Honda CR-Z Mugen (2011): the first sketches

This is our first glimpse of the new, Mugen-tweaked Honda CR-Z. Developed by Mugen Euro, the UK-based arm of Honda’s long-standing tuning partner Mugen, this CR-Z features a whole raft of tweaks to turn it into a hot hybrid. As with the previous UK-spec Civic Type R Mugen, this new Mugen model is currently being touted as a one-off prototype, but just as that Civic was then built in limited numbers the same may happen with the CR-Z – and the individual parts may become available as aftermarket accessories too.

2014 Toyota Land Cruiser facelift details – costs from £34,995

2014 Toyota Land Cruiser facelift details – costs from £34,995 The Land Cruiser can’t really offer car-like handling, but it has upped the stakes in the other departments with the arrival of a facelift for 2014. The 2014 Land Cruiser gets a new nose – the de rigueur facelift option – new headlights and running lights, new grill and bumper and round the back some new lights, all set-off by new alloys. Inside Toyopta has give the Land Cruiser a new set of switches for the drive modes, a new speedo and rev counter, a 4.2″ TFT screen, new wood and aluminium finishes and upgraded leather.

F1 Budget Cap – No two-tier system says Ecclestone

Bernie Ecclestone says there will be no two-tier system in the F1 budget cap row [ad#ad-1] All eyes have gone off the stunning start to this year’s F1 circus with the news that Ferrari, Renault, Red Bull and several other teams have threatened to quit F1 next year in protest at the budget cap proposal and the two-tier system that appears to create. In a nutshell, the FIA – lead by Max Mosley – has imposed a £40 million cap on F1 team expenditure for next year (excluding driver costs, marketing costs and transport), but has said that teams who don’t adhere to the cap can still compete, but will be handicapped. Not surprisingly, the richer teams have objected and, on the face of it, it starts to look as if F1 as we know it is going to bite the dust.