Holden restores its futuristic 1969 Hurricane concept car

Holden, General Motors' Australian subsidiary, has resurrected its first-ever concept car: the 1969 Hurricane, packed with then-futuristic technology, some of which wouldn't make its way into production cars for more than a decade. When it was first revealed, the mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, two-seat sports car showcased in-your-dreams innovations such as a rearview camera, a magnet-based navigation system, automatic air conditioning, electronic displays and a station-seeking radio. Holden designers started restoring the Hurricane concept--code-named RD 001--in 2006, using as many of the original parts as possible.

Lotus Elise S Cup R poised for US consumption

Lotus can’t sell its road cars in North America anymore (dang safety regulations!), but that won’t stop them from sending some hardcore track vehicles here for the true enthusiasts. Enter the Lotus Elise S Cup R. The Cup R variant of the Elise sports a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 217 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque with help from a Magnuson R900 supercharger.

Lexus GS 300h: Shanghai Motor Show

Offering much better economy than the GS 450h, it offers not only a viable alternative for private buyers looking for a bit of beautifully built Japanese luxury with lower running costs, but also makes the GS a much more appealing option for company car drivers – probably where most of the sales will be made. Lexus are aiming for Co2 emissions below 110g/km for the GS 300h (the IS 300h manages 99g/km) which will give headline economy around 60mpg – a third better than the GS 450h can manage. Power comes from the same hybrid drivetrain as the IS 300h, which means a 2.5 litre petrol mated to an electric motor and delivering 215bhp and o-62mph in around 8.5 seconds.