Suzuki Ltr450 Frame Chassis Ltr 450 #48 2006 * on 2040-parts.com

Caterham Seven Supersport (2011) first official pictures

This is the new Caterham Seven Supersport, a new roadster that offers track-biased fun for less than £20k. The Seven shape is familiar, but Caterham has pinched parts from its Supersport race series cars (which sit above the Academy and Roadsport classes, but below the Superlight and forthcoming SP/300R) to create this new Supersport model.  Is the new Caterham Seven Supersport road car exactly the same as the race car? Not quite, but the pair are similar.

BMW looks to patent seven-speed lockout manual transmission

The intrepid Bimmerphiles over at www.e90post.com have uncovered a few drawings from BMW's latest patent request. The drawing shows a new transmission linkage and what looks to be a seven-speed manual transmission. Like the new Porsche 911, the BMW gear shifter has six gears in standard H pattern, with a seventh gear out to the right.

Volkswagen NCC concept

Volkswagen's New Compact Coupe (NCC) concept previews the next Jetta, but with two-doors rather than four. The car's front - minus the hybrid-style closed grille - pretty much represents the new face of the sixth-generation production Jetta due on sale this November, and its syling is informed by the latest Polo as well as some recent concepts from the German brand. Read our opinion of the NCC concept's design in our 2010 Detroit Auto Show Highlights, and see more photos of the showcar in the photo gallery below.