Vauxhall VXR8 Tourer revealed: Price from £49,500

Vauxhall has revealed the Estate version of the VXR8 – the Vauxhall VXR8 Tourer – which offers oodles of room and 425bhp. That sort of power in an estate car certainly offers a different experience to regular load-luggers with 0-62mph coming up in a slightly silly 4.9 seconds. But, despite looking a bit past its prime even though it’s a new model, the VXR8 Tourer gets a reasonably sophisticated setup with McPherson Strut with progressive coils at the front and a multi-link setup at the back, launch control and a limited slip diff, all conspiring to try and put the VXR8 Tourer’s 425bhp power down through the rear wheels.

It’s a Merry McLaren 12C Christmas

McLaren has come up with a range of accessories for McLaren owners and enthusiasts from watches to jewellery and clothing. Inspired by the McLaren 12C, there’s everything from a Tag Heuer watch – the CARRERA MP4-12C Chronograph – with carbon based dials and sapphire crystal inserts (a snip at £8995) to a selection of ladies and mens rings, and cufflinks, that McLaren’s shopping site wouldn’t let us see the price of. At the slightly more affordable end of the scale you can opt for a set of McLaren luggage with silver trim (£3950) or a McLaren luggage brief case at £1350.

How VW's XL1 will make your next Golf lighter, faster and more frugal

VW will only build 250 examples of the XL1, its super-streamlined two-seater than scores a combined 314mpg thanks to its plug-in hybrid diesel engine, lightweight construction and low-drag design. Each punter will have to put up around €100,000 for the privilege of saving money on fuel – but don’t worry, because every car across the VW Group will benefit from the lessons learned, all by 2020. Is my next VW likely to be a hybrid?