Car industry news

Peugeot's online webzine has accidentally let slip two images of the new 207 GTI, spilling important details of its new hot hatch two months ahead of its launch. The 206 GTI never recaptured the fizz...

It's enough to make Jeremy Clarkson's hair curl – even more. A US version of the Vauxhall Vectra – the Saturn Aura – has won North American Car of the Year. The car derided by TV presenter Clarkson...

Subaru is preparing a rebadged Daihatsu Sirion to slot beneath the Impreza in its range - and the new 'mini could be on sale as early as the end of this year. Toyota, Daihatsu's parent company,...

British sportscar manufacturer TVR is fighting for survival after crashing into administration over Christmas. Blackpool Automotive Ltd, TVR's manufacturing arm, has stopped building cars at the...

You're looking at the long-awaited successor to Honda's NSX. After years of on-off speculation, we will finally see the new supercar in thinly veiled concept guise next month. The company says this...

Madcap Swiss manufacturer Rinspeed has announced a typically bonkers concept car: a transparent Radical rival. The two-seater eXasis will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March, as a potential...

America’s best-selling convertible arrives here a year from now – complete with right-hand drive layout, tax-friendly turbo diesel power, metal folding roof, sharpened dynamics and a £22k...

Bentley's replacement for the Continental family is likely to be constructed of aluminium, to cut weight and transform the dynamics. Engineers are already pondering the new model range, although it's...

Lamborghini has finally cast its new plans in stone, after much heated debate. And the plan is to replace the core supercars, before adding an SUV to the range. Although the Bologna-based sports car...

Audi has nothing to fear from the appointment of Martin Winterkorn as VW group boss. After all, Winterkorn clinched the job on the strength of his performance at Ingolstadt. And if Audi continues the...

A new boss takes the reins of VW in January, and Martin Winterkorn has some big decisions to make about VW's plans. VW's future model policy lacks variety. But it's been like that for years, with the...

The Volkswagen Group is set for a huge shake-up, following the resignation of chairman Bernd Pischetsrieder. Product plans across all seven marques, the group brand strategy, platform sharing and...

Mazda is working on an all-new, swoopy design language, which will be unveiled on this Nagare concept car in late November. The company has issued this borderline pointless, teaser sketch of the coupe...

Ford's S-Max MPV has been crowned European Car of the Year, by a panel of journalists. Is it a victory for originality, or yet another duff decision from Europe's motoring journalists? The shortlist...

Mini is planning the first ever diesel Cooper – and the common-rail unit will have almost 50 percent more power than the outgoing Toyota engine. The Mini Cooper diesel will run the 1.6-litre HDi four,...

General Motors is considering a Cadillac supermini, based on the next generation Vauxhall Corsa platform. 'We're experimenting with a dramatic Cadillac off our global small car architecture,' said a...

James Bond will drive Ford's forthcoming Mondeo in the latest 007 adventure, Casino Royale. Ford has released images of the Mondeo hatch in action on the Casino Royale set. The latest Bond – actor...

Porsche has upgraded its two Boxster models, by transplanting the Cayman coupe's punchier flat six engines. The base Cayman cabriolet – sorry, Boxster – now gets a smidgen more power and torque from...

Sports car maker TVR announced today that its Blackpool factory will close, with the loss of 260 jobs. But the company vows that the brand will live on though, with production moving overseas. The...

Rover lives on! This is Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation’s Roewe 750E - the Rover 75-based saloon - caught here undisguised weeks ahead of its official unveiling at next month’s Beijing motor...

When Hummer crashes into the UK off-road market this time next year it will spearhead its sales attack with the mid-sized H3, available in right hand-drive with diesel power. The H3, expected to...

New Lamborghini models will strive to make automotive history, not repeat it, vows the company’s president. Lambo’s brief flirtation with retro design – epitomised by the January 2006 Miura concept –...

Renaultsport is unleashing its most honed Megane yet – the catchily named 230 F1 Team R26. The £19,750 hot hatch is based on the track-focused 225 Cup edition, but with power bumped to 230bhp, tauter...

DaimlerChrysler is planning a bid for the McLaren Group, to gain full control of its F1 operation and production of the SLR supercar. CAR Online asked DC boss Dieter Zetsche if he was considering...

Lancia will re-enter the UK market in late 2008, and the Delta HPE will spearhead its return. And the range could grow to four models, including a sports car based on the Fulvia concept. 'This is the...

Mercedes pulled the wraps off not one but two muscle-bound AMG monsters at the Paris show – the CL63 and S63. Powered by AMG’s formidable 6.3-litre V8 that pumps out 525bhp at a screaming 6800rpm and...

Daihatsu is on the verge of giving its boxy Materia supermini – which made its European debut in Paris - the green light for UK imports. If given the green light the spacious five-seater, which is...

Mazda is scrabbling to ready a muscular 170bhp turbodiesel engine for its new CX-7 crossover, which arrives in Europe next summer. Although the five-seat 4x4 will initially come with a 258bhp version...

Another quirky Suzuki is on the way – the Splash – a small car with a big interior. The five-door is a rival for petite but practical hatches like Honda's Jazz. Unveiled at the Paris show, the Splash...

Aston Martin today unveils a new, Ferrari-style paddleshift transmission for the V8 Vantage. Dubbed Sportshift, the automated manual promises gearchanges in less than 200millisec, faster than you can...

Here are the first official photos of Volkswagen's facelifted Touareg, already uncovered during hot weather testing by CAR Online. A chrome effect grille surround and Eos-inspired headlights bring the...

Land Rover's new Freelander is more powerful, refined, spacious – and pricier. The range will kick off at £20,935, and first deliveries are due in November. The new Freelander range is five-door only,...

Skoda is making a bid to lead devlopment on the Volkswagen group's new small car, by unveiling this dynamic three-door design study, the Joyster. The sub-Fabia sized hatchback would take on cars like...

British supercar maker Noble Cars has fought back from the brink, thanks to a cash injection from a new mystery backer. In an exclusive interview with CAR Online, boss Lee Noble vowed that the M15 –...

Suzuki is launching a saloon version of the SX4 in North America and Japan. The SX4 Sedan is finalising its hot weather testing programme, ahead of the car's US launch in October 2006. Running a...

Electronic stability control and anti-whiplash head restraints should soon be part of the Euro NCAP crash test programme, CAR Online can reveal. Testers are keen to extend the programme beyond today's...