Bendix/king Ky-97a Com Transceiver P/n 064-1051-70 on 2040-parts.com

The other side of the curtain: A look back at Lada, Volga and more

While Americans in the 1960s and '70s were enjoying the heyday of muscle-car madness, our friends over in the Soviet Union were treated to an entirely different kind of automobile. Fiat-based Ladas and Russian-born Volgas were the cars of the day, and our friends at Retronaut have gathered some press materials and advertisements for the compact sedans. Lada was named after a famous Czech manufacturer of sewing machines in the 1960s.

Lotus lusts after Lutz?

Lotus seem to be pursuing Bob Lutz The Lotus five year plan calls for the track day cars to make way for much more substantial and upmarket cars to become the force at Lotus; a move to become the Aston Martin East Anglia. Probably the first obvious move in this plan was to grab Dany Bahar from Ferrari last year (and Ferrari designer Donato Coco) and now Lotus are casting their net again to snare some big names to drive them forward. Top of the list is almost-octogenarian Bob Lutz who retired from GM – but certainly not from business – last year.

Brabus SV12 R Biturbo 800 (2010): world's fastest 4dr

Warped Merc tuner Brabus has turned the latest S-class into the world’s most powerful and fastest saloon car. The new Brabus SV12 R Biturbo 800 takes the S600 and transforms it from discrete businessman cruiser to 800hp limousine bruiser. The 5.5-litre V12 has grown to 6.3 litres, and power increased to a heady 788bhp (800ps – hence the name), with a theoretical peak torque of 1047lb ft.