Bentley Hunaudières: The Bentley that became a Bugatti

Bentley Hunaudieres Now seemingly forgotten, the Bentley Hunaudières Concept car from the 1999 Geneva Motor Show was the forerunner to the Bugatti Veyron. At the end of the 1990s Volkswagen embarked on a buying frenzy that would see them become makers of some of the world’s most desirable cars, acquiring Bentley, Bugatti and Lamborghini in the space of a few months in 1998. But even though VW had bought Bentley and Bugatti it seems they weren’t entirely sure at first where they would take their new marques, and at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show they revealed a W16 hypercar.

CES opens with fewer big wheels, including carmakers

There are some grumblings that the annual CES is becoming less relevant in this era of 24-hour news and instant globalization of information on the internet. And you can make a good argument that the relevance of the world's largest consumer electronics show is at least evolving, for carmakers as well as for other industry giants. It has always been an industry only show, with no public -- the “consumers” in "consumer electronics" -- allowed.

2013 Aston Martin Vanquish: New photos and new video

The new Aston Martin Vanquish is heading for Paris 2012 and Aston Martin has released new photos and video of their range-topper. The 2013 Vanquish gets extra power – it now delivers 565bhp and 456lb/ft of torque – which propels it to 62mph in 4.1 seconds and on to 183mph, sharper new looks with hints of the One-77 and lots of carbon fibre, and a new list price that is still the right side of £200k – £189,995. And perhaps delivering new photos and video of the 2013 Vanquish is Aston Martin’s way of making sure the Vanquish has its moment in the sun ahead of the reveal of the new DB9.