332-4264a4 Mercruiser Kiekhaefer Module Vintage on 2040-parts.com

Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez on the Mercedes tie-up, the rise of turbo cars and the end of the Lagonda SUV project

MSN Cars is in Palm Springs, California, to drive the new Aston Martin Vanquish Volante and V12 Vantage S. Aston Martin, voted the second coolest brand in the world behind Apple, is celebrating its 100th year. Over an informal dinner, MSN Cars was given an exclusive chance to talk shop with Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez to see what the future holds for the Gaydon-based company.

Lyonheart K Jaguar E-Type: Price from €360,000

The Lyonheart K – a recreation of the Jaguar E-Type – will cost from €360k for the Coupe and €375k for the Convertible (pus vat). For your €360k plus VAT (roughly £366k inc vat) you get all the beauty of an E-Type but with modern underpinnings including the heart of a Jaguar XK and its 5.0 litre supercharged V8 with Cosworth tweaks to deliver 575PS offering a very non-E-Type 0-62mph of under 4 seconds. Fifty per cent of Lyonheart K production is staying in Europe, 20 per cent is off to the Middle East and 30 per cent to China, with a total of just 250 cars being built, starting in December 2013 and ending in the summer of 2015.

Vauxhall VXR8 gets new V8

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 06 May 2008 10:06 Vauxhall’s VXR8 is getting a new V8. The latest bent eight – designated LS3 – gains an extra 195cc to take power up to 425bhp. The 6.2-litre V8 is same engine that has also found its way into the revised Corvette and Pontiac’s version of the VXR8, the G8.