Porsche acquires Nardo Test Track as its new playground

Porsche Nardo Test Track (map from Google Earth) The enormous Nardo Test Track near Lecce, Italy, has been acquired by Porsche as a new testing ground. Top Gear viewers will probably remember the opening episode if the last series of Top Gear (series 18) with the Lamborghini, McLaren and Noble in Italy or, more specifically, in the Lecce region of Italy which nestles in the warmth of Italy’s heel. The Lecce region also houses the Nardo Test Track which is where the boys took their supercars to hammer round the slightly bumpy outer oval seeking top speed.

Aston Martin revives Vanquish name for DBS replacement

Aston Martin is reviving the Vanquish name for the replacement of the DBS coupe, which will feature a full carbon-fiber body, a 565-hp V12 and a mass of engineering revisions in an effort to eclipse Ferrari's F12 Berlinetta. The Vanquish name goes back to the beefy, old-school model of 2001. Aston hopes that magic will rub off on its next flagship, a heavily revised version of the DBS made famous by its appearance in the Bond movie Casino Royale.

Land Rover Discovery gets a final facelift for 2014

The 2014 Land Rover Discovery (pictured) gets a bit of a facelift Ahead of a reveal at the Frankfurt Motor Show next week, Land Rover have revealed a facelift for the Discovery 4 as it comes to the end of its shelf life. The usual facelift fodder applies, with the Disco getting a revised front bumper, new grill and new headlights (with new LED running lights) and some nice new alloys. Land Rover has also replaced the ‘L A N D  R O V E R’ lettering on the bonnet to read ‘D I S C O V E R Y’ as the move to highlight the Discovery as a range of models to stand alongside Range Rover starts to take shape ahead of the new Freelander (which will be part of a new Discovery family of cars) and the eventual replacement for the Discovery 4.