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Lexus IS (2013) more details of new 3-series rival

Lexus has pulled the cloth back on the all-new Lexus IS at the 2013 Detroit motor show, and announced more details of its new hybrid 3-series rival. This will be the first hybrid Lexus IS, and UK sales will start in summer 2013.  What do we know about the new hybrid Lexus IS?  The IS300h combines an electric motor with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. The torque output is yet to be confirmed, but there's 217bhp and Lexus is aiming for a sub-100g/km CO2 output and fuel consumption of at least 65mpg. Figures like that are likely to grab the attention of fleet managers, as Lexus hopes to close the gap on rivals like the BMW 3-series, Mercedes C-class and Audi A4.  There's a non-hybrid model too, but this IS250 will be powered by a 204bhp 2.5-litre V6 petrol engine. It won't be a fleet favourite.  The IS250h has a six-speed automatic transmission, the IS300h has a CVT gearbox, and both cars are rear-wheel drive.

Kias are the least expensive to insure; Audi and Acura, not so much

The Kia Sedona tops the list, with the Mazda 5, the Ford Escape and the Hyundai Santa Fe right behind. No, it's not the “top cars least likely to be bought by enthusiasts” list, although it would fit. It's the list of the least expensive cars to insure.

Spyker, Youngman agree on joint venture

Dutch supercar maker Spyker and the Chinese Youngman Group have agreed on a joint venture to build a new super sport utility vehicle and a group of sedans based on Saab's Phoenix platform. The SUV is scheduled to hit the market by the end of 2014, while no dates for the Phoenix-based sedan were announced. Youngman will invest 10 million euros in Spyker, 7 million of which will be for stock shares constituting 29.9 percent of the supercar company.