New 18-22 Ford Ecosport-door Belt Molding Left Cn1z-7421453-h Atf0824 on 2040-parts.com

Tokyo Auto Salon pits performance autos against hybrids

The world's other big January auto show, the 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon, opened its doors to tuner enthusiasts in mid-month with a record 402 exhibitors. The Auto Salon fuses numerous styles, but the overriding theme this year was hybrid cars, with customized Toyota Priuses and Honda Insights at every turn. Good old-fashioned engine tuning is alive and well in Japan, where even new sports cars are being heavily modified, with cars such as the KRL Mitsubishi Evolution X and the HKS Nissan GT-R both boasting in excess of 600 hp.

Megane Renaultsport 250 launches

The Megane Renaultsport 250 has been launched at Frankfurt As you’d expect, the RS 250 is a wee bit OTT with LEDs and splitter; bulges and biceps everywhere. When the Renaultsport hits the road next year you’ll be able to choose from two versions – Sport or Cup. Unless you have a spine made of titanium – or you don’t feel a performance Renaultsport deserves its name unless your arse can read the makers name on the cats-eyes as you crash over them – choose the Sport.

Hyundai Veloster (New Hyundai Coupe) Detroit debut +video

The Hyundai Veloster Detroit - Hyundai's new 'Utility Coupe' As we said when we ran the tease for the Hyundai Veloster last week, this here Hyundai Veloster has been a long time coming. Two years after the Hyundai Coupe stopped being made, and more than a year after we ran spy shots of the Veloster, Hyundai finally manage to get a production version of the Veloster on a show stand. With its funky urban looks – like a squashed coupe version of the Hyundai Curb – the Veloster, complete with asymmetrical doors, promises to be at least as much fun as its progenitor – the Hyndai Coupe – was.