The first all-new Lotus since the iconic Elise made its debut in 1995, The Evora enters the sports car market as currently the world’s only mid-engined 2+2. Powered by a Lotus-tuned 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 280 PS, and weighing just 1350 kg (prototype specification), the Evora promises breathtaking performance. During preliminary testing around the famous Nürburgring, the Lotus chassis engineers report that it is extremely agile and great fun to drive – even when clad with the full development disguise that hid the beautiful lines from the prying motor-industry paparazzi.

In addition to its excellent performance and exemplary handling, the Evora offers a more refined ownership experience than Lotus’s existing smaller four-cylinder models. Its elegantly styled cabin is elegantly trimmed and its equipment list includes contemporary features such as an advanced touch-screen multi-media system and electric power-fold door mirrors.

Because one of the roles of the Evora is to attract new customers to the Lotus brand, much attention has been paid to its ease of use. Wider, taller door apertures and narrower sills make getting in and out of the cabin a less athletic undertaking than it is in Lotus’s smaller sports cars (the Elise, Exige, Europa and 2-Eleven), while the design of the cabin itself will accommodate two 99th percentile (6ft 5in tall) American males in the front seats.

The ‘convenience factor’ of the Evora extends to less obvious areas of the car. For instance, beneath the skin the entire front-end structure is a high tech aluminium sacrificial modular unit, attached to the main extruded aluminium tub. This modular unit is designed to deform for maximum safety, and to reduce repair costs in the event of a frontal impact.

The Evora has been designed with global automotive regulations in mind, and future derivatives are planed, these including amongst others, a convertible.

The Evora will be hand crafted and built on a dedicated new assembly line within Lotus’s advanced manufacturing facility at Hethel in the east of England; capacity limitations will restrict production to approximately 2000 cars a year, ensuring the dynamic new sports car’s rarity and exclusivity.

Kia Motors unveiled the all-new Kia Soul – its most significant-ever model – at the 2008 Paris Mondial de l’Automobile pointing clearly at a design-led future for the brand.

The segment-busting Kia Soul defies classification and traditional appeal providing a stylish yet flexible alternative for urban motorists who want the opportunity to go against traditional trends at a time when global economic doom-mongers are urging consolidation and conservatism.

Conceived in the United States but developed in Korea and Europe under the leadership of Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer the compact but capacious Kia Soul will arrive in the UK next Spring and is set to offer hard-pressed motorists with a reason to be optimistic.

Building on Kia’s traditional virtues of quality and value the Kia Soul will appeal to anyone with a more rebellious nature who is determined to stand out from the crowd but also wants to watch the domestic budget. Kia Soul has the aggressive and stylish appearance of a much larger 4×4-type vehicle but its 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engine options, developed from the units available in Kia’s cee’d family, will deliver excellent fuel economy and low running-costs.

Paul Philpott, Managing Director of Kia Motors (UK) Limited said: “Everyone knows that economic times are hard but Kia Soul is the perfect response for those who want to lift their spirits – it’s blend of innovative packaging and individuality will not come at premium prices.

“Soul will come with an excellent comfort and convenience equipment list plus the opportunity for personalisation in a variety of ways – but I am determined it’s list price will be realistic at a time when every household budget is looking to cut back on frivolities and fantasy.

“And Soul shows clearly the way we intend to move forward – with outstanding design and eye-catching appeal coupled with excellent quality and reliability. This car really does mark the start of a new chapter in Kia’s remarkable story,” he added.

Kia Soul customers in Europe will be offered a choice of 126 ps diesel or 126 ps petrol engines, based closely on the 1.6-litre units produced for the successful Kia cee’d model made in Slovakia.

Kia Soul acceleration times to 62mph range from 10.4 to 11.3 seconds and fuel consumption spreads over a 5.1 to 6.6 litres/100 km span, while CO2 figures vary between 137 and 159 g/km for European models.

Kia Soul cars supplied to the majority of countries in Western Europe and all of North America will be fitted with six airbags, four disc brakes and ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) as standard.

Every Kia Soul in Europe will be equipped with a factory-fit RDS radio/CD player with MP3 compatibility, plus six audio speakers, a 112 watts output, innovative PowerBass technology and a roof-top antenna. An upgraded sound system – complete with ‘Sound Sensitive Mood Lighting’, a 315 watts output, a large dash-top centre speaker, external amplifier and a sub-woofer in the trunk for a total of eight speakers – can be specified.

The new Vantage GT4 builds on the success of its predecessor, the 4.3 litre Vantage N24. The car is an evolution of the N24 with the larger capacity engine being more responsive with increased torque throughout the rev range. The suspension has also been retuned to enhance the handling, including modified front uprights to give increased camber. The 2009 Vantage GT4 also has larger front brake discs with revised cooling.

The Vantage GT4 is built to FIA GT4 regulations and is eligible to compete in the following series: FIA GT4 European Cup; British GT4 Championship; Britcar Endurance Series; German GT4 Championship; Dutch Supercar Challenge; Dutch GT4 Championship; VLN Endurance Championship at the Nurburgring; Australian Endurance Championship; the American SCCA Championship; and the Aston Martin Owners Club Race Series.

The Vantage GT4 comes with either a manual transmission or sportshift transmission. It is priced from £96,645 and is available to order now with delivery in January 2009.

Aston Martin Racing is now the only manufacturer to produce cars in each of the GT classes: GT1, GT2, GT3 and GT4.

The GT4 is based on the latest 4.7 litre V8 Vantage and is hand built by Aston Martin Racing.

The 4.7 litre eight cylinder engine has an engine management system recalibrated for race use. It also has a free flow exhaust system and air filters, and the standard V8 dry sump lubrication system is retained, helping to prevent oil surge during cornering.

The Vantage GT4 can be supplied with either a six speed manual, or a Sportshift transmission with paddle controls. Both versions have a Valeo twin-plate cerametallic racing clutch and lightweight flywheel to complete the powertrain specification.

At 1,330 kg the Vantage GT4 is 300 kg lighter than the standard car. This has been achieved through a range of weight reduction measures. The interior trim is removed with the exception of the facia moulding, which is re-trimmed in Alcantara, and the console and door casings are replaced by new lightweight mouldings.

The chassis has been fitted with a high-strength steel rollcage and Recaro competition seats. A suede-trimmed steering wheel with a quick release mechanism is also fitted as standard. The Vantage GT4’s safety features are completed with a Sabelt sixpoint safety harness with a push-button release and Lifeline Zero 360 gas extinguisher system.

The V8 Vantage road car’s suspension has required only minor adjustments for optimal track performance. These include larger diameter front and rear anti-roll bars and adjustable ride height aluminium dampers, as well as single rate, flat ground springs with separate helper springs. The front subframe is modified for extra camber and castor. Cast magnesium front and rear wheels are standard fit with high performance Yokohama A048-R tyres. The brakes are uprated with Pagid RS 29 race pads.

As further endorsement of the standard V8 Vantage underframe, the active safety systems are directly carried over to the Vantage GT4, including: dynamic stability control, traction control, ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution, providing reassurance and enhanced control in slippery conditions.

Maximum driving fun with minimal fuel consumption: This is the standard by which Volkswagen is starting the new car year 2009 and is presenting the roadster Concept BlueSport at the North American International Auto Show. “The BlueSport proves to be a compact and passionate car with a clear Volkswagen signature. The car offers pure dynamics with a powerful 180 PS Clean Diesel engine that is combined with the characteristic Volkswagen philosophy of efficiency,” confirmed Volkswagen’s Chairman of the Board, Prof. Martin Winterkorn in Detroit.

The Concept BlueSport is making its appearance at the car show in Detroit with a Flex Silver exterior and orange fabric convertible top. “It is the symbiosis of outstanding technology and timeless Volkswagen design that makes this car an exceptional sports car. Its styling is clear and is reduced to the essentials; the car body itself has a lean and linear structure”, explains Volkswagen chief designer Walter de Silva. The interior shows finesse in details and conveys a high level of technological fascination. Immediately visible to the eye is the intuitive and easy to operate touchscreen. Perfectly adapted to the interior are the leather upholstered seats in lightweight construction with their single-piece seatbacks.

Behind the two sport seats of the 3.99 meter long Concept BlueSport, a 132 kW / 180 PS strong Clean Diesel (TDI) with common rail injection and downstream NOx storage catalytic converter delivers dynamic performance. A 6-speed DSG dual clutch transmission – the most economical and agile transmission system in the world – transfers power to the rear wheels. In just 6.6 seconds the sports car is moving at 100 km/h; its top speed is 226 km/h. Also having a positive impact on the car’s low fuel consumption of just 4.3 l/100 km and reduced emissions are two technologies that are part of the so-called Eco mode: an automatic start-stop system and energy regeneration. Together they propel the Concept BlueSport to an additional fuel savings of up to 0.2 liter per 100 kilometers in city driving.

In just a few weeks, Volkswagen of America will be introducing one of the most economical and cleanest SUVs to the US market: the new Touareg V6 TDI with a powerful 165 kW / 225 PS Clean Diesel. In parallel to the debut of the pioneeringly efficient Touareg, Volkswagen is now presenting in Detroit an outstandingly exclusive special model of its high-end SUV: the Touareg “Lux Limited”. It will launch with the new V6 TDI and two highly advanced gasoline engines: a V6 FSI (206 kW / 280 PS) and a V8 FSI (257 kW/ 350 PS). All versions of the Touareg START share an exclusive interior that is only available on this edition that will be limited to 1,940 units.

Exterior of the “Lux Limited” edition

On its exterior, the Touareg “Lux Limited” makes its appearance with high-end 20-inch alloy wheels (“Ayers Rock” type) and size 275 all-season tires, a styling package with special side skirts and customized front and rear aprons and a color lineup customized for the limited edition. The Touareg “Lux Limited” may be ordered in the exterior colors “Biscay blue”, “Black magic pearl effect”, “Campanella white” and “Galapagos gray” – the “Biscay blue” color new to the product lineup.

Interior of the “Lux Limited” edition

The Volkswagen Touareg is offered with a very long list of standard features across the board – i.e. in every version. After all, the German SUV is one of the highest end vehicles of its type in the world. The “Lux Limited” – developed by Volkswagen Individual – now goes even one step further. That is because it always includes a two-tone leather interior combined with special interior accents based on the particular color variant. Version 1: Cricket leather in the color combination “Latte Macchiato / St. Tropez white”; where the center seat panels are kept in white. In this case, the interior accents are in “Poplar grain” decor. Version 2: Cricket leather in “Anthracite / St. Tropez white”. An “Engine spin dark” decor with a metallic look and feel is used here. In both variants the door panel inserts are trimmed in “St. Tropez white”. In addition, the driver and front passenger of the Touareg “Lux Limited” get standard 12-way power seats.

The 2009 G37 Convertible will be inspired by the 2008 Coupe version; this means it will combine the same exhilarating performance, stunning styling and modern, sporty interior of the original Infiniti G Coupe.

Under the hood of the Convertible version we will see a 3.7 liter V6 engine with an output of 330 hp and a peak torque of 269 lbs-ft. The engine will be matted with a a choice of an upgraded electronically controlled 5-speed automatic transmission with manual mode, downshift rev matching, DS mode and ASC (Adaptive Shift Control) that allows for quicker shifts in sporty driving situations and available genuine magnesium paddle shifters; or a newly revised, lightweight 6-speed manual transmission.

The G37 Convertible will be build on the FM (Front Mid-ship) platform, which has been stiffened 36% from the previous generation, is lower in overall height and has a wider front and rear track width.

Also there are rumors that Infiniti is working on a more powerful version of the G37: an all-wheel drive, twin-turbocharged version that will have an output of 500 hp. This mean that the 2009 G37 will be even more powerful like a GT-R. So, it will reach at least a top speed of 185 mph and the 0 to 60 mph sprint will be made in less than 4 seconds.

Like the Coupe, the Convertible version will be offered in three different versions: standard, Journey and Sport. The most powerful, and of course the most expensive will be the the Sport version. It will feature 19″ wheels, Viscous Limited-Slip Differential (VLSD), sport-tuned suspension, sport brakes, unique front fascia and side sills, sport-styled seats and steering wheel stitching.

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History

Nissan 300ZX Convertible

Nissan unveiled the 300ZX or the Fairlady Z in 1983. It stayed into production until 2000 and was build with two different: the Z31 and the Z32 (same used in the Z-series).

The Z31 chassis was designed after the previous Z-car, the Nissan 280ZX, but it was featuring a new, more aerodynamic body than the previous 280ZX.

It was powered by either a naturally-aspirated or a turbocharged V6 producing 160 hp and 200 hp respectively.

In 1986 Nissan added side skirts and replaced the fiberglass spoiler with a durable plastic one; the 300ZX was given a much sleeker look when the hood scoop was removed. A third brake-light was also added to the interior of the unit for safety.

The convertible version was available only in the Z32 series. It was unveiled in 1993 and lasted until the end of the 300ZX. It was powered by a 3.0-liter V6 that produced 222 hp 6400 rpm and 198 pound-feet of torque 4800 rpm. Power was applied to the rear wheels through a standard five-speed transmission and limited-slip differential. A four-speed automatic was optional.

300ZX was also available in Turbo version. It was powered by a modified version of the V6 engine. Thanks to intercooling and a single turbo for each cylinder bank, it produced 300 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque.