Kyb Sm5540 Strut Cushion/mount-suspension Strut Mounting Kit on 2040-parts.com

Lexus CT 200h: a true hot hybrid hatch?

Lexus has thrust its new CT 200h hybrid hatchback straight into competition with the BMW 1-series and Audi A3 with the bold claim that it will be the dynamic benchmark for the sector.Can a brand better known for producing immaculately built luxury barges really build a sporting hatch? We're about to find out... It only takes a cursory glance at the latest press material from Lexus to discover how it's pitching the CT, containing as it does more references to the word 'sporty' than you can shake a gearstick at.

New Skoda Octavia vRS hatch & estate revealed

The 2013 Skoda Octavia vRS has been revealed (vRS hatch pictured) The Skoda Octavia vRS – the latest version of Skoda’s quick and appealing take on the VW Golf GTI – has been unveiled ahead of its debut at the Goodwood FoS in July, and it looks a cracker. Available as either a hatchback or estate – and as a diesel or a petrol – the Octavia vRS manages to repackage the Golf GTI and Golf GTD in to one Skoda, offering good performance (the vRS is a bit slower than the GTI to 62mph at 6.8 seconds but has a 2mph higher top speed), good looks and the promise of prices starting not much above £20k. The petrol vRS gets the Golf GTI’s 217bhp 2.0 litre TSI and the diesel vRS the 181bhp 2.0 litre TFI from the Golf GTD, both with a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard and a six-speed DSG as option, sports suspension, XDS differential, quicker steering and multi-link rear suspension.

VW Up! Lite (2009) first official pictures

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 02 December 2009 18:30 Here's our best look yet at what a Euro-spec VW Up microcar could look like. This VW Up! Lite concept car was shown at today's 2009 LA auto show – to preview a productionised baby VW, with a diesel-electric powertrain for a stunning 116mpg economy figure.The Up Lite!