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Gumpert Insolvent

German supercar maker Gumpert has filed for insolvency after a foray in to China failed to realise the expected sales. We’re beginning to wonder if the only garden shed supercar makers actually able to make a go of things are British? Gumpert – German maker of extreme supercars – has instigated insolvency proceedings after its plan to make the newly wealthy Chinese fall in love with its bonkers cars floundered.

It’s the Citroen DS3 Cabrio

Citroen has revealed the DS3 Cabrio, an open-top version of the very good DS3. Debuts at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. We did expect the Citroen DS3 Cabrio to come with the ‘Airflow’ badge attached, but Citroen has decided to keep it simple, so DS3 Cabrio it is.

Citroen DS3 Cabrio (2012) first official pictures

Britain is Europe's biggest market for convertibles - odd, given our recent blink-and-you'll-miss-it summer. Still, Citroen hasn't been put off, and will launch the DS3 Cabrio after its world debut at the 2012 Paris motor show. Citroen claims the weight has only increased by 25kg over the hard-top DS3, and buyers will get even more personalisation options to go along with the wind-in-the-hair driving experience.

News watch August 2012: today's auto industry news

Welcome to CAR Magazine's news aggregator as we round up the daily stories in the auto industry. Top tip: news summaries are added from the top hour-by-hour Friday 31 August 2012•European car sales continue to struggle, down 8.2% in July. Spain, europe's biggest market, saw sales frop the most, by a massive 26%.

McLaren MP4-12C Spider makes Detroit debut

The McLaren MP4-12C Spider made its Detroit debut on Thursday at Woodward's Vinsetta Garage. It was not the Volcano yellow drop-top seen at Pebble Beach, but a version slathered in what McLaren calls Volcano red. We already know the details.

Fiat Panda 4x4

Fiat has unveiled a new 4x4 version of the third-generation Panda, which is set to make its world debut at the 2012 Paris motor next month. The 4x4 line of the Panda has a long history and in its previous itterations became known as one of the most versatile, robust but also likeable cars on the road. The default mode of transport for Southern European hill farmers, the Panda 4x4 has also developed something of a cult following in trendier Alpine resorts thanks to its functional-tough body clad aesthetic and handy small size.

Nissan Almera

The new Nissan Almera was launched yesterday at the 2012 Moscow auto show, designed specifically for the Russian market. The design team sought to combine contemporary Nissan design cues with more classic features on this 4,656mm-long five-seat sedan. The Almera has a long wheelbase of 2,700mm while the luggage area is said to be disguised by the sweep of the roofline and rear window that flows into the trunk lid.

Lada XRAY Concept – it’s the Lada Evoque

Lada has revealed an appealing looking compact SUV concept at the Moscow Motor Show – the Lada XRAY Concept For those of us who grew up on Lada skips – and even for younger readers who only really know Lada for the Niva 4×4 or the Granta – the appearance of a good-looking Lada Concept - the Lada XRAY – at the Moscow Motor Show is a bit of a surprise. But if we look at who’s behind the XRAY, perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised. Steve Mattin, formerly with Mercedes and Volvo, penned the new Lada, and a very convincing job he’s done.

Aston Martin Virage dropped – to be replaced by new DB9

Less than eighteen months since it debuted – and after just over 1,000 cars – Aston Martin is dropping the Virage. The Aston Martin Virage always seemed a bit of a stretch too far for Aston Martin, and so it has proved. After a lifespan of no more than eighteen months – and with just over 1000 cars built – Aston Martin has decided that there are just too few buyers who feel the Virage is enough of a step up from the DB9 to warrant the extra cost.

Hyundai blamed for France’s economic woes

French Industry Minister Arnaud Montebourg has accused Hyundai Kia of ‘Dumping’ cars in the French market. In an apparent bid to galvanise the workforce of PSA and Renault to emulate French Farmers by setting fire to the competition, French Industry Minister, Arnaud Montebourg, has claimed that Hyundai and Kia are ‘Dumping’ cars in to the French market to undermine sales of Peugeot, Citroen and Renault. Well, he would, wouldn’t he?

Jaguar XFR Speed Pack

Jaguar has revealed a Speed Pack for the XFR, raising the top speed to 174mph and adding cosmetic tweaks. We have been expecting Jaguar to arrive at the Paris Motor Show next month with an XFR-S, an XFR with the same power boost as the XKR-S to offer an XFR that can hold its own against the new M5. That may still be happening, but perhaps Jaguar are only planning on giving us a low-fat upgrade to the XFR in the form of the XFR Speed Pack, revealed at the Moscow Motor Show?

2013 Astra Cabrio caught on video

We have video of the 2013 Opel / Vauxhall Astra Cabriolet on video ahead of its debut at the Paris Motor Show. We’re guessing that even though the 2013 Astra Cabriolet (which will arrive as both the Vauxhall and Opel Cabrio) is due to debut at the Paris Motor Show next month, it won’t be in showrooms until the spring – just in time for another miserable summer. Ahead of that debut, GM Europe are out at the Nurburgring making sure their new soft-top doesn’t wibble wobble too much, resulting in the spy video below.

Fiat Panda 4x4 (2012) first official pictures

Fiat's Panda has donned its wellington boots to create the Panda 4x4, the only baby SUV in the city car A-segment. It's one of the premieres bound for the 2012 Paris motor show. It's the third-generation of Panda 4x4 and appears some 30 years after the original.

Jaguar F-Type caught in Colorado ahead of Paris motor show debut

Sharp-eyed Autoweek reader Robert Burkhardt has sent us a photo of what appears to be a camouflaged Jaguar F-Type caught driving in the mountains near Denver. Jaguar hasn't exactly been shy about showing off the F-Type in recent months. To generate buzz about the upcoming two-seater, the company has released teaser shots of a different camouflage-wrapped F-Type plastered with prominent “Search F-Type” stickers.

Stolen, chopped Ford GT is the saddest thing you'll see all day

The Ford GT is one of the best American sports cars in ages, and also one of the most desirable. No, the Ford GT didn't make the list of “most stolen vehicles,” but that doesn't make it immune from theft, as this report from U-T San Diego makes painfully clear. Case in point: These remains of a 2005 Ford GT that was stolen in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

A look at future Nissan products

The push for fuel economy leadership will heavily influence the look and performance of Nissan's new products for the next three years. The effort will be focused on three primary areas: cutting vehicle weight, improving aerodynamics and reducing friction in the engine and transmission. Those three priorities already can be seen in the 2013 Altima, which went on sale in June with 20 percent better fuel economy than the outgoing model.

CAFE standard set at 54.5 mpg by 2025

The final version of the new corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standard was released today and, as expected, automakers will need to attain a fleet average of 54.5 mpg by 2025. The rules include electric and hybrid vehicles and—as of today—natural gas vehicles. The Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed the rules in November, after reaching an agreement with automakers last July.

Mazda Mazda6 [w/Gallery]

Mazda gave its Mazda6 its world debut today at the 2012 Moscow auto show. The Mazda6, which is the production version of the Mazda Takeri concept first seen at the Tokyo motor show last year, follows the automaker's new ‘KODO - Soul of Motion' design language. The Mazda6, which measures in at 4,800mm long, 1,840mm wide, 1,450mm high with a wheelbase of 2,830mm, features the ‘signature wing' - an element of the new design language - set into the front, while the creases extending from the tips flow into body character lines.

2013 Fiat Panda 4×4 revealed ahead of Paris 2012

Fiat has revealed the 2013 version of the Panda 4×4 ahead of a public debut at the Paris Motor Show in September. The Fiat Panda might not be as cool as the Fiat 500 (oh, alright, it’s not cool at all), but it is a much better car than you might expect. Sadly, Fiat no longer build the Panda 100HP – as quick a way round urban traffic as you’ll ever find – but they are continuing with the Panda 4×4 and have just revealed a new version.

Chevrolet Volt production halted – again

General Motors has revealed that they are to halt production of the Chevrolet Volt for four weeks as sales stay low. Back in March, we revealed that GM were to stop production of the Chevrolet Volt range extender EV as actual sales fell well behind projected sales. At that time – with a production target of 45,000 Chevy Volts in 2012 – GM had managed to flog just 1.626 Volts in the first two months of 2012 so they decided to halt production for a moth as they had 6,300 Volts stockpiled.

Overfinch Range Rovers retain their value on used car market

CAP – used car value experts - have revealed that Overfinch enhancements to Land Rover vehicles retain their value on used cars. It’s all very well paying an aftermarket customiser to make your new pride and joy more individual, but you can probably kiss goodbye to most of what you’ve spent when it comes time to trade in your car. But it appears that there is one aftermarket customiser whose enhancements hold their value when it comes time to sell – Overfinch.

New Volvo V40 gets record-breaking Euro NCAP score

The new Volvo V40 has been given a 5 Star rating by Euro NCAP, in the process getting the best result ever recorded. If a Volvo can’t get a 5 Star rating in the Euro NCAP tests then Volvo’s USP is in trouble. So the news that the new V40 got a 5 Star rating in the latest round of tests comes as no surprise.

Volvo V40 (2012) breaks Euro NCAP safety record

A new Volvo scoring a five-star result in Euro NCAP's crash tests might not seem a huge surprise, but the new V40 hatchback has raised the bar even higher by setting a new record safety score for in the assessment. The V40 scored 98% for adult protection, with particular praise given to its strong main structure, driver assistance systems, and attention to pedestrian safety, thanks to an innovative bonnet airbag. It's an impressive result for such a compact car.

Ram drops 3.7-liter V6, adds Pentastar for 2013

Ram will drop its 3.7-liter SOHC V6 engine for the 2013 Ram 1500 pickup. The 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 will take its place. The new engine will come standard with the company's eight-speed automatic transmission.

Ferrari Special Projects develops latest custom

Ferrari's Special Projects team is developing its fifth car for Ferrari collector and petro-chemical magnate Cheerag Arya, dubbed the Arya SP. Arya, who has seven Ferrari's including a 599 GTO and 599 XX, signed off the design after being shown twelve design sketches and now a clay model has been approved and development is set to begin. "I told the designers what I wanted and they presented me with a total of 12 designs.

Bentley Sports Car Concept at Paris 2012

It appears Bentley are planning to reveal a new sports car concept at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, perhaps as a pointer to a new, sportier, model. Bentley has a great motorsport history, but its current crop of cars – even the new Continental GT Speed – are heavy grand tourers rather than sports cars. But with Bentley looking for new directions in a bid to up its annual sales to 15,000, they are looking at new directions to build sales, one of which is the Bentley SUV.

Dany Bahar wants £6.7 million compensation from Lotus

The Dany Bahar saga at Lotus continues with Bahar claiming £6.7 million compensation for his firing as Lotus CEO. Back in May, ex-Ferrari man Dany Bahar was ousted as CEO of Lotus, confirmed a month later by Lotus parent DBR-Hicom who appointed Aslam Farikullah – an engineer, not a marketing man – to oversee a way forward for Lotus, and just last week Lotus put Bahar’s custom Esprit up for sale. But that appears not to be the end of dealings between DBR-Hicom and Bahar as Bahar has issued proceedings against his former employers seeking compensation of £6.7 million for wrongful dismissal.

Hyundai Veloster Turbo will cost £21,995

Hyundai has revealed the price of the Veloster Turbo SE as £21,995. It will arrive in UK showrooms next month. It’s been nine months since we learnt that Hyundai plan to offer the Veloster Turbo in the UK, and now we know it will arrive in Hyundai UK showrooms in September and cost £21,995.

Porsche 911 Carrera 4 (2012) first official pictures

Porsche has a new four-wheel drive - but it's not the Macan crossover, or an SUV of any description. The new-generation 911 has had the all-paw treatment, growing wider wings and fatter tyres in the process. It's also lost around 65kg compared with the old 997 Carrera 4, and Porsche claims it's a good deal faster too.

Cadillac ATS comes to Europe in autumn 2012

Cadillac's ATS compact saloon will go on sale in Europe following the car's centre-stage appearance on the Cadillac stand at the 2012 Paris motor show next month. With provisions made for right-hand drive versions, Cadillac is clearly serious about entering the UK market again, despite the sink-without-trace disappearing act that was the BLS. Why is Cadillac muscling into Europe with the ATS?