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Ferrari 458 Spider 2013

The new Ferrari 458 Spider joins the 458 Italia, widening the range of Ferrari's mid-rear engined V8s and offering the same uncompromising technological solutions, handling and performance in a refined open-top configuration. It is equipped with a Ferrari patented, fully retractable hard top, a world first for a sports car with this lay-out.

The 458 Spider is powered by Ferrari's naturally-aspirated, direct-injection 4.5 litre V8 which was nominated as the 2011 International Engine of the Year for its engineering excellence in terms of driveability, performance, economy and refinement. The power is transferred to the road by Ferrari's class-leading dual-clutch F1 paddle-shift transmission through the sophisticated E-Diff, itself integrated with the F1-Trac traction control and high-performance ABS for maximum handling dynamics.

Certain features, such as its accelerator pedal mapping and the damping of the multilink suspension, have been calibrated to guarantee maximum sportiness and absolute driving pleasure with the top down, in line with Maranello's exclusive spider tradition. Even the engine soundtrack has been honed to ensure that the car's occupants are completely captivated by the drop-top driving experience.

Entirely in aluminium, the hard-top solution adopted for the Ferrari 458 Spider offers a number of advantages over the traditional folding soft-top, including a reduction of 25 kg in weight and a deployment time of just 14 seconds. Fully integrated into the styling of the car, the hard-top was engineered to fit neatly ahead of the engine bay without compromising aerodynamics or the performance of the car. The small space needed to house the roof enables the designers to include a generous rear bench for luggage behind the seats.

The rear of the car is characterised by innovative forms with the buttresses designed to optimise the flow of air to the engine intakes and the clutch and gearbox oil radiators. For maximum comfort whilst driving top down the Ferrari 458 Spider features a generously-sized adjustable electric wind stop. The design was perfected to slow and diffuse the air in the cockpit, enabling normal conversation to be held even at speeds over 200 km/h.

New technical solutions adopted for the chassis guarantee identical levels of structural rigidity with the roof up or down. The result is a car that is truly exciting to drive, blending extreme performance with the responsiveness that has always characterised Ferrari's open-top berlinettas.

Toyota Camry 2012

Toyota introduced the all-new, seventh-generation Toyota Camry, America's best-selling car for nine years running and 13 of the past 14 years. The 2012 Camry debuts a bold, sophisticated new design with a more spacious interior, improved driving dynamics and an even quieter ride than before. With class leading safety, fuel economy and multi-media technology added in, the end result is the best Toyota Camry ever made. Introduced in 1983, the Toyota Camry would later establish the template for the modern midsize sedan, setting benchmarks for Quality, Dependability and Reliability, along with a comfortable, quiet ride. Since that time, Toyota has sold more than 15 million Camry models worldwide.

"The all-new 2012 Camry blends an evolution of the car's values - such as comfort, efficiency, reliability and safety - with a more appealing design and engaging driving experience," said Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager. "Competition in the midsize sedan segment is the strongest it's ever been, and the all-new Camry is designed to maintain its long-standing leadership while also broadening its appeal."

The Toyota Camry again offers three powertrain choices, all of which have been enhanced for 2012 to provide better fuel economy and more responsive performance. All Camry models with the revised 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine now offer 178 horsepower, an increase of nine hp, and 170 lb.-ft. of peak torque. EPA-estimated fuel economy figures are 25 mpg city/35 highway, and the 28 mpg combined is two more than the previous generation Camry. The 2.5-liter engine employs Dual VVT-i (Dual Variable Valve Timing-intelligent), which controls valve timing on both the intake and exhaust camshafts for optimal performance.

Lexus GS 350 2013

Lexus unveiled the new GS at the prestigious 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California. The car will reach the UK market in 2012.

The new Lexus GS brings a more engaging driving experience, bolder design and a more spacious, contemporary interior, heralding a new chapter in the history of Lexus.

Starting with the bold spindle grille - set to be a signature feature of future Lexus models - the new GS conveys an air of confidence. This is supported by a redesigned chassis with a wide, strong stance that clearly signals the new Lexus GS is designed to inspire and reward driver participation with crisp and precise handling.

Lexus engineers challenged themselves to develop a more spacious interior environment for the new Lexus GS. Leaving exterior dimensions virtually unchanged, they increased cabin and boot space to create a richly appointed interior that will transport passengers and their luggage in comfort, regardless of distance.

The new Lexus GS will be launched in early 2012, including hybrid and F-Sport versions. For the UK there will be the GS 450h full hybrid and GS 250 petrol engined derivatives.

A New Personality, An Invitation To Drive

Designing the new Lexus GS to be both strong and agile was a key focus of the engineering team. Their main objective was to provide a more engaging driving experience. To achieve this they created a new aerodynamic body, a wider stance and stiffer structure, a transmission with quicker changes and distinctive engine sound and exhaust note.

Volkswagen Up 2013

Volkswagen has redrawn the map of the small car world. The goal: to develop a small car with charisma, a small car with maximum space on a minimal footprint, a small car with the most fuel-efficient engines or an electric drive, a small car with intuitive infotainment and operating systems, a small car with the safety of a large car. The result is the new Volkswagen up! It measures a short 3.54 metres and is a specialist for everyday urban living that was thought through to the last detail. This car - like the larger Polo and the even larger Golf - will appeal to people of all ages and mobility wishes.



Affordable for everyone. In launching the up!, Volkswagen is not only putting a new car in motion; it is also redefining the parameters of customisation and financing. This means that along with clearly delineated equipment lines on the Volkswagen up!, new features will be offered such as up! boxes - e.g. box sets for shopping, long trips or for children on board. The up! will have an infotainment system that owners can tailor to their personal profiles using apps. And because a small car needs to be affordable, a new financing model known as AutoCredit2 that is exclusively tailored to VW up! buyers will offer greater financial freedom thanks to its flexible configuration options. And for many people, this will make the goal of driving a safe and economical new car more attainable than ever. Like the Beetle back in the 1950s, one could say that the Volkswagen up! is once again "democratising" car driving.

Cadillac Ciel Concept 2011

The Cadillac Ciel Concept - pronounced "C-L," the French translation for sky - is a four-seat convertible that opens a new chapter in Cadillac's design and product ascent, pushing the brand's Art & Science philosophy into a new stratum. Ciel is a new expression of Cadillac's historical grandeur, as well as a celebration of open-air motoring.


"Large, expressive luxury is innate to Cadillac and the Ciel recalls that heritage, while suggesting where the brand can go in the future," said Clay Dean, global design director for Cadillac. "Authentic luxury is driven by experiences, not just products, and Ciel is about the experience of the journey."


The spacious and elegant Cadillac Ciel Concept is a grand gesture that explores themes driving Cadillac's explorations into range-topping flagship luxury. It is powered by a twin-turbocharged version of the 3.6-liter Direct Injection V-6 engine, paired with a hybrid system using lithium-ion battery technology.

Coastal inspiration

Driving California's Highway 1 in an open car while the sun sets, from Big Sur north to Monterey, is the type of journey the Ciel team envisioned during its design.

"The Ciel is about the romance of the drive," said Dean. "It emulates the great touring cars seen on the greens at Pebble Beach, but with a modern flair that projects Cadillac's vision for the future."

The four-door Cadillac Ciel Concept embraces the social aspects of a recreational journey, with generous room for two couples. It evokes the spirit of the classics with a long, low proportion. The doors are French-style, with the rear doors hinged at the rear - there is no B-pillar - to reveal a sweeping view of the dramatic interior. Distinguishing fender lines run from nose to tail, and nickel-plated bright work accents the body lines, enhancing the visual length of the car and honoring Cadillac touring cars of the past.

Bentley Continental GT 2012

For Crewe's design and engineering teams, the new Bentley Continental GT coupe is an opportunity to set a bold and exciting direction for one of Bentley's most revered names - the Continental. The seminal and highly successful Bentley Continental GT introduced in 2003 represented the first step in Bentley's renaissance and defined a whole new market segment. It was a luxury GT offering excellent usability that remained true to the Bentley grand touring spirit.

Now the new Continental GT 4-seat coupe builds on the success of its iconic predecessor, capturing that GT spirit but with even higher standards of design, engineering, luxury, craftsmanship, dynamic performance, everyday practicality and refinement.



A beautifully sculptured new body gives the Bentley Continental GT coupe an even crisper, more defined appearance. The contemporary interior offers new levels of cabin design, comfort and hand-crafted luxury. The seats, for example, provide even greater support and rear leg-room; a sweeping dashboard even more style and modernity. The new touchscreen infotainment system features state-of-the-art navigation, Google Maps and entertainment while the latest Balanced Mode Radiator speaker technology and Dirac Dimensions™ digital sound processing deliver enhanced audio quality.

Bentley's acclaimed 6-litre, 12-cylinder, twin-turbocharged powertrain now has a raised power output of 575PS (567bhp/423kW) and 700Nm (516lb ft) of torque and this is mated to a new Quickshift transmission which enables double downshifts. Thanks to advanced FlexFuel technology it can also run on both standard unleaded petrol (gasoline) and sustainable bioethanol (up to E85) or any mix of the two.

Honda CR-Z Mugen RR Concept 2011

Mugen of Japan has built a Honda CR-Z Mugen RR design concept to demonstrate Mugen's capabilities in terms of function, style, performance and agility. The Honda CR-Z Mugen RR was produced by M-TEC in Japan for show purposes only and there are currently no plans for further production.

The Honda CR-Z Mugen RR has been created with many bespoke prototype parts, several of which are created in carbon fibre, including the bonnet, passenger doors and rear tailgate. Other features unique to the car include a full length carbon-fibre underbody, a twin central-exit exhaust, vented front bumpers and race-developed suspension. Orange 4-piston monobloc brake calipers and forged 18-inch alloy wheels both complement the vibrant Valencia Orange Pearl exterior paint work.

Inside the car, the seats are clad in Mugen-branded colour-coded leather/Alcantara. The addition of a race-developed information screen has the ability to record chassis and engine data as well as housing a Satellite navigation and audio system. This high tech kit will monitor the car over two laps to "learn" a circuit and then record lap data and vehicle tracking using GPS.


The design concept was unveiled for its world debut at the beginning of July 2011 in the Moving Motor Show area at Goodwood Festival of Speed and complements the high-performance Honda CR-Z Mugen, which was designed and built by Mugen Euro based in the UK.

Porsche Panamera Turbo S 2012

The new Porsche Panamera Turbo S is raising the bar for sporting four-door luxury cars. The new addition to the Gran Turismo range offers a unique combination of performance and efficiency, driving dynamics and comfort. The 4.8-litre, V8 twin-turbocharged engine delivers 550 hp (410 kW), an increase of ten per cent or 50 hp (37 kW) more than the Panamera Turbo. Torque also increases from 700 to 750 Nm and in the "Sport" and "Sport Plus" mode of the standard Sport Chrono Package Turbo - and during kick-down in normal mode - the eight cylinder engine delivers 800 Nm courtesy of the over-boost function.

This uprated engine delivers record sprint times for the new top of the range Panamera. When using the Launch Control function, 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) is reached in 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of 191 mph (306 km/h) possible. However, despite the increased performance, fuel consumption of the Porsche Panamera Turbo S remains at the moderate level of the Panamera Turbo at 24.6mpg Combined on the NEDC - an example of Porsche Intelligent Performance.




The increased performance compared with the Panamera Turbo can be attributed to two main enhancements. Improved turbochargers with titanium-aluminium turbine wheels and modified engine control management. The use of the innovative titanium-aluminium alloy reduces the weight of the turbine and compressor wheel. This results in a lower moment of inertia, and thus improved and more responsive acceleration.

Mercedes-Benz SLK250 CDI 2012

For the first time, Mercedes-Benz is offering the sporty SLK Roadster with a diesel engine. The 150 kW (204 hp) four-cylinder power unit puts the two-seater at the top of its class in numerous respects. With a fuel consumption of 4.9 litres per 100 kilometres, it is the most economical roadster in its segment. Thanks to its enormous torque of 500 newton metres it accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds, and delivers a top figure for acceleration from 80 to 120 km/h. The result is superior driving enjoyment both on winding country roads and on long motorway stretches. Like the other models in the latest SLK family, which was presented in January 2011, it combines lively sportiness with high-quality appointments and excellent comfort.


Diesel drive and roadster excitement do not go together - or so a common misconception would have it. Mercedes-Benz impressively demonstrates the contrary with the new Mercedes-Benz SLK250 CDI. Its four-cylinder diesel engine with a displacement of 2143 cc generates an output of 150 kW (204 hp) and 500 newton metres of torque - as much as a petrol engine with twice the displacement would normally generate. This makes the new Mercedes-Benz SLK250 CDI the most powerful diesel model in its class, and gives the roadster the potential for extremely sporty performance.



Equipped with the standard 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission (a six-speed manual transmission will follow in the second quarter of 2012), the diesel SLK sprints from zero to 100km/h in 6.7 seconds and achieves a top speed of 243 km/h. Moreover, the flexibility of the Mercedes-Benz SLK250 CDI is nothing short of phenomenal. Thanks to its enormous diesel torque it accelerates from 80 to 120 km/h in just 4.3 seconds - easily the best figure in this class, making for safe and effortless overtaking