Legacy 1994 Pedal Brake/clutch 176370 on 2040-parts.com

McLaren MP4-12C – Testing video

We have video of the McLaren MP4-12C out testing We had a real flurry of activity last year with reveal of McLaren’s first real new road car since the mid ’90s – the McLaren MP4-12C. Yes, we had the McLaren Mercedes SLR until last year, but that was best described as McLaren’s efforts to make a Mercedes, bloated, corporate concept of a supercar work. It wasn’t really what McLaren are about, which is cutting edge technology in a lightweight clothing.

Volkswagen Beetle R: Frankfurt debut planned?

2012 VW Beetle R - a Hot Beetle However hard they tried – and they did for a while – Volkswagen never managed to make the reborn VW Beetle anything more than a novelty; a girly car with a flower vase for girly drivers. That was enough to make the Beetle sell in almost respectable numbers in both North and South America, but it consigned VW’s retro effort to the novelty bin in Europe, where we tend to know a cynical marketing ploy from a real car. But Volkswagen seem intent on making the 212 VW Beetle rather more credible.

One lap of the web: A Lotus superbike, a track-only Z06 and a pair of M cars

Motorcycle News Lotus has licensed its name for this 200 HP superbike. Motorcycle News is reporting that Lotus, the beloved sportscar manufacturer that launched a thousand acronymic reliability jokes--"L.O.T.U.S, Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious"--has lent its name to a 200 HP, V-twin-powered superbike that is to be manufactured by a new company. While it does wear a lovely JPS-style livery, it's not clear where the lightness has been added or if it's been simplified.