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Lexus IS (2013) more details of new 3-series rival

Lexus has pulled the cloth back on the all-new Lexus IS at the 2013 Detroit motor show, and announced more details of its new hybrid 3-series rival. This will be the first hybrid Lexus IS, and UK sales will start in summer 2013.  What do we know about the new hybrid Lexus IS?  The IS300h combines an electric motor with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. The torque output is yet to be confirmed, but there's 217bhp and Lexus is aiming for a sub-100g/km CO2 output and fuel consumption of at least 65mpg. Figures like that are likely to grab the attention of fleet managers, as Lexus hopes to close the gap on rivals like the BMW 3-series, Mercedes C-class and Audi A4.  There's a non-hybrid model too, but this IS250 will be powered by a 204bhp 2.5-litre V6 petrol engine. It won't be a fleet favourite.  The IS250h has a six-speed automatic transmission, the IS300h has a CVT gearbox, and both cars are rear-wheel drive.

MINI Goodwood Price? A cool £41k

MINI Goodwood - more than twice the price of a Cooper S We did wonder, tongue in cheek, when BMW revealed they were making the MINI Roller – the MINI ‘Inspired by Goodwood’ – if we would see the first MINI with a list price of £50k. Of course, even BMW aren’t bold enough to make a production MINI – even one with Rolls Royce fairy dust sprinkled on at Goodwood – cost so much. But they’ve come damn close.

Saab 9-3X to debut

Good to see Saab pushing ahead, despite the grief they have with parent GM. We brought you information on the 9-4X a couple of days ago, and now Saab has released details of their 9-3X crossover, that will début in Geneva next month. Saabs are very individual, and have a strong, although small, following.