Original California Car Duster. Blue Edition on 2040-parts.com

Range Rover Sport revised for 2012

Range Rover has revised the Range Rover Sport for 2012 – and refinement is the name of the game. It has a new eight-speed auto ‘box and a host of toys including a new 17-speaker audio system and voice command. Land Rover may talk of a focus on reducing emissions, but ironically the supercharged 510bhp 5.0 petrol V8 remains unchanged.

Gordon Murray Design T27 crash tested

The original Smart car probably did more than its fair share to persuade us that small cars needn't necessarily be unsafe. But now Gordon Murray is on the same mission: to persuade us that his titchy T27 city car is as safe as houses too. Gordon Murray Design has just issued its first crash test results, showing a T27 electric car after a crash test at the UK's MIRA industry research lab.  The crash test in question was the European-standard 40% offset deformable barrier front high-speed impact.

AMG Action! Mercedes eyes new naturally aspirated V8

Mercedes-Benz has selected the twin turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 engine to power the recently unveiled S63 AMG, CL63 AMG and CLS63 AMG, with ratings between 525 hp and 577 hp. But it's going to be a different story for the successor to the SLK55 AMG set to be revealed at next year's Frankfurt motor show. Sources within the Stuttgart headquarters suggest the new performance roadster is earmarked to receive a yet-to-be revealed naturally aspirated version of Mercedes-Benz's new 5.5-liter V8.