Lexus IS 300h promises unrivalled ownership costs

The new Lexus IS - launched at Detroit in January and costing from £26,495 for the IS 250 in the UK – actually offers ownership costs that eclipse diesel offerings from the likes of Jaguar, BMW, Audi and Mercedes, say Lexus. Despite the logical assumption that the complex hybrid powerplant in the IS 300h would cost more to maintain, Lexus say the opposite is true. Because it has no clutch and the starter motor and alternator are integrated they require no servicing or replacement and Lexus has fitted a timing chain instead of a timing belt, so it won’t need regular replacement either.

Volkswagen Jetta gets a small facelift – debuting at New York Auto Show

The VW Jetta gets a minor facelif It’s three years since the current VW Golf with a boot – the Volkswagen Jetta – arrived, so it’s time for a nip and a tuck to keep it relevant. Volkswagen are planning to roll out a facelift for the Jetta (above) at the New York Auto Show in a few days time and, although this is the North American version of the Jetta, the European tweaks will be much the same. That means an improvement in aerodynamics – by 10 per cent, say VW – with stop-start and low rolling resistance tyres to help economy too, a new nose with new grill, new bumpers and integrated fogs.

Ferrari FF: 4WD explained +video

Ferrari FF 4WD - explained in the Ferrari video below We’re still trying to agree on which car was the star of the show at Geneva 2011. But whatever we eventually settle on – if we ever do – the Ferrari FF is one of the top contenders. Many have taken issue with its modern take on a Shooting Brake design, finding it a step too far for a Ferrari.