Concept Car of the Week: Italdesign Machimoto (1986)

The Machimoto might look and sound like a Japanese concept, but it was developed in Europe in the Turin-based Italdesign studio, and was based on a Volkswagen Golf GTI platform. The name actually derives from MACHIna (car in Italian) and MOTOciclo (motorcycle) as the perfect hybrid between the worlds of two- and four-wheelers. Unveiled on its home turf at the Turin motor show in 1986, it landed like a UFO, shocking both the public and the press.

Chevrolet Spark first official pictures

By Ben Whitworth First Official Pictures 10 February 2009 10:05 When it goes sale in the UK in January 2010, Chevrolet will pitch its Spark supermini at well below the £7000 mark to undercut its Hyundai i20, Suzuki Swift and Ford Ka rivals. The Matiz replacement will make its global debut at the Geneva motor show in March, and these are the first images of the car’s rear and cabin. Correct.

Audi R8 Spyder (2010) first pictures

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 10 September 2009 10:15 These are the first pictures of the Audi R8 Spyder, after the images were leaked onto the internet ahead of the car’s debut at the Frankfurt motor show next week. Power is only expected to come from the 5.2-litre V10 engine, so the Spyder will send 518bhp and 390lb ft to all four wheels via either a six-speed manual or an automated-manual R-tronic gearbox. The R8 Spyder also has the same double-strake front intakes and rear vents as the V10, plus the chrome-surrounded central grille and twin oval exhausts.