McLaren MP4-12C to cost £168,500

McLaren will charge £168,500 for the MP4-12C supercar in the UK. That's the new 2011 price, including the rise in VAT from 17.5% to 20% from 1 January. Today's news means that the MP4-12C will cost £1000 less than a Ferrari 458 Italia, its arch rival, at existing tax rates.

Audi hosts student workshop in Design UNIverse

Audi has hosted a Design UNIverse event in Ingolstadt as part of its plan to support the next generation of automotive designers. 42 student designers from four European universities were challenged to create models of a futuristic Audi that embodies the idea of "Vorsprung Durch Technik" while working closely with designers and discussing trends and how to create emotional products. The students – from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava (Slovakia), Scuola Politecnica di Design in Milan (Italy), the Offenbach University of Art and Design (Germany) and the Royal College of Art London (Great Britain) – created 46 different models.

Toyota Yaris Trend & Yaris Edition launched

Toyota has launched a pair of special editions for summer – the Yaris Trend and Yaris Edition – with cosmetic tweaks. Not content with flogging 100 units of the Toyota Yaris Hybrid to Europcar, Toyota are intent on mopping up more sales with the launch of a couple of special editions – the Toyota Yaris Edition and Toyota Yaris Trend. Both special editions get a blacked-out C-Pillar and privacy glass to give the illusion of a floating roof, a choice of Tyrol Silver or Cirrus White paint and a three or five-door body.