Mercury Quicksilver Plate 55730 on 2040-parts.com

New Ferrari California T gets new twin turbo V8 with 49% more torque (+video)

The new California T (pictured) revealed ahead of a Geneva debut It’s been a long time since Ferrari gave one of its cars a turbo charged engine, not since the late ’80s and the Ferrari F40, but that all changes – and no doubt points the way to the future – as the Ferrari California T gets revealed ahead of a debut next month at the Geneva Motor Show. Based on the V8 Ferrari build for the Maserati Ghibli, the California T’s new engine is a 3.8 litre twin turbo with 552bhp and a mountain of torque, 557lb/ft, a massive 49 per cent more than the current California produces. That improves performance marginally – 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 196mph – but has a big impact on economy; the new California T improves on the current California by 15 per cent, recording official figures of 27mpg and 250g/km.

BMW launches i sub-brand

BMW yesterday revealed one of the more significant mobility plans since the inception of the automobile: the BMW i sub-brand. The new brand seeks to integrate sustainable elements with a slew of powerful technology whilst simultaneously improving mobility across both private and public platforms. The first vehicles will be launched in 2013.

Government urged to cut fuel duty

CAMPAIGNERS are pressing the Government to cut fuel duty by 3p a litre. The FairFuelUK campaign has taken credit for a series of fuel duty freezes over recent months. Today, a week ahead of the Budget, the group is presenting a letter to 10 Downing Street calling for a 3p cut.