Ritchie Ru-90 Voyager - Black Ru-90 on 2040-parts.com

New Honda CR-V: First new CR-V photos appear on Honda’s Japan site

Firts photo of the 2012 Honda CR-V We first got a proper look at the new Honda CR-V (the 2012 model) in concept form back in  July, and at the time Honda told us that they were planning a US release by the end of 2011, but no European release until Autumn of 2012. So the seemingly unheralded reveal of the new CR-V on Honda’s website in Japan is a bit of a surprise. The photo has suddenly appeared in a gallery of teaser photos of the new CR-V on Honda’s website and as far as we can see Honda has done nothing to trail it.

Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati: The Fiat 500 Maserati homage

The Fiat 500 pays tribute to Maserati Fiat is launching a new special edition 500 at the Geneva Motor Show – the Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati – a convertible Abarth 500. Almost three years ago Fiat produced a limited edition Abarth 500 that paid tribute to Ferrari – the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari – which cam with decent oomph, a bright red Ferrari paint job and an eye-watering price tag of £30k. Now Fiat feel it’s time to pay tribute to another marque in its portfolio – and relieve punters of a further slice of hard-earned – with the Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati – this time a soft-top – arriving at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

New SEAT Leon goes in to production

The new SEAT Leon (2013) – revealed at the Paris Motor Show – has started production in Spain ahead of first deliveries in March 2013. SEAT has invested heavily in the Martorell plant in recent years – a shining light of success in a sea of Spanish manufacturing despair – with a £650 million investment in new facilities and R&D making Martorell a modern and efficient facility for the new Leon as well as the Ibiza, Altea and Exeo (and the Audi Q3). Not only has the investment in Martorell secured the jobs of 1600 Spanish workers (and four times as many in the supply chain), it promise more jobs too if the Leon turns out to be as appealing as it looks.