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Beijing motor show: China means (auto) business

By Guy Bird Motor Shows 22 April 2008 05:34 Only a fool wandering around this week's Beijing motor show would still dismiss China as some also-ran automotive market full of rip-off designs and outdated ‘new’ cars based on old Western designs. While all of those clichés were still in evidence at the Chinese auto show, the copycat mentality is much less obvious than even a year ago at last year's Shanghai show. And every western car exec CAR spoke to was in awe of the upward sales trajectory that means China is still the place to do business in 2008.Yes, there are still some odd automotive fish, usually small ‘three-box’ saloon in shape such as the Chinese market only Citroen C-Elysee and the VW Lavida (a Jetta/Bora Plus car with less style).

Ford readying 350bhp Focus RS500

The Ford Focus RS is about to get faster. Next week the Blue Oval will unveil a limited edition Focus RS500 with close to 350bhp. Ahead of the reveal Ford has launched microsite with a video of the RS500 being driven round its Lommel Proving Ground in Belgium.

McLaren P1 Geneva reveal confirmed & first instrument view

The McLaren P1 supercar has been confirmed for a Geneva Motor Show debut and we get the first peek at the P1′s ‘Race’ instruments. McLaren are certainly making the most of the reveal of the P1 and are still keeping the exact specifications close to their chest, although we do know that the P1 will get a modified version of the V8 in the 12C with a hybrid KERS type boost offering something north of 900bhp. But McLaren has thrown us a titbit of extra information with the Geneva confirmation in the form of two photos of the digital instruments in the P1 (inset above and in the main photo gallery for the P1).