McLaren P1′s Pirelli P Zero Corsas key to performance +video

The new McLaren P1 is shod with custom-made Pirelli P Zero Corsa Tyres specially developed to meet the challenges of a 903bhp supercar. Ron Dennis has already told us that he has driven the P1 round the Top Gear test track at Dunsfold a full 10 seconds quicker than the Pagani Huayra went round, so we know the P1 has huge abilities on tap. But what’s also interesting is that Ron did his Top Gear lap on the P1′s road tyres, specially developed for McLaren by Pirelli, and not on hand-cut slicks like the Pagani Huayra.

American hero Dave Kinney drags Avanti no. 2 back to life

Autoweek contributor, appraiser, valuation expert and rural quiz-bowl champ Dave Kinney has a thing for Studebaker Avantis. He claims to have owned around 100 of them, though we've heard that the real number is higher than that. One of those Avantis was the second one that Studebaker ever built.

Vauxhall Ampera price cut by £3,500

The Vauxhall Ampera (pictured) drops in price by £3500 Although we still feel the range-extender is the right way for car makers to go to get the car buying public to accept EVs, the range-extender Vauxhall Ampera has not exactly been a runaway success. Despite Vauxhall offering potential Ampera buyers the option of trying it for 30 days and handing it back if they don’t like it, the Ampera has failed miserably to sell in any sort of volume. So, with new competition on the way from the range-extender BMW i3, Vauxhall are taking drastic action to try and tempt buyers in to the Ampera and are slashing prices by £3,500.