Toyota hands over small-car development to its European unit

Toyota Motor Corp.'s European division next month will take charge of global product planning for small cars as the Japanese automaker expands model research and development in the region. The change, announced Dec. 17, means that Toyota will count on Europe to develop future products in the minicar, subcompact and compact segments, something that Ford Motor Co.

New V12 engine set to power baby Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce said Monday that the upcoming production version of the 200EX concept car revealed at the Geneva motor show earlier this month will be powered by turbocharged 6.6-liter V12 engine. Part of a new family of gasoline engines developed by parent company BMW--among which is the turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 used in the 7-series--the new four-valve-per-cylinder engine receives the latest in direct-injection technology and is claimed to produce in excess of 500 hp. With the smaller V8 developing 442 lb-ft of torque in the range-topping BMW, the new V12 destined for the price-leading Rolls-Royce is expected to be in the vicinity of 553 lb-ft--something that should ensure what the British carmaker likes to refer to as traditional waftability--in other words, relaxed cruising.

Aston Martin DBRS9 (2008): first official pictures

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 11 January 2008 12:52 Two famous names will unite for the 2008 Le Mans 24hrs. Aston Martin will return to Le Sarthe to defend its GT1 crown and this time the cars – numbered 007 and 009 – will be in Gulf Oil colours. The evocative orange and eggshell blue DBRS9s will compete 40 years after a Gulf-liveried car first won Le Mans.