Fiat 124 2017

The new Fiat 124 Spider marks the Italian brand’s return to the affordable roadster market after an absence of more than decade. 

Heavily based on the Mazda MX-5, the newcomer combines that car’s agile rear-wheel drive handling with Fiat’s own turbocharged MultiAir engine. The 124 Spider also features totally unique exterior styling – although the interior is carried over largely unchanged from the Mazda.

The Fiat can trace its roots back to the original 124 Spider, which made its debut back in 1966 and continued in production for nearly two decades. Then, in 1995, Fiat had another stab at the roadster market with the pretty Barchetta.

However, this car was front-wheel drive and only available in left-hand drive, meaning sales were slow, particularly in the face of rivals such as the MX-5.

So for this revived 124 Spider, Fiat has decided that ‘if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em’. As a result, the new car is essentially a re-skinned Mazda MX-5.

Every single body panel is changed to give the Fiat its own identity, but the underlying structure, suspension and even the interior are taken wholesale from the Mazda. The Fiat is also built alongside the MX-5 at Mazda’s Hiroshima factory in Japan.

Externally, the Fiat looks different enough from the Mazda MX-5. Yet with its longer overhangs (the Fiat is 139mm longer overall), gaping front grille and slab sides, the 124 Spider doesn’t looks as compact or stylish as the tautly designed and perfectly proportioned Mazda.

Yet while fans of the sixties original will no doubt be dismayed at this blatant badge-engineering, it does mean the 124 Spider is fun to drive, solidly built and relatively affordable. And while much of the Fiat is Japanese, its heart is still 100 percent Italian.

Under the sculpted bonnet (a clear nod to the sixties original) is Fiat’s own 138bhp turbocharged 1.4-litre MultiAir petrol engine. It doesn’t rev quite as eagerly as the naturally aspirated 1.5 and 2.0-litre units used in the MX-5, but it’s as quick as the latter thanks to its muscular 240Nm torque output. It’s also more relaxing to drive, because you don’t need to work the engine as hard to access strong performance.

Currently, this engine is the only option available to British 124 Spider buyers – the American market car gets a more potent 160bhp version of the same powerplant. However, sources close to the company have confirmed that an even more powerful and sharper handling Abarth model is in the pipeline for UK and European customers.

Like the Mazda MX-5 powerplants, this engine drives through a six-speed manual gearbox, yet unlike its Japanese cousin the Fiat 124 Spider is also available in the UK with a six-speed automatic.

Ford Focus 2018

Spy images of a test mule for the next Focus hatchback have also emerged. The all-new rival is set to to arrive on the scene in 2018.

The knock-on effect of the Fiesta supermini's move upmarket is that the Focus, currently criticised for its relative space shortage compared to newer rivals, will grown in size. Although these images show a makeshift body of the current car, the chunkier arches and altered panels prove exterior dimensions will swell.

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Image 6 of 7

Expect a modest increase in the wheelbase to allow the Focus to catch up with the VW Golf for legroom, while the current car's small boot should grow significantly. We will also see Ford's latest 'SYNC 3' infotainment system, and a greater emphasis on quality materials.

Old woman being hit by a toy car

An elderly lady who was knocked over by a toy car, refused to get up and move out of its way until the driver 'paid compensation.'

The bizarre moment was captured on camera in the city Changde in China’s Hunan Province on March 13.

She sat on the floor on the sidewalk in front of the toddler who drove the red toy car, her parents, and some bystanders, reported Huanqiu.com, an affiliation of the People’s Daily Online.

t is not clear exactly what happened when the car hit as the person who was filming only captured the pensioner's tantrum moments after.

The unidentified woman allegedly said the vehicle was speeding without a licence on the sidewalk -  it seems she did not quite grasp the fact that it was a kid’s toy.

In the dispute on the street, the child’s mother can be heard shouting at the woman: ‘I was walking over here and you were walking over there.' 

Fake Lambretta Scooter!

The News!

Scooter Infos (Pictures) and Scooter Station report the new Lambretta LN 125 and LS125 were unveiled in Paris this morning, and will be on sale in France in August. They confirm it’s built by SYM (with a SYM Fiddle engine and some Italian parts) which is good news, quality-wise, but probably bad news, U.S.-distribution-wise. The European distributor is Mooof in Belgium.

The design is as good as could be hoped for, it’s pretty swoonworthy, to be honest. Let’s hope the quality and service are there to back up the looks, especially for a 125cc bike priced at US$5345. (Note: that’s the EU price converted to dollars, there always seems to be a substantial markup for the U.S. market.)

The Real News!

A consortium claiming the rights to the Lambretta scooter brand is cracking down on what it considers to be unauthorized use of the Lambretta name.

The Italy-based Lambretta Consortium is specifically targeting the LN125 and LS125 (pictured above) scooters currently being sold under the Lambretta name. The Consortium is taking legal action, both with its own legal team and with international customs and police authorities, to prevent the sale of these scooters.

The LN125 and LS125 are produced by Taiwanese manufacturer Her Chee Industrial (also operating under the brand “Adly”). The Lambretta Consortium is seeking action against Her Chee Industrial and two former Lambretta licensees, Ireland-based Clag International and Italy-based Motom Electronics Group. Cease and desist notices are being issued to importers distributors around the world notifying them of the Consortium’s claim of trademark infringement.

New Mazda SUV CX-5

Mazda has taken the wraps off its Land Rover Freelander rival – which will sit below the full-size CX-7 SUV – and says it will be the first car to use its SKYACTIV eco technologies. This means low CO2 emissions of less than 120g/km.

The styling is inspired by the Minagi concept – which debuted at March’s Geneva Motor Show – with the design team doing a good job of retaining that car’s neat look.

The CX-5 showcases Mazda’s new KODO design language, which incorporates a fresh family face and more purposeful stance, which bosses claim it will be extended to the car’s cabin.

Under the bonnet is a choice of the new SKYACTIV-G 2.0-litre petrol engine and a SKYACTIV-D 2.2-litre diesel. The latter comes in two power outputs, with the lesser 173bhp option claiming the lowest CO2 figure – although this refers only to the front-wheel-drive version with a manual gearbox.

In comparison, the most efficient two-wheel-drive VW Tiguan provides 64bhp less power and still puts out 139g/km. Among the other SKYACTIV tweaks are new manual and automatic transmissions, while the body and chassis have been developed to be as light and rigid as possible.

BMW i3 and i8

The stars of BMW’s future have finally arrived. These are the first official pictures of the founding members of the eco-friendly ‘i’ sub-brand – the family hatch all-electric i3 and the hybrid supercar i8. 



Both models are built using BMW's LifeDrive construction. This essentially splits the car into two separate parts – an aluminium Drive section which houses the battery, suspension, and crash structures and a Life passenger section made from CFRP – a material at least as strong as steel but 50 per cent lighter. 

By using LifeDrive BMW claims to have cancelled out the weight penalty associated with the heavy battery packs electric cars must carry and the evidence suggests they're right. The i3 is taller and wider than a VW Golf, albeit around 30cm shorter, but it weighs just 1250kgs – that’s around 50kgs less than the lightest Golf. 

The ‘i’ cars come with a few subtle styling updates to mark them out as eco-specials. 

A blue ring now circles the badge, and the kidney grilles now have a matching blue background. BMW’s double circle headlights are replaced by U-shaped LEDs and both models take on a more curvaceous design than the firm's conventionally powered models.

The tall hatchback i3 gets a 168bhp electric motor mounted above the rear axle and delivers power to the rear wheels. Acceleration from 0-62mph takes 7.9 seconds and the i3 is electronically limited to 93mph. 

Power is drawn from a lithium-ion battery mounted underneath the floor which is fitted with an integrated liquid cooling system to keep the battery at the optimal temperature. In winter, the battery can also be heated by the same method. A full recharge from a standard socket takes six hours, and a quick charge can fill the battery to 80 per cent in just one hour. 

On a full battery the i3 manages a 140-mile range according to the US economy drive-cycle and BMW claims that translates to an everyday range of 80-100 miles. Customers who are looking for more flexibility can specify an optional range-extending engine called REx that will be mounted alongside the electric motor over the rear axle. 

Unlike this system – which is only ever used to top up the batteries – the engine in the i8 actually provides drive to the rear wheels directly. In the case of the hybrid supercar it’s a 3-cylinder 1.5-litre turbocharged unit with 217bhp which works in tandem with the same electric motor from the i3 to power the rears – though in this instance it produces just 128bhp for a total of 345bhp. 

With both units working together, the i8 can accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. Alternatively, the i8 can run on electric power alone for up to 20 miles. Official fuel consumption stands at around 104mpg and CO2 emissions are just 66g/km. BMW admits that an everyday figure of around 50mpg is more likely though. 

BMW is still referring to both these cars as concepts but what you see here is essentially what you get when they arrive on the roads in 2013.

Honda CR-V 2012

There’s a new Honda CR-V on the way and the Japanese firm has given an early glimpse of how the fresh 4x4 will look with this concept.

Set to debut at the Orange County International Auto Show in California during September, the CR-V Concept gets narrower headlights than the outgoing car as well as a more pronounced three-bar chrome grill.

As it stands, there are no pictures of the rear but this shot appears to show a stretched body and taller back section which could accommodate a third row of seats to boost the CR-V from a five-seater to a seven-seater. 



Don’t expect to see too many changes from this concept when the CR-V reaches production, but the tinted windows and large alloys are likely to be toned down slightly.

Honda is keeping quiet on what powers the Concept, but any production car will boast improved efficiency and lower emissions over the 148bhp 2.0-litre petrol and 2.2-litre diesel engines currently available in the range.

Shelby Tuatara

Move over Bugatti! Shelby Supercars has released new pictures and named its brand-new contender in the supercar class - the Tuatara.

The US firm is a former holder of the world's fastest production car title - that was with its 1,183HP SCC Ultimate Aero TT that recorded a top speed of 257 mph. The 258mph Bugatti Veyron Super Sport topped that, but now Shelby is back for revenge

Styled by Saab's current design boss, Jason Castriota, the Tuatara will use a 1,331bhp twin-turbo 7.0-litre V8, sending power to the rear wheels through a seven-speed manual or a seven-speed robotised manual gearbox. Performance figures are yet to be released but the aim is clear - to surpass the Super Sport's 258mph top speed.

the name Tuatara actually refers to a type of reptile, native to New Zealand. It supposedly has the fastest evolving molecular structure in nature, something that the company's owner, Jarod Shelby, feels it shares with his carbon-fibre-bodied supercar.

"Most manufacturers essentially use the same basic model and body shape for up to 10 years, while only making small refinements to it each year. After only three years in production with the Ultimate Aero, SSC's Tuatara is about to monumentally evolve in the areas of sophistication, design, aerodynamics and shear all‐around performance. We felt that the fastest evolving DNA was a perfect definition of SSC's latest project.," he said.

There's no word on price, specification or release date yet for the Tuatara, but expect to see Shelby take a crack at the speed record before the end of the year.

Subaru Impreza and WRX split

The new Impreza and high-performance WRX – two versions of the same car since 1992 – are splitting to create separate models.

The WRX will be a completely different beast to the revamped Impreza – which was revealed at April’s New York Motor Show – with unique components. Our image shows a Japanese artist’s interpretation of the car, as a two-door with a shorter wheelbase and heavy-duty bodywork. Our source revealed: “Every part of the WRX will be unique – even the engine and body.”

From now, the standard Impreza will be Subaru’s fuel-efficient core model, while the WRX will employ the brand’s rally-proven 4WD and a new 200bhp 1.6-litre boxer turbo. “We have developed it from the ground up to win in motorsport,” added our source. “That is why we have focused on weight issues, not to mention a shorter wheelbase that permits faster, more precise turn-in. We think we have a winner.” So although the firm pulled out of the World Rally Championship in 2008, a return looks possible.

Above the WRX, Subaru will still offer a low-volume flagship STi, which will be more hardcore than ever. The maker was able to push the limits with this car because its forthcoming coupe – co-developed with the Toyota FT-86 – will fill the gap for a more forgiving performance model.

The new WRX is expected to be revealed within the next year.

Peugeot 508 RXH

This is the Peugeot 508 RXH – a range-topping version of the 508 SW estate, combining Audi Allroad-style jacked-up suspension, rugged bodywork and the same 200bhp diesel-electric HYbrid4 powertrain recently fitted to the 3008.

Higher and wider than a 508 SW, the newcomer is a car that Peugeot says raises the brand's profile and "reinforces its technological and environmental leadership". It's not just the raised ride height, scuff plates and plastic sills that mark it our either - two sets of three LED running lights flank the central floating grille.

Under the skin, power comes from the 2.0-litre HDi HYbrid4 drivetrain which will soon go on sale in the 3008 HYbrid4. It uses a diesel engine to drive the front tyres and an electric motor to turn the rears - resulting in four-wheel drive and a total power output of 200bhp with 450Nm of torque. There's also an all-electric zero-emissions mode which contributes towards the combined fuel economy of 67.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 109g/km.

In keeping with the car's positioning at the top of the 508 range, equipment levels are generous. Electric front seats, a head-up display, 18-inch alloys and a panoramic glass roof make up just a handful of the standard kit.