Caterham announces cut-price Seven 160 sports car

BRITISH sports car maker Caterham has announced a new low- priced version of its long-running Seven model. Dubbed the Seven 160, the new model starts at a measly £14,995 in component form or £17,995 fully built. Under the bonnet there is a turbocharged 660cc Suzuki engine and although this only offers up a modest 80bhp, that's still enough to power the lightweight Seven from 0-60mph in 6.5 seconds.

GMC Granite concept (w/ Video)

The biggest surprise at the 2010 NAIAS was GMC's Granite concept - a design that expands (or rather contracts) the truck/crossover brand's 'professional grade' philosophy to a compact hatchback aimed at urban hipsters and early adopters. Conceived by Frank Saucedo's Advanced Design team in California and then built at GM's Design Center in Detroit, the Granite combines the basic proportions of the Nissan Cube and Scion xB with a military/industrial feel inspired by the current G-Star and Diesel fashion lines. Watch the videos to the left to see the young international design team present the rationale behind the new concept, and read our opinion of the Granite in our 2010 Detroit Auto Show Highlights.

And the European Car of the Year 2010 is...

Newsflash: VW's Polo has won the European Car of the Year gong, it was announced today in Madrid. It beat 33 contenders, including six other finalists to the top motoring prize in Europe.The Polo narrowly won with 347 points, putting to rights its trophy-free record in Car of the Year. The runner-up was the innovative Toyota iQ, 10 points behind with 337 points.