Lexus LFA (w/ Gallery)

Lexus presented the LFA at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show last week, the culmination of four years and two show cars. The new front-mid engined supercar is skinned in carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), which, aside from being both lightweight and strong, also enabled greater freedom to create shapes, curves and edges. Seen in the flesh, however, the white bodycolor did the LFA few favors, though this choice may have more to do with slighting Acura - the last NSX, the Type-R, was also white with a red and black interior.

Aston Martin in talks with Mercedes for engine supply

It has seemed for some time that Aston Martin’s wish-list for future engines revolved around Mercedes. They currently use a V12 developed from Ford’s Mondeo V6 and a V8 that’s a development of the 4.2 litre that was in Jaguars (and Range Rovers) until a few years ago, but new engines (and new platforms) are vital if Aston are to remain competitive. Before the recent investment in AML by Investindustrial, there were plans for Aston to use both engines and platforms from Mercedes (the Lagonda SUV was built on the underpinnings of the Mercedes GL) and even the possibility that Aston Martin would design and build the next generation Maybach.

New Mercedes SLK 55 AMG (2012) blasts in

The new Mercedes SLK 55 AMG arrives ahead of Frankfurt Just last week we had the first diesel SLK arrive, promising a new era of fun and frugal Mercedes roadster goodness – but with an oil-burner. But now we’ve got the ‘Daddy’ SLK, the new 2012 Mercedes SLK 55 AMG, revealed ahead of its debut at Frankfurt next month. Really, however much we may admire the SLK diesel – and think it a damn fine road for Mercedes to go in our eco-obsessed world – it’s the new SLK 55 that incites real lust.