Motoring News

Video: Man smashes up his own BMW
News 17 Sep, 2013 Disgruntled BMW owner takes sledgehammer to his car at Frankfurt motor show

Datsun Go+ MPV revealed
The second model from relaunched Datsun is a seven-seat MPV, due on sale in 2014 The Datsun Go+ has been revealed, and will go on sale in Indonesian markets from next year.Essentially an MPV version of the Go hatchback which relaunched the Japanese marque earlier this year, the Go+ will be powered by the same 1.2-litre petrol engine as the hatchback. Also crossing over from the hatch is the five-speed manual gearbox, which sends power to the front axle.The MPV also shares the same wheelbase as its smaller sibling, although its overall length has increased by 210mm to provide room for two additional passengers.Inside, the Go+ follows the design of the Go hatchback almost exactly, also doing without a traditional AM/FM radio in favour of dedicated smartphone integration."With the return of the Datsun brand, we are changing mobility," said Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn "And we're ensuring greater access to the pride, independence and opportunities that car ownership provides."The company has yet to announce official pricing for the model, but it is expected to command a premium over the 400,000 Indian rupees (£4400) asked for the hatchback. By comparison, a Tata Nano costs £1700.The move to relaunch Datsun is believed to be part of Nissan's plans to cater for the budget end of the car market, in much the same vein as Renault is doing with

Just how much power does a Tesla Model S produce?
We know the Tesla Model S is a seriously quick machine, but just how much power does the electric car produce? We take to the rolling road to find out. Having already declared the Tesla Model S as a landmark car, the time comes to see just how much power those motors and batteries produce. Will it be enough to shame some of the world's most exotic sports cars and supersaloons? Steve Sutcliffe takes a Model S to a rolling road to see how much bhp is generated on the dyno.Video: Tesla Model S vs Aston Martin Rapide S

First drive: the Alfa Romeo 4C
TG are currently in the Italian mountains driving the long-awaited Alfa. Our thoughts so far…

BMW 4-series coupé review
Is BMW's 4-series coupé as good to drive as it is to look at? Andrew English decides.    read more

Autocar magazine 18 September preview
World-exclusive McLaren P1 first ride; MG 3 vs Dacia Sandero; Audi RS6 used buying guide; BMW 4-series road tested This week Autocar delivers a world exclusive first ride in the McLaren P1, lapping at full speed around the Willow Springs test circuit in America as the test team undergoes final hot weather testing.The full-bore ride is the culmination of a fascinating insight in to how a manufacturer develops one of the most extreme cars on the planet, and gives a tantilising glimpse of just how impressive the P1 is going to be.News highlights are dominated by events at the Frankfurt motor show, and include reports that the Audi Nanuk off-road supercar could make production, full details of the four cars that will spin-off Jaguar’s new aluminium platform, and the technical lowdown on the Ferrari 458 Speciale.We also lift the lid on the plans by Mercedes-Benz to have a self-driving car on sale by 2020, have the full lowdown on the new Nissan X-Trail, the full details of the read more

Alfa Romeo 4C to cost £45,000
Production version of Alfa's new sports car seen track testing, Launch Edition deliveries expected this month The Alfa Romeo 4C, seen here track testing, will cost from £45,000 when it goes on sale next month.The 4C, conceived as a supercar-beating sports car with a combination of light weight, modest power and agile handling, is already on sale in the form of the £52,000 Launch Edition. Alfa has acheived 215bhp/tonne with the 4C's  237bhp 1.7-litre turbocharged engine, meaning a 0-62mph sprint time of 5.0 seconds and a top speed of 160mph. The engine is mated to the latest generation of Alfa's dry twin-clutch transmission. Up to 80 per cent of the car's 258lb/ft of torque is available from 1800rpm, something that Alfa says underlines the flexible nature of the new engine. Rumours still persist that a V6-engined option will also become available in the future. Alfa's DNA driver select system is also incorporated, and now also features a new 'race' mode.With a dry weight of just 895kg the Alfa Romeo 4C is certainly lightweight. Carbonfibre accounts for just ten per cent of that weight, but makes up over a quarter of its volume including forming the 65kg tub. A special formulation of sheet moulding compound composite is used to form the body, while even the glass for the windows has been pared down by up to 15 per cent to reduce weight.Alfa Ro

Longest-serving Toyota president Eiji Toyoda passes away
Cousin of Toyota founder and longest-serving president dies aged 100 Toyota's longest-serving chief executive, Eiji Toyoda, has died aged 100.Toyoda, cousin of Toyota founder Kiichiro Toyoda, served as president of the company from 1967 to 1982, steering the firm to become the world's largest car manufacturer. Among his key achievements was leading the development of the Toyota Corolla in 1966, and in 1983 taking the decision to push Toyota into the luxury car market. The success found there culminated in the creation of the Lexus brand in 1989.He was also instrumental in pioneering the 'Toyota way' - a method of producing cars with as little waste as possible that has been imitated around the globe.Toyoda is reported to have been inspired by a visit to a Michigan-based Ford factory in 1950, and learning about mass production. Impressed by the use of US materials and machinery, he retuned home to improve Toyota's manufacturing methods.Toyoda also served as chairman of Toyota until 1994, and remained an honorary advisor to the company.He died earlier today of a heart attack. At the time of his death, he was being treated in a hospital founded by Toyota as a factory clinic in 1938.

Electric Dacia is possibility, says boss
News 17 Sep, 2013 Electric Dacia is a possibility for budget brand due to growing popularity of EV market

Mercedes S-class Pullman spotted testing
Stretched Mercedes-Benz S-class will go on sale next year, priced at £200k A stretched version of the new Mercedes-Benz S-class has been spotted testing at the Nürburgring.The model will in effect replace the ill-fated Maybach ultra-luxury marque when it goes on sale early next year. The company will revive the historic Pullman nameplate for the new model.Mercedes axed the Maybach brand in 2011, after the car had been in production for just a decade. Sources say company bosses decided that it had “a better chance” of succeeding in this niche with the Mercedes brand. Stretched S-class models are likely to be priced at £200k, with the Pullman spec reserved for the higher-end versions.Speaking to Autocar at the Frankfurt motor show, Daimler boss Dieter Zetsche said the Pullman is intended to explore the full potential of the Mercedes brand: "It will not just be the ultimate expression of the S-class as a model, but of what Mercedes can offer as a brand."

Dacia Duster Black Edition first drive review
The Duster Black Edition features more kit and cosmetic upgrades, but it does away with the Dacia's budget appeal entirely

The view from behind the wheel: cyclists shouldn't jump red lights, but don't assume they're reckless
Telegraph Motoring's Chris Knapman replies to the argument that cyclists should be allowed to jump red lights   read more

Updated Vauxhall Insignia review
Updated Vauxhall Insignia review

Jeremy Clarkson threatens to stand against Nick Clegg
If Ed Miliband was ever worried by Jeremy Clarkson's threat to stand against him at the next election, he can breathe a sigh of relief.    read more

European car sales fall again in August
European car sales resume downward path in August after posting a rare rise in July, with market leader Volkswagen dragging down the overall market

Liberace's golden car for sale
The entertainer Liberace is thought to have owned this gold leaf-clad Cadillac, which is expected to fetch up to £100,000 at auction.    read more

Citroen C4 Cactus in development
First pictures of the production version of Citroen's Cactus concept, due next February The Citroen C4 Cactus, the production version of the Cactus concept shown at the Frankfurt motor show, has been spotted testing for the first time.The C4 Cactus will be offered alongside the standard C4 in the same vein as the C4 Picasso. More Cactus spin-offs of existing models are expected to follow, too, if the new look is deemed a sales success. Citroen officials say they are optimistic that Cactus cars could eventually replace more conventional mainstream models."The C4 has many years ahead of it in its production cycle, so we have time to evalutate the success of the Cactus line," said Citroen boss Frederic Banzet. "However, our research suggests it will be a sales success. We have chosen to develop a line that will be loved by some and hated by some. It is better that way, rather than being an average choice in an overcrowded market."The Cactus concept is 4.21m long, 1.75m wide and 1.53m tall, with a relatively high ride height of 21cm. It is expected to sit on the firm's new EMP2 platform when it goes on sale. We can see from these spy photos that the most obvious concept car element of the original show car, that its B-pillars an

Alfa 4C UK price announced
Yes, it's less than a Cayman S, but will it be better?

Build your own CSR
Cherry pick your own 911 upgrades as part of RPM's CSR programme

Nissan Z - the next gen
With a concept due at Tokyo PH talks to Nissan about the replacement for the 370Z

Radical RXC: Time For Tea?
Many claim 'racing car for the road' influence; Radical is among the few to live up to it

Ferrari F12: Review
Harris gets the keys to an F12, the man from Pirelli is kept busy

Porsche Carrera GT: Spotted
What would the 918 Spyder be like without the hybrid gizmos? Slower, perhaps, but still rather lovely

VW Golf voted best used car
The Volkswagen Golf also takes the award for best used family car.    read more

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