Car news

All the latest car news, motoring stories, new model launches, industry analysis and photos from CAR magazine UK

  • Pininfarina B0 at the Paris motor show 2008

    08 October 2008 by Guy bird

    The Pininfarina B0 (that's ‘B-zero’, not body odour) was one of the hidden gems of the 2008 Paris motor show. The full electric vehicle is arguably the first EV you’d actually want to buy for its...

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  • AMG plans greener, cleaner performance cars

    08 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    AMG is going green – the maker of unfeasibly fast Mercedes-Benz models is gearing up for hybrid and diesel versions, using advanced low-weight materials to retain their tyre-smoking performance...

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  • Peugeot Unveils Hybrid Le Mans Racer

    07 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    Peugeot used the final round of this season’s Le Mans Series at Silverstone this weekend to show off its new hybrid-powered 908 HDi FAP racer, which features a similar kinetic energy recovery setup to...

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  • Does It Work? video: voice recognition

    07 October 2008 by Ben Pulman

    Voice recognition software is becoming more widespread, as costs tumble and the technology that used to be the preserve of executive cars now trickles down to more mainstream metal. But does it work?...

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  • BMW-Mercedes alliance: the latest news

    06 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    BMW and Mercedes are continuing to work on joint projects, CAR can reveal. The two premium brands reckon working together might just stave off the threat of the credit crunch, collapsing car sales in...

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  • Infiniti G37 Convertible: more photos

    06 October 2008 by Tim Pollard

    Infiniti has released another photograph of its new G37 Convertible – the roadster version of Nissan’s new 3-series fighter. The car will be formally shown at the 2008 Los Angeles motor show and this...

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  • Land Rover at the Paris motor show 2008

    06 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    Land Rover Freelander TD4 TD4_e Stop/Start

    Land Rover unveiled its most fuel-efficient car ever at the French motor show: the new Freelander TD4_e Stop/Start. No prizes for guessing it's a diesel 4x4, whose economy is improved by 3.8mpg and...

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  • Mitsubishi at the Paris motor show 2008

    06 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    Mitsubishi Colt: a world debut at Paris

    The heavily revised Mitsubishi Colt was the biggest real-world news for the Japanese brand at Paris. It now gets the large signature jet fighter grille from its bigger Lancer brother, alongside a...

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  • Bentley at the Paris motor show 2008

    03 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    Bentley launches its Arnage Final Series, a wonderfully blunt name for the run-out Arnage model. Probably a good thing too - the upright Final Series looked like a old-fashioned stately home next to...

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  • Rolls Royce at the Paris motor show 2008

    03 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    Rolls Royce at the Paris motor show

    Nothing much happening at the Rolls Royce stand at Paris. There are three cars lined up: the enormous Phantom (still the Daddy); the vast Drophead (with its yacht-style rear decking); and the...

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  • Peugeot at the Paris motor show 2008

    03 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    Peugeot at the Paris motor show

    Peugeot has a very busy stand at Paris this year. As well as a million look-alike hatches of various sizes, it also showcased its new 'Hy' hybrid technology in a big way - with not one but four new...

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  • Jaguar at the Paris motor show 2008

    03 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    Jaguar XKR-S at the Paris motor show

    Rather than celebrating the new, Jaguar celebrated the very old in Paris this year - but it was still one of the most stylish cars on display. That's because 2008 marks 60 years since the launch of...

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  • Aston Martin at the Paris motor show 2008

    03 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    Aston Martin - Paris motor show

    The buzz around Aston Martin continues. The now independent brand is teasing motor show visitors with a styling buck of the One-77 (the ultra-exclusive £1.2 million supercar that’ll be limited to a...

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  • Fiat at the Paris motor show 2008

    03 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    Fiat 500 at the Paris motor show

    No new cars for Fiat at Paris, so the spotlight fell on environmental initiatives. A five-times life-size white Fiat 500 presided over a stand occupied entirely by pearl white 500s, Bravos, Sedicis,...

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  • Maserati at the Paris motor show 2008

    03 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    Maserati at the Paris motor show

    Visitors to the Maserati stand at Paris were treated to Modena’s familiar but still nonetheless alluring two-car range with a trio of Quattroportes and a pair of Granturismos, the newest versions...

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  • Saab at the Paris motor show 2008

    03 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    Saab 9-X Air at the Paris motor show

    On one level, the Saab 9-X Air is a re-work of the Geneva show’s 9-X BioHybrid with its roof chopped off. But get up close and you’ll find it’s one hell of a smart hatchet job.   Tell me more about...

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  • Lancia at the Paris motor show 2008

    02 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    Lancia - Paris motor show

    At the Paris Motor Show 2006, CAR Online witnessed the covers come off the concept that was to pre-empt Lancia’s C-segment superstar. Today the Lancia Delta takes pride of place on the Lancia stand,...

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  • Alfa at the Paris motor show 2008

    02 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    Alfa Romeo Paris motor show

    It’s all quiet at Alfa, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to look at. The girls are of an even higher standard than those over the road at Fiat, while the 8C Spider – standing proud in pearl white...

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  • Lexus at the Paris motor show 2008

    02 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    Lexus at the Paris motor show

    A coupe/cabriolet version of the appealing IS250 was Lexus’s highlight at Paris. Its three-piece folding metal roof completes its gymnastics in just 20 seconds before folding flat in the cavernous...

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  • Toyota at the Paris motor show 2008

    02 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    Toyota Avensis - Paris motor show

    Toyota showed the latest, third-generation Avensis, a car that typically whips up as much excitement from car enthusiasts as the Eurovision Song Contest does with music aficionados. The Avensis is one...

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  • Chevrolet at the Paris motor show 2008

    02 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    Chevrolet at the Paris motor show 2008

    General Motors’ Chevrolet stand was buzzing at Paris with two world debuts – the Chevrolet Cruze production saloon and Chevrolet Orlando seven-seater show car – plus two important European production...

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  • Skoda at the Paris motor show 2008

    02 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    Skoda octavia combi - Paris motor show

    Skoda launched its revised Octavia at the Paris motor show – and it's clear to see they've injected some mini-Superb DNA. And that was about it for the Czech marque this year; 2008 is a bit of a slow...

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  • Audi at the Paris motor show 2008

    02 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    Audi at the Paris motor show

    Audi’s sparkling new A1 Sportback – a thinly camouflaged version of its 2010 A1 Mini-basher – as well as its frugal A4 Concept E and a rather large trophy were the highlights of Ingolstadt’s Parisian...

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  • Kia at the Paris motor show 2008

    02 October 2008 by James Foxall

    Kia at the Paris motor show

    Kia is desperate to prove to the world that it has Soul. And it did so in the most obvious way in Paris with – you guessed it – some soul singers. Seven versions of the new urban crossover Soul were...

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  • Vauxhall at the Paris motor show 2008

    02 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    Vauxhall Insignia at the Paris motor show

    The Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer bagged its world debut as an Opel-badged vehicle in Paris. Yet another well styled, curvaceous family estate in the vein of the Citroen C5, Ford Mondeo and Honda...

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  • BMW X1 at the Paris motor show 2008

    02 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    BMW X1 - Paris motor show 2008

    The new X1 and 7-series were the stars of BMW’s Paris stand, but there were plenty more treats for showgoers, including the subtly revised 3-series saloon and Touring – the Efficient Dynamics-fettled...

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  • Mini Crossover at the Paris motor show 2008

    02 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    Mini Crossover at the Paris motor show

    We’ve already seen it in the November 2008 issue of CAR, but Paris marked the motor show debut of the Mini Crossover Concept – a pumped-up four-wheel drive Mini that goes on sale in 2009. As...

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  • Seat at the Paris motor show 2008

    02 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    Seat Exeo is a scarcely credible rehash of Audi's last-gen A4. Still, if they get the price right...

    Seat wheeled out its feisty new Ibiza Cupra – all 180bhp of it – and followed it up by its new old A4-based Exeo, and topped off its show with its ultra-clean Ibiza Ecomotive.  Tell me more about the...

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  • Ferrari at the Paris motor show 2008

    02 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    The big news at Ferrari was the California – Maranello’s first coupe convertible and its first car to feature a dual-clutch semi-auto gearbox. Parked alongside the Ferrari F1 car, it looked more...

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  • Renault at the Paris motor show 2008

    02 October 2008 by Ben Oliver

    Renault Megane at the Paris motor show: they've played it safe this time

    Renault put in the strong showing you'd expect from France's biggest car maker on its home turf, with six new cars or concepts led by two versions of the new Megane. There's also the production...

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  • Mercedes at the Paris motor show 2008

    02 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    Mercedes at the Paris motor show

    Mercedes’ new Project Fascination – easily the best-looking car from Stuttgart in a long while – took centre stage on Daimler's stand, followed by the new S400 Blue Hybrid, a grenade-proof Pullman...

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  • Citroen at the Paris motor show 2008

    02 October 2008 by James Foxall

    Citroen Hypnos cast a weird spell at the Paris motor show

    Citroen is one of the show stealers this year with a stunning-looking concept car that you can actually drive, courtesy of a tie-up with PlayStation. But the firm’s stand had something for everyone,...

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  • Cadillac at the Paris motor show 2008

    02 October 2008 by Rowan Atkinson

    Cadillac showed its new CTS wagon on the streets of Paris

    The new CTS Sport Wagon took pride of place on Cadillac’s Paris show. After a strong reception at the elite Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, California in August 2008, the European unveil was the...

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