Nissan Otti 2010 Speedometer [0006140] on 2040-parts.com

BMW-Toyota partnership may yield hybrid Z4, new Supra

The BMW-Toyota sports-car lash-up has been reported on for a couple of years now, but new information from a report in the U.K.'s Autocar sheds more light on the future of the BMW Z4 and what this year's Toyota FT-1 concept will ultimately herald. Like the current Z4, its predecessor and the Z3 before it, as well as every generation of Supra, the new platform will feature a front-mounted gasoline engine. From there, things look to be diverging wildly as technology marches forward.

McLaren managing director on leave, not expected in Geneva

McLaren Automotive's U.S.-born managing director, Antony Sheriff, is expected to be absent from the launch of the P1 hypercar at Geneva next week because he is on extended leave from the company. No reason for Sheriff's absence has been given, although McLaren is at pains to point out that he is “still employed as McLaren Automotive's managing director.” Rumors were circulating about Sheriff's absence from Woking in January, but company spokesmen back then stressed that he was still employed by McLaren and would unveil the P1 at Geneva. Despite those assurances, sources had reported earlier in the year that Sheriff “hadn't been seen in his office” for some days.

2013 Maserati Quattroporte revealed

Maserati has revealed the new flagship Quattroporte saloon ahead of a debut at the 2013 Detroit Motor Show. The new Quattroporte – revealed this morning ahead of a public debut at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show – is a bigger, lighter and slicker version of the current car, designed to give Maserati a car that competes on more even terms in the luxury car market. Maserati are being very stingy with detail on the new Quattroporte, so we’re going to have to make some educated guesses.