IFR Aspid strikes Spanish gold

By Tom Richards Motor Industry 08 August 2008 13:32 More than 100 potential IFR Aspid customers have signed up for a two-day test drive following the new two-seater sports car's unveiling at the London motor show last month. Now the Spanish manufacturer is seeking to create an international dealer network.The Aspid has been in secret development for five years, with IFR working hard on making it relevant to the needs to the 21st century. Although there are no definite CO2 figures, a kerbweight of 700kg means the Aspid should be capable 56.4mpg, they say. The chassis and suspension are aluminium, while the bodywork is carbonfibre and the brakes are made from stainless steel. Definitely.

Audi S1 at Paris

The Audi S1 will have a Paris Launch (A1 Wörthersee Concept pictured) It’s getting on for a year since we reported that – despite some saying it wouldn’t happen – Audi were planning at least a warm version of the A1 and had on the drawing board the Audi S1 to take on the MINI Cooper. So it’s not a shock that we hear Audi are planning on bring the S1 along to Paris for a reveal before getting the S1 on the roads by the second quarter of 2011. Expect the usual Audi S bits in the mix  - bigger wheels, fettled suspension, beefed-up brakes, body kit – and power in the S1 to come from the S/C turbo 1.4 TSI found in the VW Polo GTI, although the S1 may just get a tweaked version of the engine as befits its higher standing in the VW hierarchy with a bit more than the 178 horses the Polo GTI manages.

Citroen Divine DS Concept showcases the DS brand’s direction

The Citroen Divine DS Concept is heading for Paris Citroen do good concepts, and the DS Divine Concept is another slightly barking gilded lily from the French car makers, pointing the way to future DS models and design. About the size of a DS4, the DS Divine is driving the DS brand in a different direction to Citroen, and the lack of any Citroen badging demonstrates Citroen’s intent to set the DS models apart from the regular Citroen models as a standalone brand around the world, much as they already do in China. With a big diamond pattern grill up front and its low, squat stance, the DS Divine looks convincing, even if the oversize alloys and some of the detailing are typically ‘concept’, particularly the windowless back end.