A.B. Shuman: 1941-2013

Arnold Baer Shuman, better known as “A.B.,” the former Naval Aviator and hot-rodder who was generally considered to be the auto industry's best product public-relations man, died suddenly Friday at his home in Hillsdale, N.J. He was 72. The cause of death was not announced.

McLaren P1 to make its driving debut at 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed

The new McLaren P1 supercar is heading for the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed to make its driving debut in the Supercar run. We’ve also had McLaren F1 new boy Sergio Perez driving the P1 round the Top Gear Dunsfold track and Ron Dennis telling us he got round the Top Gear track in the P1 a good 10 seconds quicker than any other road car ever has. But now we’re actually going to see the McLaren P1 driven in anger.

Skoda confirms two new models

Skoda Vision D at Geneva - Skoda's new design direction It’s now got to the point with Skoda where the skip-on-wheels reputation of the ’70s and ’80s – and even the ‘Cheap’ VW tag of the ’90s and ’00s – has been completely eclipsed by the perception of Skoda as quite simply the maker of some crackingly good cars. Cars like the brilliant little Skoda Fabia vRS – which we’d take over the Polo GTI (much more character) – and the equally brilliant Skoda Yeti which, although it might not quite live up to Clarkson’s recent tongue-in-cheek assertion as the best car in the world is, nonetheless, exceptionally good. That change in perception is clear in the confident model range on offer from Skoda and the clever way in which it’s marketed.