept CX Coupé has been revealed in a set of images ahead of its debut at January's North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The crossover SUV is the second of three concepts to be developed with Volvo's new design language under vice president of design Thomas Ingenlath, following the launch of the Volvo Concept Coupé in Frankfurt earlier this year. It's understood the new XC90 is coming next year and so this concept is certain to feature some of the elements we can expect to see on the production model.

Rinspeed XchangE concept rethinks the autonomous car's cabin

Rinspeed's XchangE all-electric touring sedan concept has been confirmed for the Geneva motor show, and focuses on how future drivers will spend their time in autonomous cars. Founder Frank M. Rinderknecht says, "So far hardly anyone has taken this to its logical conclusion from the perspective of the driver.

New Volvo Concept XC Coupe for Detroit

Volvo has revealed the first details and images of the Concept XC Coupe, a new show car for the Detroit Motor Show in January 2014. The second of what will be three concepts based on Volvo’s new ‘Scalable Product Architecture’ (SPA), the Concept XC Coupe follows on from the Volvo Concept Coupe that debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. On Bing: see pictures of the Volvo Concept XC Coupe Find out how much a used Volvo costs on Auto Trader As its name suggests, the Concept XC Coupe represents a possible next chapter in the Volvo Cross Country and XC product portfolio – in other words, the firm’s more off-road orientated models.

R8 e-tron electric supercar will be built, Audi says

The Audi R8 e-tron is back on: Audi has backtracked on an earlier decision to cancel production of the zero-emission supercar and will now push ahead with small-scale production two-seater, Autoweek can confirm. The decision is part of a number of sweeping changes made to Audi's research and engineering operations since the arrival of its new head, Ulrich Hackenberg. Citing recent advances in lithium-ion battery technology that has reportedly increased its range from an original 134 miles to close to 250 miles, high-ranking insiders at Audi's headquarters in Germany suggest the R8 e-tron will now go into limited production during the latter half of 2014.

New (2014) BMW M3 and M4: OFFICIAL

The new BMW M3 (pictured) debuts along with its coupe sibling, the BMW M4 (below) We’ve had teases from BMW for the new M3 and M4 but now, ahead of a public debut at the Detroit Auto Show next month, we get the official details. Key to the four-door M3 and 2-door M4 is the new 3.0 litre engine, a new turbo, direct injection in-line six petrol which produces 425bhp and a very healthy 405lb/ft of torque from just 1850 rpm. That sort of grunt is enough to get the M3 and M4 to 62mph in 4.3 seconds with the standard six-speed manual, but opt for the seven-speed DCT ‘box and it’s even quicker – just 4.1 seconds.

MOT test gets tougher for diesels

THE MOT TEST for cars with diesel engines is set to become much tougher from February 2014 due to new rules about exhaust filters. Diesel-engined cars fitted with an exhaust filter as standard when new will now be checked to make sure it is still present. Any car found to have had the filter removed will be automatically failed and required to have a new filter fitted.

Bridgestone reinvents the wheel

THE WHEEL is being reinvented with the development of an airless tyre for cars that could put an end to punctures and be kinder to the environment. Currently being developed by Bridgestone, the Air-Free Concept Tyre has an exterior tread that looks normal but inside there are plastic spokes that support the outer casing. This does away with the need to pump up the tyres, which means a puncture is no longer a problem as the tyre cannot deflate.

BMW releases M Performance accessories for 2-Series Coup

The BMW 2-series is set to replace the 1-series coupe that we've had on this side of the Atlantic come next spring, and a few months prior to its U.S. debut BMW has rolled out M Performance upgrades for the upcoming coupe. That's right, the 1-series will no longer be sold in the U.S., so there won't be any 2014 models.

McLaren P13 – first OFFICIAL details and image

McLaren P13 (pictured) first OFFICIAL details revealed It was only last month that we had official confirmation that the McLaren P13 – McLaren’s more affordable mid-engined supercar – would arrive in 2015 to take on cars like Audi’s R8 and the top end Porsche 911s. Now McLaren has gone a bit further and revealed details of the P13. The McLaren P13 – shown above in a sketch by McLaren’s design boss, Frank Stephenson – looks to take its design cues more from the MacLaren P1 than the 12C – a good thing – and will utilise the same carbon fibre MonoCell chassis as the P1 and 12C as well as a de-tuned version of the same 3.8 litre V8 turbo.

First look: 2014 BMW M3 and M4

The BMW M3 is back, faster and more powerful than ever before -- but only as a four-door sedan. For its iconic 3-series-based performance model, BMW will dispense with a 26-year tradition of high-revving naturally aspirated engines in lieu of turbocharged six-cylinder power. Revealed here in production-car guise for the first time, the new 425-hp M3 sedan will be joined at the outset by its sister model, the M4 -- a mechanically identical but stylistically sleeker two-door coupe previewed in lightly veiled concept-car form at the Pebble Beach concours in California last August.

Volvo Concept XC Coupe at Detroit Auto Show – previews the new Volvo XC90 (+ video)

The Volvo Concept XC Coupe (pictured) will debut at Detroit next month Volvo are heading to the Detroit Auto Show next month with the second of three concepts planned utilising their new scalable platform architecture which will underpin almost all future models – the Volvo Concept XC Coupe. The first of the three new concepts from Volvo came at the Frankfurt Motor Show back in September as the Volvo Concept Coupe – a new take on Volvo’s iconic P1800 – but this time we get a concept that points firmly at the new Volvo XC90, due in a year’s time as a 2015 model. We’ve already got some idea of what Volvo’s designers think the new XC90 should look like, but the styling cues on the Concept Coupe – and the teaser photos of the Concept XC Coupe (above) – give us a much clearer view of what Volvo are planning for one of their most successful cars.

CAR meets Porsche’s 2014 Le Mans chief

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 11 December 2013 14:50 Porsche is returning to Le Mans in 2014 for the first time since 1998 with an all-new LMP1 prototype, and with ex-Red Bull Racing Formula One driver Mark Webber as its star driver. Audi has dominated Le Mans for the past decade, but new-for-2014 rules allow for any engine size and configuration, and instead focus on energy consumption per lap. With the slate wiped clean, 2014 will be Porsche’s best chance to beat its fellow VW Group member, and the strong Toyota team.

Uber smartphone app to take over taxi market?

A new smartphone app called Uber is threatening to put the traditional taxi out of business. The smartphone software allows users to ‘order’ a private car, connecting passengers with regular drivers willing to hire out their vehicles. However, these aren’t taxis… On Bing: see pictures of Uber Wifi hotspots for London’s black cabs Uber originally began in San Francisco in 2009, with users able to book and reserve a car driven by a regular member of the public for journeys via text message or the dedicated smartphone app.

BMW M4 coupe (2014) first official pictures

By Damion Smy First Official Pictures 11 December 2013 12:00 June 21 2014 is the day the new BMW M4 goes on sale, yet BMW has released full details for the production version of its new hero ahead of its Detroit show debut in January. In case you missed it, the M4 is the new name for the two-door M3, and the flagship M version is more powerful, faster and tougher than ever. The outgoing M3 Coupe has proved the benchmark for the Mercedes C63 AMG and the Audi RS5 so the M4 will has its work cut out for it, having to live up to not only its rivals, but its predecessor.

BMW M3 saloon (2014) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 11 December 2013 12:00 This is the new BMW M3 saloon. It’s lighter, more powerful and more fuel-efficient than the old V8-powered M3 – and BMW claims it’s even sharper to drive. Read on for CAR’s definitive M3 deep-dive.

Porsche confirms four-cylinder Macan

Porsche has said that its new Macan SUV will come with four-cylinder engines – making it the first four-pot Porsche since 1995. Porsche engineer Antoon Janssen told MSN Cars: “There will be four-cylinder engines added to the range shortly. You will find out more details soon, but I can’t tell you any more.” On Bing: see pictures of the Porsche Macan New 2014 Porsche Macan revealed in LA The engines are likely to be both petrol and diesel, and from within the Volkswagen group.

Barclays bids bye-bye to 'Boris Bikes'

BARCLAYS is to end its sponsorship of the so-called Boris Bikes, introduced by London Mayor Boris Johnson to the capital in 2010. The bank's logo has adorned the blue cycles since their introduction three years ago.But Transport for London (TfL) will be forced to look for a new sponsor after Barclays announced plans to discontinue with the deal at the end of its contract in 2015. The bikes were launched amid much fanfare in August 2010, with nearly a million journeys made within the first 10 weeks of the scheme being rolled out.

Volvo XC coupe concept (2014) gives first glimpse of new XC90 styling

By Damion Smy and Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 11 December 2013 12:00 A teaser picture and two design sketches give the latest official clues to how the 2014 Volvo XC90 will look. This is the XC Coupe, the second of three concept cars penned by Volvo’s new design chief, Thomas Ingenlath. Many of the car’s cues are shared with the Volvo Concept Coupe we saw (and liked) earlier in 2013.