Mini at the London motor show 2008

By Guy Bird and CAR reader reporter Carcare Motor Shows 23 July 2008 22:14 Mini went ‘all intellectual’ on us with a university theme to its London stand on account of its Oxford connections. It also served up some quality crumpet (more of which later)… So what’s new on Mini’s London motor show stand?The ultimate Mini – the John Cooper Works version – went on sale on press day of the London motor show, offering 208bhp, 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds, a 148 mph top speed and a cool body kit. Click here for CAR's first drive of the JCW hot hatch.The £20,995 JCW hatch is the first of many planned JCW-badged Minis, with a Convertible version tipped for an unveil at the Detroit show in January 2009 and a Clubman JCW to follow in the same year with a similar price premium over existing models of about £1500.

Renault's future performance models

By Richard Yarrow Motor Industry 24 April 2008 10:20 There has never been a hot version of the Laguna from Renaultsport – the performance arm of the French car maker – and our advice is don’t hold your breath for one any time soon. With the MkIII Laguna launched last year, the timing would be perfect for the debut of a flagship model on the home turf of the Paris motor show in October 2008. But Patrick Pelata, Renault’s director of product planning, told CAR Online the quality of other super-saloons coupled with environmental concerns meant it wasn’t likely.

Lion Set To Roar Up Goodwood’s Famous Hill This Summer

VISITORS to the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed will be in for an extra treat, as Peugeot has announced it will bring its record-breaking 208 T16 Pikes Peak car to the popular event. However, the 875 horsepower car won’t be parked on a stand but driven in anger up the famous Goodwood hill by its record-breaking driver, multiple world rally champion Sébastien Loeb. And just to add some spice to proceedings, there’s talk of an attempt to break the longstanding 41.6 second time to complete the 1.16-mile course - set by Nick Heidfeld in a McLaren Formula One car in 1999.