New Rolls-Royce Ghost Alpine Trial Centenary Collection

We all know that ‘Special Edition’ cars help car maker shift metal, and even at the top end it works – especially in China. All of which explains why Rolls Royce are delivering a new limited edition Ghost for China at the Shanghai Motor Show this weekend – the Rolls Royce Ghost Alpine Trial Centenary Collection – which takes inspiration for its titivation from the Silver Ghosts that took part in the Austrian Alpine Trials in 1913. The Alpine Trial event in 1913 – just before the world changed forever – saw four Rolls Royce Silver ghosts drive for 1820 miles through almost impossible mountain terrain and establish Rolls Royce as the makers of the ‘Best car in the world’.

Nissan Extrem SUV concept (2012) first official pictures

Nissan is looking to bring a splash of colour and outlandish design to Brazil's streets with their latest creation: the Extrem SUV concept. It's an eye-grabbing response to the 'more affordable locally produced vehicles, which tend to be conservative in design, colour and specification', according to company Senior Vice President Shiro Nakamura. What niche does the Nissan Extrem fall into? If the love-it-or-hate-it Nissan Juke is the marque's jacked-up supermini crossover, the Extrem is the rakish, sportier version of that: a sort of X6 to the Juke's X5, if you will.

Toyota smashes electric car lap record at Nurburgring

Toyota has set a new electric car record at the Nurburgring – with a silent but speedy 7min 47.794sec lap of the Nordschleife. You can watch the record lap in our video above. Ring specialist Jochen Krumbach was at the wheel of the Toyota Motorsport EV P001 racer, obliterating Peugeot's previous 9min 1.338sec record in the EX1 concept car.