Autoesque

OK, not officially, but Lingenfelter Performance Engineering of Indiana has created what it thinks a modern Trans Am might have looked like had General Motors not pulled the plug on the Pontiac brand. Called the Lingenfelter TA, the car is based on the current Chevrolet Camaro SS and takes the 1971 Trans Am as its design inspiration. Not many of the Camaro’s panels survive the transformation intact. The front end is completely replaced, as are the rear quarter panels and all of the lights. Finishing off the exterior are 20" wheels, Nitto tyres and a Corsa exhaust system. Meanwhile, the interior is very 70s retro, and it features custom seats, centre console, door panels, carpets and a turned metal instrument panel. Engine capacity has been increased from 6.2 litres (376 cu in) 7.5 litres (455 cu in) and, with modifications including a ported and polished cylinder head, forged aluminium pistons and a new inlet manifold, it now produces 655 bhp (488 kW / 664 PS) and 827 N...

The economics of running an electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV are being questioned, incredibly, by Mitsubishi itself. In figures that were provided to the BBC , the manufacturer seems to be warning anyone considering buying an i-MiEV that a normal petrol-powered car, such as the Fiat 500 Lounge 1.2, could actually be cheaper to own. That’s because the i-MiEV’s lower fuel and servicing costs might fail to offset the biggest cost factor: depreciation. In fact, according to Mitsubishi, the i-MiEV only becomes a better value proposition when the expense of the London Congestion Charge is taken into account. However, with cars that emit 100 g/km or less of CO2 not having to pay the charge if changes currently under discussion are approved, the i-MiEV (and in fairness other electric cars such as the Nissan Leaf ) become an expensive method to achieve free driving in London. And, of course, that is all totally irrelevant if you never drive in London. Perhaps the point is that the depreciati...

The Europa may have been quietly dropped from the range, and the Elise / Exige line-up is facing an uncertain future in Europe due to emissions legislation, but Lotus is promising some important unveilings at September’s Paris Motor Show. However, perhaps feeling that the wait might be too much for some, the company has decided to reveal a couple of its new products ahead of the show. The first is the Evora S, which takes the standard Evora’s 3.5 litre V6 and adds a supercharger. As a result, power output leaps from 276 bhp (206 kW / 280 PS) to 345 bhp (257 kW / 350 PS), a significant 25% increase. With torque also rising from 350 Nm to 400 Nm, it’s no surprise that performance is improved: 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in the S takes 4.8 seconds, while its top speed is 172 mph (276 km/h). By comparison, the normally aspirated Evora manages 5.1 seconds and 162 mph (261 km/h). But the extra power is just one element of what makes the Evora S different. The suspension settings have also...

The Citroen DS3 Racing will cost £23,100 when UK sales start in early 2011. That’s a lot for a fancy three-door Citroen C3 but, with right hand drive production limited to just 200 units, demand should comfortably outstrip supply. Based on the existing DS3 DSport THP 150, the Racing version has an uprated 1.6 lire turbo engine which produces 204 bhp (152 kW / 207 PS) and 275 Nm of torque. Consequently, performance is rapid with the 0-62 mph (100 km/h) sprint taking only 6.5 seconds. Top speed is 146 mph (235 km/h). To go with that extra power, the chassis has also been tweaked. The DS3 Racing gets bespoke dampers, wider (by 30 mm) front and rear tracks and a lower (by 15 mm) ride height, all of which is claimed to sharpen the handling and enhance control. The brakes have also been beefed up, with Citroen fitting four piston calipers and upgraded front discs. As would be expected given the price, equipment levels are fairly generous. Standard specification includes climate contr...

Mitsubishi has finally realised that charging £33,699 for its electric i-MiEV was a bad joke. Even the most environmentally-conscious early adopter was going to have a problem paying that for a city car with a modest 90 mile (145 km) range. So now the i-MiEV’s UK price has been slashed to a more palatable £28,990 which, purely coincidentally (yeah, right), is exactly what Nissan will be charging for the Leaf . Taking off the government’s recently confirmed £5,000 OLEV Plug-in Car Grant , that means both the Mitsubishi and Nissan will effectively cost £23,990 when they go on sale at the beginning of next year.

Suzuki’s range of 645 cc V-twin middleweights continues to expand. Following the re-launch of the SV650S back in May, there’s now another member of the V-Strom family. The V-Strom 650A XP - to give the new arrival its full title - is based on the existing ABS-equipped model. What makes the XP unique is all the extras that Suzuki has thrown at it, in an attempt to appeal to serious touring / adventure riders. So, standard kit includes black aluminium panniers (with a total capacity of 82 litres), a centre stand and plenty of guards (for the engine, sump and rider’s hands). Available from the end of August in a choice of Candy Max Orange or Metallic Oort Grey, the V-Strom 650A XP has a UK retail price of £7,300, which translates to £7,425 on the road. An obvious competitor will be the BMW F 650 GS which, with the optional centre stand and ABS specified, costs £7,210 OTR. Of course, at that price it still lacks the various guards and panniers of the V-Strom, but the BMW still has...

Following the official announcement that Chevrolet is to start offering its Camaro in the UK , the latest rumour is that the Corvette will be joining it. According to Auto Express magazine, sales are due to start next May. The Corvette hasn’t been available here since Dutch importer Kroymans went bust, an event that was also responsible for the temporary non-availability of Cadillac in Europe . In the US, prices for the Corvette start at $48,950 for the 430 bhp (320 kW / 436 PS) Coupe with entry-level 1LT trim, rising to $111,100 for the 638 bhp (475 kW / 646 PS) ZR1 variant. At today’s exchange rates, that would mean UK prices of around £31,380 to £71,220. However, the reality probably won’t be that simple, and potential customers should be prepared for Chevrolet to just swap the ‘$’ symbols for ‘£’ signs, leaving the US numbers pretty much unchanged. The Corvette should be exclusive though, with predicted annual retails of just 100 units. Presumably, given that kind of vol...

If proof were needed that money can buy a Ferrari 458 Italia, but not necessarily the driving talent to go with it, this YouTube clip is it. Apparently the video shows a customer picking up his pride and joy from the Maranello factory, only to get it very intimate with a tree the next day. Luckily there were no serious injuries, thanks to the car's crumple zone and airbags. Should be an interesting one to explain to the insurance company.

A new record for the world’s fastest saloon car was established earlier this year by German tuner G-Power. Its Hurricane RS - based on the BMW M5 and boasting 739 bhp (551 kW / 750 PS) - reached 228.2 mph (367.4 km/h). But now that record has been broken… by G-Power. This time though, it used the Hurricane RR. A development of the RS, the RR’s power is taken up to 789 bhp (588 kW / 800 PS) thanks to twin ASA T1-316 superchargers, Mahle forged pistons, redesigned connecting rods, strengthened piston pins and a remapped ECU. With its extra 80 bhp, the Hurricane RR managed to hit 231.2 mph (372.1 km/h). The only change made to the car ahead of its record attempt was substituting the standard 20” wheels for 19” items. That was to accommodate special Michelin Sport Pilot tyres, certified for speeds over 230 mph (370 km/h). Obviously, though, there are other benefits from having all that horsepower: G-Power reckons the Hurricane RR will accelerate from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.35 seco...

Renault has a history of its more adventurous models - such as the Avantime and Vel Satis - not doing so well in the UK. It’s unlikely the design of the Koleos SUV has ever been labelled daring, but nevertheless it seems that UK buyers have also ignored it in their droves. So much so, Renault has decided to pull the model from its range here, conveniently citing the credit crunch for a lack of sales. Built in South Korea by Renault Samsung, the only version available was the £24,705 Dynamique S. Powered by a 148 bhp (110 kW / 150 PS) 2.0 diesel engine, perhaps its strongest feature was the generous equipment level. Climate control, satellite navigation, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth connectivity, automatic lights and wipers, cruise control and a Bose stereo all came as standard. But poor dynamics and limited space in the back let it down and, in the end, it just couldn’t compete with the likes of the Land Rover Freelander and Volkswagen Tiguan. Doubtless badge snobbery influen...

Car manufacturers are generally very careful when choosing car names, in case something is lost in translation. That’s why, for example, the Mitsubishi Pajero is known as the Montero for the Spanish market, and the Buick LaCrosse was originally renamed Allure in Canada to better appeal to French speakers. The easy solution is to just use letters and numbers, although that didn’t work out too well for Toyota when its MR2 went on sale in France. And that strategy can also lead to a long string of nonsense, which is where Suzuki comes in. Its SX4 has been around for nearly four years now. Sporting mini-SUV looks and that name, casual observers might be lured into thinking it has four-wheel drive - which it probably doesn’t. The latest model names just add to the confusion. The entry-level version is known as the SZ3 (no sign of an SZ1 or SZ2), which features niceties such as four electric windows, six airbags, eight speakers but no four-wheel drive. There’s only one engine choice, ...

Royal Enfield has got together with Lewis Leathers to create a very stylish version of its 500 cc Bullet Classic . The special edition features a unique paint scheme for the tank, with the design being echoed in the mudguard and side panel graphics. It also gets a black and cream two-tone solo leather seat, plus leather panniers embossed with the Lewis Leathers logo. The final touch is an upswept sports exhaust. Available exclusively in the UK, anyone wanting one will have to be quick as only fifty are going to be produced. The on the road price of the Lewis Leathers Royal Enfield Bullet Classic is £5,695.

How much power can you put through the front wheels of a Focus RS? Ford reckoned 345 bhp (253 kW / 350 PS) was enough when it released the RS500 earlier this year, and Mountune followed suit with its similar MP350 conversion. But for tuners BBR of Brackley, Northamptonshire, that seems to be only the starting point. After 18 months of development work, it has just announced a range of modifications for the Focus RS as the car reaches the end of its lifecycle. Phase One consists of a BBR StarChip ECU software upgrade. This is said to improve driveability, especially throttle response. BBR also replaces the induction hose with one made out of silicon, as it found the standard unit would distort under load and restrict airflow. Power increases from the standard car’s 300 bhp (224 kW / 305 PS) to 337 bhp (251 kW / 342 PS), while maximum torque leaps from 440 Nm to 500 Nm. The price in the UK is £595, which seems rather good value. So, almost on a par with the RS500 / MP350 alread...

Back in 2008, Harley-Davidson spent around £65 million buying MV Agusta from the Castiglioni family. But now it’s selling it… back to the Castiglionis. The disposal of the Italian firm is part of Harley-Davidson’s strategy to concentrate purely on its core brand, something the now defunct Buell fell victim to last year. Keith Wandell, Harley-Davidson President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Our decision to divest MV Agusta reflects our strategy to focus our efforts and our investment on the Harley-Davidson brand, as we believe this provides an optimal path to long-term growth." However, he didn’t disclose what the sales proceeds were. It’s not as if the Castiglionis will have to re-familiarise themselves with the business. Claudio Castiglioni - who along with Giovanni Castiglioni and Massimo Bordi will be running MV Agusta - remained as the company’s chairman throughout the short period of Harley-Davidson ownership. MV Agusta also owns the Cagiva brand.

It seems that Fiat is pumping out a special edition 500 on an almost weekly basis at the moment. Perhaps it’s trying to milk its city car cash cow before the lustre finally wears off? Latest arrival is a collaboration between Fiat and posh jeans maker Diesel. There was previously a Diesel 500 hatch launched back in 2008, but now it’s the turn of the convertible. The 500C by Diesel is pretty much the usual special edition fare. Buyers will be able to choose from one of three exclusive colours (Midnight Indigo Blue, Crossover Black or Diesel Green), while unique 16” alloys, a burnished metal finish for various bits of trim and - naturally - numerous Diesel badges complete the exterior look. The interior doesn’t escape either, and the seats are covered in a denim fabric with yellow stitching. Like the 500C Lounge on which it’s based, the 500C by Diesel also gets automatic climate control and rear parking sensors as standard. That latter feature should come in handy as, judging fro...

For a few years now, the Maruti Suzuki Alto has been the best selling car in India. Now there is a new addition to the range, the Alto-K10. It gets its name from its 998 cc K-series engine, a three cylinder unit that produces 67 bhp (50 kW / 68 PS) and 90 Nm of torque. That’s a big increase over the 46 bhp (35 kW / 47 PS) of the existing 796 cc Alto models, which incidentally remain on sale. With the extra horsepower, performance is fairly brisk. Acceleration from rest to 62 mph (100 km/h) takes 13.3 seconds, a vast improvement on the unhurried 17.7 seconds the 796 cc Alto manages. Despite the enhanced performance, fuel consumption is actually slightly better too. The Alto-K10 achieves 57 mpg (5.0 l/100km / 20.2 km/l), which Maruti Suzuki claims is best in class. Other technical changes include an improved suspension, which retains 160 mm of ground clearance, and an upgraded braking system. There’s also a new cable type transmission that’s supposed to make changing gears easie...

The Porsche Panamera Turbo seems to be getting a lot of attention from tuners. Swiss firm Sportec is one of those, and the good news for UK customers is that its products are available through APS of Brackley, the UK importer. There are two packages on offer for the Panamera Turbo. Stage 1 basically consists of an engine ECU remap, which lifts power from the standard car’s 493 bhp (368 kW / 500 PS) up to 552 bhp (412 kW / 560 PS). Maximum torque is similarly increased from 700 Nm to 790 Nm. Although there isn’t a huge effect on the 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time, which reduces from 4.2 to 3.9 seconds, Sportec claims that the mid-range is where the impact is really felt. Top speed is also improved, rising to an electronically limited 195 mph (315 km/h). The price of the Stage 1 package is £2,900 fitted, which equates to about £50 per extra horsepower. Stage 2 meanwhile also gets the revised ECU, but adds Sportec’s stainless exhaust system. This comes with four 90mm diameter tail pipe...

Little-known Swiss firm Helvetic Motor Company has unveiled its latest creation. Called the Hidalgo (and possibly named after the 2004 film about a horse that featured Omar Sharif?) it uses the running gear from the Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG. The SLK’s 355 bhp (265 kW / 360 PS) 5,439 cc V8 is reckoned to accelerate the Hidalgo from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.4 seconds. That’s 1.5 seconds quicker than the AMG, so that obviously Bugatti-inspired body must be quite a bit lighter. Planned production is only six units per year but, with a price tag of around €310,000 (about £257,000 at today’s rates), even that may be optimistic.

Following its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last month, Alpina’s UK concessionaires have confirmed that the first deliveries of the B5 Bi-Turbo will take place later this year. The 5 Series-based B5 uses the same 4.4 litre V8 as the mainstream BMW 550i, but retuned turbochargers and a revised inlet set-up mean power is increased by 98 bhp (73 kW / 100 PS) to 500 bhp (372 kW / 507 PS), while maximum torque jumps by 100 Nm to a substantial 700 Nm. Also like the 550i, and typically Alpina, the B5 has an eight-speed automatic transmission. 0-62 mph (100 km/h) acceleration takes 4.7 seconds, which is 0.3 seconds quicker than the BMW. Unlike the 550i though, the Alpina dispenses with an electronic speed limiter, allowing it to go up to 191 mph (307 km/h). Combined fuel consumption for the B5 is 26.2 mpg (10.7 l/100km), while CO2 emissions are 252 g/km. By comparison, that’s not too different to the BMW 550i, which manages 27.2 mpg (10.4 l/100km) and 243 g/km. Another Alpin...

Land Rover has updated the Freelander 2, giving it more efficient engines and some minor styling tweaks. However, the big news is that for the first time a two-wheel drive version is also going to be offered. Now that may get some Land Rover purists a bit worked up, and others may say it’ll damage the brand. But, as Land Rover points out, two-wheel drive SUVs account for 23 percent of the segment in Europe. If it was being less tactful, the company could have also said that a lot of Freelander drivers won’t come even close to using the off-road capabilities of their cars, so it’s unlikely they are going to miss four-wheel drive. And it’s not as if Land Rover has never produced a two-wheel drive vehicle before. In the past it supplied some 4x2 Series models to the British and Belgian military, as this Land Rover Monthly editorial explains. Probably the main reason for introducing the two-wheel drive model - dubbed eD4 - is to reduce the average emissions of the range. Going by t...