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Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione coupe (2006) first offiical pictures

By Angus Fitton First Official Pictures 12 September 2006 04:49 The lowdown This gorgeous creation is the new Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. It looks familiar because it's the production version of the 2003 concept car which bore the same name. Alfa has confirmed that the 450bhp V8 coupe will go on sale in September next year.

Crash test scheme to investigate whiplash and stability

By Phil McNamara Motor Industry 12 September 2006 09:30 Electronic stability control and anti-whiplash head restraints should soon be part of the Euro NCAP crash test programme, CAR Online can reveal. Testers are keen to extend the programme beyond today's crash tests, which assess occupant safety for adults and children, as well as pedestrian injuries in an impact. 'We are always looking for the next area to investigate,' an NCAP insider told CAR Online.

College Exhibition: IAAD - 'My First Renault'

Transportation Design students at Istituto d'Arte Applicata e Design (IAAD) in Turin presented the results of a Renault-sponsored project with the theme 'My First Renault' in July. The students were given a fairly open brief to design a personal vision of a Renault vehicle of the near future. In addition to an exhibition in Turin, selected project work was presented at the Renault Technocentre to the directors of Renault Design.

Peugeot 207 Epure concept

Eight years ago, the Peugeot 20Heart show car previewed the 206CC, which brought folding metal roofs to the masses. Since then, Opel has re-released the Tigra, while Nissan has retorted with the Micra CC in the mini-cabrio stakes. Accordingly, Peugeot will update their range with the 207CC, previewed here as the 207 Epure that will be displayed at the Paris Motor Show.

Hyundai Arnejs

Hyundai has released this sketch of the Arnejs (ar-nez), a new hatchback that will represent the Korean firm in the busy European C-segment. The Arnejs is sister to the Kia C'eed, and will be on the road by Summer 2007 following its production preview at the Paris Motor Show.  The C'eed itself will be shown in production form nearby, ready for Fall sales this year. Expect engines to be shared between the two.

Hyundai steps up new model push

By Phil McNamara Motor Industry 11 September 2006 10:45 Hyundai's bid to gatecrash the world's top five car-makers will continue with two crucial new models: a seven-seat SUV and a mid-size hatch. In 2007, the aggressive Korean car maker will wade into Europe's biggest market – the C-segment – with a family hatch, and launch a big, seven-seat crossover SUV Stateside. The crossover – captured here by our spy photographers – will be named Veracruz, continuing Hyundai's habit of adopting Mexican names.

Chevrolet WTCC Ultra concept

Chevrolet has released a sketch of their WTCC Ultra concept that will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in three weeks. Styled by Ewan Kingsbury of GM Australia, who also worked on the Holden Torana, the concept was further developed in Europe to produce a fully working prototype, while the engine comes from Korea and the body from Japan. The international collaboration demonstrates the breadth of GM's resources, and has resulted in Chevrolet's vision of a new generation of World Touring Cars.

Mitsubishi Shogun (2006): first official pictures

By Chris Chilton First Official Pictures 08 September 2006 00:01 The lowdown Not an all-new car but a fairly serious revision of the legendary off-roader. Mitsubishi has ditched the old car’s dated-looking curves with much straighter, angular lines inspired by the 1979 Pajero II concept car. It’s not exactly Range Rover suave but the result should keep the Caravan Club happy.

Peugeot Epure concept (2006): first official pictures

By Chris Chilton First Official Pictures 08 September 2006 00:01 The lowdown Peugeot calls it a concept but let's not kid ourselves: this is the 207CC. A successor to the 206CC, the car that brought folding metal hardtops to the woman in the street, next spring's production CC will look almost identical to the Epure. But don't expect to find the concept's engine under the showroom CC's nose: the Epure employs hydrogen power.

Renault Nepta concept (2006): first official pictures

By Phil McNamara First Official Pictures 07 September 2006 04:30 The lowdown Renault's renewed assault on the premium car sector begins today, with this luxurious Nepta showcar. It's a vast, opulent convertible, designed to waft you across continents as if the golden age of motoring hadn't been superseded by the budget airline revolution. The Nepta is Renault's attention-seeking concept for this month's Paris motor show.

Pumped up Chevy previews new Lacetti

By Phil McNamara Motor Industry 07 September 2006 08:47 Chevrolet has issued this sneak preview of its forthcoming family hatch – disguised as a World Touring Car. Disregard the pram handle wing, snowplough undertray and steroidal wheelarch extensions, and you have the car to replace the current Lacetti in around 2008. The production model should use GM's next-generation Delta platform, which will also underpin the next Astra and a proposed Saab hot hatch.

Supercharged Monaro leads VXR upgrades

By Phil McNamara Motor Industry 07 September 2006 09:07 Vauxhall is throwing heaps more power at its two VXR flagships. The Monaro V8 coupe is being supercharged, by Kent dealer Greens of Rainham. The 6.0-litre unit's peak power and torque jump by 25 percent, for extra rubber-burning getaways and even more mid-range surge.

Bill Ford steps down

By Angus Fitton Motor Industry 06 September 2006 08:50 Bill Ford is set to step aside as chief executive of Ford Motor Company. Replacing him is 61-year-old Alan Mulally, previously the boss of Boeing's commercial aircraft division. Ford stepped down as part of a major management reshuffle designed to reverse the ailing fortunes of the world’s third largest car manufacturer.

Nissan Qashqai (2006): first official pictures

By Phil McNamara First Official Pictures 06 September 2006 12:15 The lowdown Meet the Qashqai, the SUV for people who want a car that's funkier than a C-segment hatch but fear a dinner party backlash from getting a traditional boxy SUV. The Qashqai is slightly different, as the weird name – taken from a nomadic Iranian tribe – suggests. It's part-SUV, part-family hatch.

Citroen C-Metisse concept (2006): first official pictures

By Chris Chilton First Official Pictures 05 September 2006 04:10 What’s this? Citroen remembering how to do sexy? Something like that.

Lancia lifts lid on new Delta

By Phil McNamara Motor Industry 05 September 2006 11:49 Lancia today unveils the Delta HPE concept, a sleek wagon claimed to mix luxury, practicality and performance. The new Delta will slot into the Lancia range next year and relaunch the brand in the UK, providing a mid-range model that's not far off a BMW 3-series in size. The HPE concept reveals the new face of the Delta family, with a deep, chrome radiator grille and claw-shaped headlamps.

First Sight: Honda CR-V

Honda has released details of the all-new CR-V, which will be launched at the Paris Motor Show later this month. It aims to offer a driving experience as good as a D-sector saloon car, with improved equipment levels and Honda's latest advanced safety technology. The previous two generations of CR-V were based on Civic platforms and the latest all-new model continues that concept, being based on the new Civic architecture launched last year.

Teen driving: A look at driver's ed

More than 5,000 teens die in car accidents each year, and more than 300,000 are seriously injured. For many, the state-required tests to earn a license are thought to be ample enough. However, advocacy groups, vehicle manufacturers and even tire manufacturers are providing funding for advanced driving programs to supplement the state-required driver training programs.

Lada Priora Coupe

Launched at the Moscow motor show earlier this week is the new Lada Priora Coupe.  Based closely on the lower medium Priora sedan platform, the Coupe has no carry over exterior elements except for its headlamps. Core features are a full depth grille graphic, contemporary prominent wheel arches that blend into a raised lower side surface and circular interior air vents denoting the car's sporting orientation. With dimensions of 4250mm long, 1696mm wide and 1430mm high, and a new found level of manufacturing quality, this Russian designed and manufactured Lada will go head to head with Hyundai Accent Coupe.

Honda CR-V (2006): first official pictures

By Angus Fitton First Official Pictures 01 September 2006 08:19 The lowdown This is the all-new, bigger, faster and safer Honda CR-V. Due to hit our roads in January 2007, it’s aimed squarely at Land Rover’s new Freelander. Fresh new styling clothes an all-new platform, firmer suspension and a new adaptive four-wheel drive system.

Hot Mitsubishi sports car bound for UK

By Chris Chilton Motor Industry 01 September 2006 11:06 Mitsubishi is investigating the feasibility of bringing its 350Z-rivalling Eclipse to the UK. Accountants are busy with the calculators right now but sources reckon it’s looking increasingly likely that both the 2+2 coupe and convertible will be in UK showrooms by early next year. A 2.4-litre 162bhp four backed by a five-speed gearbox kicks off the range, supplemented by a 263bhp 3.8-litre V6.

Ford to sell Aston Martin

By Georg Kacher Motor Industry 31 August 2006 02:39 The world’s two biggest luxury goods firms – including the conglomerate behind brands like Moet and Louis Vuitton – are locked in a battle to buy Aston Martin from cash-starved Ford. Ford announced today that the British sports car manufacturer would be sold and CAR has learned that Swiss-based Richemont and the French holding company LVMH have emerged as most likely to take on Aston despite having no previous experience in the car industry. Ford desperately needs to tap into the potential $700m-$1bn the sale of Aston could generate and hopes to finalise a deal by the end of the year.

Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR 722 Edition (2006): first official pictures

By Ben Whitworth First Official Pictures 31 August 2006 08:12 What! A 722bhp SLR - are they mad? You've got the wrong end of the stick.

Safety tech boost for new Honda CR-V

By Phil McNamara Motor Industry 29 August 2006 07:56 Honda has given a sneak preview of the technology bound for its all-new CRV soft-roader. The funky new look remains under wraps for now, but we know the chassis has been equipped with adaptive cruise control (ACC) and a collision mitigation brake system (CMS). The CR-V is equipped with a radar which tracks the distance to the car in front, with two benefits.

Spyker in F1 bid

By Angus Fitton Motor Industry 29 August 2006 11:01 Supercar maker Spyker could be set to join McLaren and Ferrari on the F1 grid in 2007. Talks are underway between Spyker's CEO Victor Muller and the Midland F1 team. The outfit, owned by Russian-born Canadian steel magnate Alex Shnaider, is struggling, having put zero points on the board this season.

Volkswagen Iroc concept

The Iroc is a show car preview of a production coupe to be launched next year that will fill a gap in the Volkswagen model line up left by the demise of the Corrado 11 years ago. Volkswagen describe the Iroc as "transferring the globally successful Scirocco idea into the future" - the Scirocco Mk1 by Giugiaro being produced from 1974-1982, the Mk2 from 1982-1992. Like the Scirocco, the Iroc is a front wheel drive coupe with four seats - as opposed to the 2+2 seating arrangement of the only other sports coupe from Volkswagen Group: the Audi TT.

First Sight: Volkswagen Iroc concept

The Iroc is a show car preview of a production coupe to be launched next year that will fill a gap in the Volkswagen model line up left by the demise of the Corrado 11 years ago. Volkswagen describe the Iroc as "transferring the globally successful Scirocco idea into the future" - the Scirocco Mk1 by Giugiaro being produced from 1974-1982, the Mk2 from 1982-1992. Like the Scirocco, the Iroc is a front wheel drive coupe with four seats - as opposed to the 2+2 seating arrangement of the only other sports coupe from Volkswagen Group: the Audi TT.

SEAT Altea XL

Two years after the Seat Altea hatchback was launched comes the extended XL version, which effectively becomes a mini-MPV thanks to a 187mm increase in length. This of course benefits the interior most, the trunk growing from 409 liters to 635 with the rear bench pushed forward - though is conspicuously without the extra row of seats offered by rivals. Outside, changes are most noticeable at the rear where the styling theme has been softened to reflect the car's renewed family-focus.

JCB DieselMax

Following its display at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last month, the JCB DieselMax has recently proved itself the fastest yet diesel-powered car during Speed Week at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah. Andy Green, who in 1997 broke the sound barrier on land in Thrust SSC, piloted DieselMax to reach a top speed of 350.09mph, increasing the existing record set in 1973 by over 100mph. Helping the JCB DieselMax achieve this is a drag coefficient of just 0.174 and two 4.4-liter four-cylinder engines, each producing 750PS.

Crash test verdict on Corsa and S-Max

By Phil McNamara Motor Industry 25 August 2006 00:01 The new Vauxhall Corsa – set to be one of Britain's best-selling cars – has scored a maximum five stars for occupant safety, in the Euro NCAP crash tests. Ford's new S-Max also got full marks. But their pedestrian protection scores proved far less impressive, when the results of the latest tests were announced today (Friday 25).