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Top Gear Tonight: 1980s Hot Hatches and Hugh Bonneville is SIARPC

Top Gear is back tonight with the first episode in Series 21 Sunday nights haven’t been the same without Top Gear, but it’s back tonight – Sunday 2nd February 2014 – with the first episode of series 21. Yes, Top gear comes of age. As the series unfolds we’ll see the usual mix of supercars and mayhem, old trucks and tanks, but tonight’s main item is on 1980s hot hatches.

Volkswagen XL Sport Concept gets Ducati power: Paris 2014

The Volkswagen XL Sport Concept (pictured) gets Ducati power The Volkswagen XL 1 may well be an impressive ‘Supercar’ (that’s super-economical, rather than plain ‘super’), but it’s a daft amount of money and, unless you’re trying to make a ‘Green’ statement, not for everyone. But this Volkswagen XL Sport Concept is a more appealing car – both visually and mechanically – as VW take the XL 1 and rework it in to a sports car with a little help from Ducati. Because under the skin of the XL Sport lies a 197bhp V2 that’s come from Ducati (just as we reported a year ago) and delivers 197bhp through a seven-speed dual-clutch ‘box, with a reduction gear between engine and gearbox to boost torque, revs to 1,000 rpm and can get to 62mph in 5.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 157mph.

Mercedes E300 BlueTEC Hybrid and E400 Hybrid Detroit debut

Mercedes E300 BlueTEC Hybrid Mercedes has revealed a pair of hybrid E-Class cars bound for a Detroit debut – the E300 BlueTec hybrid for Europe and E400 Hybrid for the US. All car maker are busy introducing hybrid platforms where they can, especially for their big-selling cars, and MB is no different, with a pair of new Mercedes Hybrid cars bound for a debut at next month’s Detroit Auto Show. The Mercedes E300 BlueTec Hybrid is the offering for Europe, although it wouldn’t be a huge shock if Mercedes eventually launched it in the US.