The Latest Lexus Hybrid 2009

Despite sales of the RX400h rapidly climbing, Lexus is busy readying the next-gen SUV. But the new RX will only be available as a hybrid because sales of the petrol-only models are nearly non-existent. And while the looks of the new model will be a mere evolution of today's car, expect a fifth-generation hybrid powertrain to best the current model's 34.9mpg and 192g/km figures.

Honda Hybrid 2009 : Coming Soon!

The Honda Insight is back! Honda today unveils the Insight 2, a concept version of its new global hybrid. the new Insight is claimed to preview the world's cheapest petrol-electric hybrid car.

We'll see the new Honda Insight concept at the Paris motor show in October 2008 – and the real production car follows not soon after. Not that much will change; this show car looks production-ready to us...

Expect the roadgoing Insight to make its debut at the November 2008 Los Angeles motor show.

So how cheap will the new Honda Insight be?

Honda says it 'will be priced significantly lower than any other hybrid car on the market, making petrol-electric technology accessible to more people.'

That's quite a claim. Insiders we've spoken to claim the production Honda Insight will be pitched around the £15,000 mark, making it £2000 less than the existing Honda Civic Hybrid. And yet Honda vows this is a profit-making model, not a loss-leader. That's one very impressive business model.

New Porsche Boxter

Porsche is preparing to piggyback VW and Audi’s roadster project and build a baby Boxster, a car that could be a true successor to the 356. But this new model won’t tread on the toes of any existing Porsches and production numbers will be capped to make this a highly desirable car. Our artist's impression reveals how the new Porsche could look.

The first time we’ll see anything official from this project will be at November’s LA Auto Show, where VW will unveil its third design study of an affordable roadster, following on from the 2004 Concept R and the 2005 Eco-Racer.

Just how is the project to build a baby Porsche going to work out?

Between 1969 and 1976 VW and Porsche built and marketed just under 120,000 mid-engined 914 two-seaters. And in recent years various VW bosses have wanted to create a contemporary and affordable mid-engined sports car. First there was Bernd Pischetsrieder, the former BMW chairman who wanted a budget roadster along the lines of the Mk1 Lotus Elise. There was even talk of Lotus building the car for VW, but in the end no decision was made.

Brand chief Wolfgang Bernhard picked up the idea and gave a green light to the quirky looking Eco-Racer, which was duly shot down by the bean counters who could not see a market for the high-tech, high-price halo version nor for the low-cost, big-volume all-steel alternative. Now VW boss Martin Winterkorn is on the case, and one can safely assume that he enjoys the support of Ferdinand Piech, the powerful chairman of the supervisory board.

Porsche Panamera (2009)

Porsche will (eventually) unleash its Panamera on the world in 2009, but CAR has caught the super-saloon virtually undisguised while it tests at the Nurburgring. Featuring (of course) a 911-inspired nose, the Panamera is actually a sleek hatchback, but it will pack a 4.8-litre twin-turbo V8 with nearly 500bhp to take on the Aston Martin Rapide and the Bentley Flying Spur.

Scroll down the page to the embedded player to view video of the Porsche Panamera testing

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New Lamborghini

This solitary photo is Lamborghini’s teaser of a new car that it will unveil at the October 2008 Paris motor show. No other information has been released from Lambo’s Sant’Agata HQ, except this single line of text: ‘It’s not just a new Lamborghini. It’s a new world.’

What is this new Lamborghini then?

Lamborghini officials remain tight-lipped, but we know this will be a new bodystyle for the fabled Italian purveyor of extreme sports cars.

There are four distinct possibilities to our minds: a sub-Gallardo sports car (perhaps deemed too cheap and straying into Porsche territory); a supercar to match the Bugatti Veyron and Aston Martin One-77 (not wise in this economic climate); a 4x4 (long-rumoured, but surely insane); or a new four-door saloon (but why would they as inhouse rival Audi already builds an excellent limo in the A8?).

So it’s unclear what sort of car Lamborghini will unveil on 2 October 2008. Suffice to say, CAR Online will publish the full facts as soon as we get them.

Mercedes SLK55 AMG

We like the Mercedes SLK. Since the original was launched back in 1997 its unique combination of premium image, four-season versatility from its folding metal roof and sheer feel-good factor has elevated it to an unassailable position above its BMW and porche rivals. And if the first generation model felt a little soft and lacked real athleticism, the second iteration came across as a far leaner and more agile drive, particularly the 55 AMG hotshoe.

I’m still not sold on that faux F1 nose on the Mercedes SLk
Say what you will about the SLK’s recent facelift, which marks the halfway point in the life of the second generation, but there’s no getting away from the 55 AMG’s menacing presence – our glossy black test car looked both intimidating and understated. The intelligently configured and bank-vault solid cabin is still a lesson in ergonomic clarity. And then there’s that massive 5439cc V8 stuffed into the nose…

Audi’s new Q3 4x4

The tide may be turning against SUVs, but Audi is piling in to the 4x4 market with another new soft-roader: the Q3. The new model is a 4x4 lite – think family hatchback that's been to Audi’s country retreat and donned wellington boots for that tougher, mud-spattered wannabe look. CAR has the full lowdown on the new Q3 in this exclusive report.

It’s worth casting aside, for a moment, our cynicism about SUVs. In the UK they have become social pariahs, knocked by politicians, abused by cardigan-toting campaigners and increasingly shunned by buyers worried about crippling taxes and fuel bills. But it’s not like that everywhere.

So Audi’s SUVs are selling like hot cakes?

Audi’s Q7 has sold so well that the diesel model has attracted long waiting lists in some territories. So Audi now hopes to repeat this success with the new Q5 (read our review here) and its forthcoming, smaller siblings: the secret new Q1 and Q3.

By the time all four 4x4s are on sale, Audi hopes to sell between 300,000 and 350,000 sport utility vehicles annually. BMW and Mercedes may narrowly top that tally, but the gap is shrinking fast

BMW X5

Had you heard that the BMW M3 CSL is being canned – in favour of faster 4x4s? BMW’s M Division is lending a hand to develop high-performance X5 and X6 models and our spies have snapped the go-faster X6 hot weather testing in the US and the hot X5 pounding the Nurburgring in Germany.


Both SUVs are expected to use a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, tweaked to over 460bhp, and cost at least £60,000. It's not clear at this stage how the cars will be badged, not least because of the MX-5 and MX-6 trademarks owned by Mazda.
How will the M Division differentiate the tuned X5 and X5 from its regular 4x4s?

With even more obnoxious styling. Check out the front bumper of the X6 – despite being clad in black tape and wire mesh you can see the deeper central air intake. Flanking it are two gaping grilles that appear to do without foglights (as every M car does), while a discreet splitter runs the width of the bumper. But we hope those white dots don’t hide LED lights – they’re fast becoming the latest annoying must-have.

New Generation HONDA NSX

Honda aims to reassert itself as a manufacturer of genuine supercars with the . It's been a long time coming; the original NSX went on sale in 1990 and continued little altered until its demise in 2005. Honda's not taking any chances with its successor: this prototype packs a V10 engine and everything Honda knows about engineering excellence.


Our latest spy photos and exclusive video were shot during recent tests at the Nurburgring in Germany where engineers are conducting high-speed testing while they fettle the aero and chassis. Those Offenbach registration plates betraying Honda's European engineering base are one sign this is the NSX – and Honda officials now openly admit this is indeed the new NSX .

Nissan GT-R 2009

2009 Nissan GT-R Performance & Efficiency Standard Features

Two turbo compressor

3,799 cc 3.8 liters V 6 mid engine with 95.5 mm bore, 88.4 mm stroke, 9.0 compression ratio, double overhead cam, variable valve timing/camshaft and four valves per cylinder VR38DETT

Premium unleaded fuel 91

Multi-point injection fuel system

Main premium unleaded fuel tank

Power: 358 kW , 480 HP SAE @ 6,400 rpm; 430 ft lb , 583 Nm @ 3,200 rpm

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

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Turbo compressor

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1,998 cc 2.0 liters in-line 4 front engine with 86.0 mm bore, 86.0 mm stroke, 10.0 compression ratio, double overhead cam, variable valve timing/camshaft and four valves per cylinder 4B11T

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Premium unleaded fuel 91

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Multi-point injection fuel system

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14.5 gallon main premium unleaded fuel tank 12.1

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Power: 217 kW , 291 HP SAE @ 6,500 rpm; 300 ft lb , 407 Nm @ 4,400 rpm



The all-new 2008 Mitsubishi Evolution is bigger and more refined than its predecessor. Rally fans may regret the Evo has moved away from its roots in World Rally Championship competition, but it's faster than its predecessor by almost every measure, now more like an affordable BMW M3.

The Evo is the sports edition of the Lancer sedan. Mitsubishi doesn't bring out a new version of the Evo every year. Although the first of the Evolution models appeared 16 years ago, this all-new Evo X, as it is affectionately called by fans, is only the 10th edition. Referred to by its fans with the Roman numeral X, the Evo X follows the Evo IX by two years.

Over those two years, some radical changes have been made. The Evo X is heavier, by some 300 pounds, than the IX. But it's more powerful, too, by five horsepower and 11 pound-feet of torque, so it forfeits little if anything in sheer performance.

More important, though, are changes made outside the engine compartment. The interior is upgraded, importing many of the current family version of the Lancer's features and trim. At the head of this list is the optional navigation system employing a 30GB HDD for map storage that reserves some six GB for personal audio files. The system will also, when the Evo is parked, play video through its seven-inch screen. One interior piece, or rather two interior pieces the Evo doesn't borrow from the base Lancer are its front bucket seats. These are sourced from Recaro and break new ground with in-seat, side impact airbags.

Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V is designed to deliver an ideal balance of style, functionality and features in a versatile and accommodating 5-passenger crossover SUV package.

Three distinct trim levels (LX, EX and EX-L) provide unique styling cues and feature content that accommodate shoppers seeking everything from basic function to premium appointments - yet all come equipped with the same high level of safety equipment. The 2009 CR-V achieves the highest five-star crash safety rating by the federal government for both frontal and side impacts¹ , the highest rating possible. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates the CR-V as a "Top Safety Pick - 2008."

"The right balance of style, refinement and performance is helping the Honda CR-V earn a top spot in the SUV sales charts," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Upscale styling, a spacious interior and sedan-like handling appeal to shoppers looking for a crossover sport utility vehicle."

The CR-V highlights the company's ongoing emphasis on safety by implementing features that go beyond conventional industry standards with innovations that include the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, a pedestrian safety design and standard Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®), also known as electronic stability control. Additional standard safety equipment includes side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor; front side airbags with a passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); active front seat head restraints; VSA; an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist; and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

A highly rigid body and fully independent suspension result in a quiet cabin and smooth, agile handling performance. The 2.4-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine and standard 5-speed automatic transmission provide an excellent balance of power (166-horsepower) and fuel economy (EPA-rated 20/27 city/highway mpg² , 2WD).

A dynamic forward cabin blends the familiar CR-V identity into a sculpted lower body with a rugged appearance. A two-tier grille and a side profile with an arched window shape and chrome trim accent the CR-V's distinctive and upscale presence.

The CR-V's unit-body construction features extensive use of high-strength steel to provide rigidity. Comprised of a front MacPherson strut layout and a rear multi-link suspension, the high-rigidity body and independent suspension offer an engaging driving experience rare for this class of vehicle. State-of-the art noise absorption materials help to reduce engine and road noise for an ultra-quiet cabin.

The inside of the CR-V blends the company's renowned ergonomics and innovative storage integration with modern and efficient styling. Abundant standard and available features like a Honda Satellite-linked Navigation System³ with voice recognition and a rear view camera accentuate the attention to premium details. A retractable center tray table on LX and EX models and a center console with storage on EX-L provide two beverage holders, and EX and above models also contain an additional 12-volt power outlet and house the auxiliary audio input jack.

Models outfitted with a leather interior (CR-V EX-L) come equipped with a dual-zone automatic climate control system and a power driver's seat with eight-way adjustment and power lumbar support. Additionally, all CR-V EX-L models are equipped with the premium audio system. On the CR-V EX and EX-L, a dual-deck cargo shelf provides additional storage versatility in the cargo area, while providing enough clearance underneath for grocery bags or items such as a folded stroller.

The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System³ with voice recognition and rearview camera, available on the CR-V EX-L, features a 6.5-inch motorized display that opens and closes for access to an internal single-disc CD player and a digital audio card reader that can play MP3 and WMA® files from CompactFlash® cards. The navigation system contains more than 7 million points of interest and can control the audio system. The voice recognition is capable of recognizing and entering numbers, street names and cities.

The CR-V LX and EX audio systems provide 160 watts of power. Auxiliary audio input jacks are standard equipment on all trim levels, allowing for portable music device playback through the audio system. All audio systems feature MP3/WMA CD playback capability and Speed-sensitive Volume Control (SVC) that automatically adjusts the volume based on vehicle speed. The CR-V LX has a four-speaker audio system with a single-disc CD player. The CR-V EX adds two speakers (tweeters) and an in-dash 6-disc CD changer. The CR-V EX-L equipped audio system increases power output to 270 watts and delivers sound through seven speakers, including a subwoofer. XM® Satellite Radio⁴ is standard on the CR-V EX-L.

Powered by a 2.4-liter, DOHC, i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine that produces 166 horsepower at 5800 rpm and 161 lb-ft. of torque at 4200 rpm, the CR-V offers refined and responsive performance with good fuel economy² and low emissions (ULEV-2). The Drive-by-Wire (DBW) throttle control works closely with the transmission for extremely smooth shift points and intuitive gear holding on hilly roads. A 5-speed automatic transmission is standard equipment.

The available, fully-automatic Real Time 4WD system enhances the CR-V's all-weather capabilities when driving in rain, snow and dirt roads - without the significant weight, fuel economy and handling performance drawbacks of a conventional four-wheel-drive system.

Three new colors have been introduced for the 2009 model year: Crystal Black Pearl, Alabaster Silver Metallic and Urban Titanium Metallic.

The CR-V is a global product for Honda sold in 160 countries throughout North America, Europe, Asia, South America and Africa - the most of any Honda automotive product. Worldwide, the CR-V is assembled in seven countries at eight factories, including the Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc., East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio.