Fiat 500 Abarth (2008): first official pictures

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 20 February 2008 10:00 Watch out Mini, the Fiat 500 – CAR’s car of the year 2007 – is getting the high-performance treatment. The Abarth version unveiled today is pitched as a new interpretation of the Sixties road racer, but can they make a bigger, heavier hatch as exciting as that?The 500 Abarth 2008-style uses the Fiat group’s 16-valve 1.4-litre Fire engine breathing with the assistance of an IHI variable-geometry turbocharger to deliver a warm 135bhp at 5500rpm. So this car won’t challenge the upper echelons of hot-hatchdom that now have to pump out closer to 200bhp to be in contention.

McLaren 12C Spider: Lots more new photos arrive

The McLaren 12C Spider was revealed in July, but with just a handful of photos available. But now McLaren has rectified their photo count. Even when the 12C Spider took its public bow at Pebble Beach in August there wasn’t anything new from McLaren’s snappers, and at the Paris Motor show all eyes were on the McLaren P1, so nothing more for the 12C Spider from there either.

Mazda refines lineup with SkyActiv technology

It turns out Mazda isn't simply shooting for the sky. Rather, the protagonists of zoom-zoom driving dynamics are taking an active approach to the brand's DNA: Put it all together, and it's called “SkyActiv.” Mazda is billing the suite of technologies as the pillars of its way forward. Much of these features--which enhance future products in nearly all areas including engine, transmission and chassis--have already been revealed.