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Inside the Lexus LFA Centre of Excellence

Inside the Lexus LFA Centre of Excellence The Lexus LFA is like no other Lexus – and, in many ways, unlike any other supercar – so Lexus make sure the 38 LFAs in Europe get the specialist care they need. Lexus has established a Centre of Excellence for the LFA in Cologne where a team of LFA experts make sure that every LFA in the UK and Europe gets treated just like a Le Mans car when it comes in for servicing. That means removing body panels to get access to the suspension, steering and subframe, every nut and bolt double checked, fingertip inspection of the discs and pads, x-rays to check for wear and detailed inspection of the CFRP bodyshell as well as normal stuff like oil and filter changes.

McLaren MP4-12C GT3 (2011) track testing begins

McLaren has begun testing its latest track weapon, the MP4-12C GT3 ahead of the 2012 FIA GT3 season.  How different is the MP4-12C GT3 from the roadgoing edition? The MP4-12C GT3 is based on the standard machine but modified for FIA GT racing by McLaren GT - a joint venture between McLaren Automotive and CRS Racing, a UK-based team currently competing in FIA GT with Ferrari F430s.  Externally you'll notice the race-spec fixed rear wing, undertray diffuser, front splitter, louvres and vents. Underneath there's a new suspension system, ditching the road car's linked suspension for FIA-compliant conventional dampers and anti-roll bars. Akebono is supplying race-specific brake components, and Bosch Motorsport has installed its ABS system. The car sits 100mm wider on its new suspension and has suitably flared bodywork as a result.  It's still the McLaren's bespoke 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, tuned for racing.

SAIC Leaf concept

The Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) will unveil this futuristic concept at next week's Beijing motor show. Called the Leaf, the new concept has no relation to Nissan's concept car shown in Tokyo last year. It is a much more fanciful two-seat concept car whose design is entirely open to the elements, and it also features a slew of environmentally-friendly technologies.