Peugeot and Citroen have fallen from grace with people who love K&N filters and have spiky hair, but Renault still has a reputation for delivering some of the most fun compact cars in the world. We are of course talking about the three RS models, but soon, the French will move into a different field with the revival of the Alpine. 

Caterham will get its own version of the Alpine sports car, though the parties involve stress that the models created by the joint venture, whose full name is Société des Automobiles Alpine Caterham (SAAC), will be distinctive, differentiated, and carry the respective DNA of the Alpine and Caterham brands. 

Renault and Caterham-badged models will be produced, and will be clean-sheet designs. They will share the same platform and Renault engines, but feature unique bodywork, interiors and suspension set-ups. The cars will be built at the expanded French plant, too, alongside the Renaultsport Clio. 

The 2012 Renault Alpine A110-50 is equipped with the exclusive Renault V4Y, a 3.5 liter V6 mid-rear engine that effortlessly delivers 400 horsepower. The A110-50 will be available only as a rear-wheel drive model. The new A110-50 is visually stunning. It bears the Alpine Blue paint job over a sleek body work made of carbon fiber.

READ MORE - Renault Alpine Launched 2013

This is one of the most anticipated cars of the whole generation, and we are talking about the Bugatti TypeZero Concept, which will be a Single seater as per the reports. 

The result is the award winning TypeZero Concept. Devauze drew heavy inspiration for his creation from the 1920’s Bugatti Type 35 which at the time, was the world’s most successful race car winning over 1,000 races including the Grand Prix World Championship and Targa Florio.

 French designer Marc Devauze took a look at the Veyron’s predecessors and decided to try and replicate some of that glory in a more modern shape. The Type 35s might have been racing legends in their time, but compared to this, they look like trash bins. 

Bugatti TypeZero concept will have batteries placed at the either side allowing the owner to remove them easily during the race time. Inside, the design is minimalistic and resembles to classic racing car cockpits. One can also see the bucket seat; two spoke steering wheel, a digital odometer and a gauge to show the status of batteries.

READ MORE - Bugatti TypeZero New Concept

The TSX Sport Wagon makes me wonder why wagons aren't more popular than they are. It's easy to live with and offers more flexibility than a similar sedan would. It also offers rewarding, driver-oriented performance without sacrificing comfort. 

The 2013 TSX Sport Wagon is powered by a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine with 201 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque while a five-speed Sequential SportShift automatic transmission is standard. Other standard features on the 2013 TSX Sport Wagon include 17-inch wheels, Xenon HID headlights, a glass moonroof, halogen foglights, power heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, perforated leather trimmed seats, and a 360-watt Premium Audio System with seven speakers and a subwoofer. 

Pricing, announced today, starts the TSX Sport Wagon from $31,860 for the base model, while the Sport Wagon with Technology Package starts from $35,510. Those prices mark rises of about $500 from the 2012 model year. Both prices will get an additional $895 hit for destination fees. Those are the only two trim lines offered.

READ MORE - Acura TSX Sport Wagon Priced $31,860

Prior Design has announced a new tuning kit for the Audi R8 sports car. Called PD GT650, the new kit is made from high-quality Dura-Flex FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastic) and features an excellent surface finish that provides sufficient flexibility combined with high stability. 

PD-GT650 kit include revised front bumper with side vents and spoiler lip, front wings, flared rear fenders, side skirts, sport rear bumper with new vent openings, a GT3-style rear wing, mesh grille and roof scoop. The latter is a bit too much, but the rest of the package looks pretty good. It is especially good for doing track work. Although for that you need to either get the V10 R8, or tune the V8 engine. 

The widebody kit focuses on creating the look of the famous GT3 race cars on a road-going R8’s body. For this reason, the pack includes a big wing, flared arches, new bumper, a huge diffuser at the back, massively flared side skirts and a gigantic scoop on roof of the coupe.

READ MORE - Audi R8 GT650 New Design

F70 this name means Ferrari is celebrating something, the past and the future. Ten years after the Enzo, we’re going to get anouther hypercar, this time a 7.3-liter hybrid monster which we know very little else about. In 1984, Ferrari built a radically modified twin-turbo 308 GTB with an eye toward Group B road-racing rules. 

Porsche countered the resultant 288 GTO with the mighty 959, which launched at about the same time as the 288's successor, the practically skeletal and infinitely loopier F40. Aerodynamics were improved with a full front splitter, a larger double segment rear wing and a huge ground-hugging lower rear air venturi. Power was increased to 620hp at 7,500rpm with 39mm restrictors. Weight was very light at 1,100kg. And for those who want to go really fast, 800hp is possible with the restrictors removed.

READ MORE - Ferrari GTE Digital New Concept

The mainstream A3 is the sedan previewed by the concept at 2011 Geneva. Its wheelbase stretches by 1.5 inches to 104, and it's slightly wider than the hatchback.The dash and instrument packs are carried over from the new two-door hatchback, but the longer wheelbase gives a better rear package. 

 Instead, Audi will focus on the very first S3 sedan, which will go on sale in the US market next year, according to AutoCar. Just like the hatchback, it will be powered by a 300 PS (296 hp) 2-liter TFSI turbo engine.

 The 2014 A3 four-door hatchback will come with just one engine: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, according to Car and Driver. And only one trim level will be available at launch, the A3 Sport. In Europe, the Sport trim comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension and Rallye cloth seats. Although Audi offers a two-door hatchback model, there are no plans to bring it to the U.S., Car and Driver says. The production model will adopt the more toned down face of the hatchback, along with a series of more conventional and practical details like the exterior door handles and mirrors.

READ MORE - Audi S3 Sedan unveiled in US

The issue is a result of the bolts being improperly torqued due to inaccurate technical documentation on the assembly line. According to the German automaker, only 23 vehicles are affected and the issue has little risk to the owners. Though the bolts can vibrate and come loose in extreme cases, causing the hood to open on its own, the driver will receive a warning message if the hood is not properly closed.

Although the dramatic-looking CLS is based on the E-Class saloon, it doesn’t offer quite as much space inside. Six-footers have to stoop slightly in the back, although there is room for four adults and plenty of boot space. Stowage space is good, too, the cabin is very nicely finished and the driving position is excellent with a fully adjustable electric driver’s seat. 

The production error was caused by inaccurate technical documentation on the assembly line, where an improper torque value was defined in the assembly instructions.

READ MORE - Mercedes CLS Recalled Because Hood in Problems

The F-Type is going to be the car by which all Jags are measured, and already the Brits have started work on the next big thing after that. Under the internal code name X760, Jaguar has begun to develop the successor for the X-Type. 

Summer of 2010 was full of news about an X-Type heir to combat the 3 Series that would be wrapped around a modular aluminum platform. That, however, appears to run contrary to Autocar's assessment that The car's closest conceptual rivals in the showroom are expected to be the upcoming Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz CLC small saloons.

What's more, the mag asserts it will be motivated by not just 1.8- and 2.0-liter four cylinders, but also a 1.5-liter three-cylinder. Styling remains a mystery, but rumors suggest the car will be extremely aerodynamic with a number of 'premium' styling features. Inside, the cabin is expected to be high-tech with an emphasis on connectivity and large LCD displays.

READ MORE - Jaguar X-Type Successor Announced in 2015

Starting in May 2013, The Toyota Yaris will be imported to North American markets from a factory in France.Produced in northern France for the European market since 2001, this is the first Toyota to be produced in Europe and imported to North America. There are no changes in drivetrain, but buyers of the 2013 model do et the the same equipment as this year’s version. On the other hand, people purchasing the 2013 model will get the “tech audio package” as standard equipment over last year’s model, though this does come with a slight price hike to $14,875. The increase is somewhere between $80 and $330 depending on the model chosen. 

Both models came with the same engine a 106-horsepower, 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, paired with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. In either version, this worked out to be plenty to move the lightweight Yaris quickly though the automatic version was a little sluggish with a full load. The Yaris is sprightly and maneuverable around town and capable of fitting into some of the tightest parking spaces with light, responsive steering and compact dimensions, but its soft suspension calibration means that it won't feel sporty on a country road. Ride quality is soft and absorbent, with a bounciness that comes out on some road surfaces. 

Interior Design The Yaris interior provides a level of detail not often seen on cars in this price class. The doors close wîth a smooth, solid feel. Additional sound-absorbing and insulating materials make for a quieter ride. Úpgraded fabrics and a soft-touch dash highlight a more premium, sporty interior. The front seats are now wider, and sculpted to help reduce fatigue on long trips.

READ MORE - 2013 Toyota Yaris New Design

Volvo has announced that it will be increasing production of the V60 Plug-In Hybrid, in preparation for first customer deliveries of the car, set to begin in early 2013. Production will increase to somewhere under 6,000 units per year, considerably more than the 1,000 cars which have already been built.

 The Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid runs on electricity and diesel fuel, and the choice of three different operating modes puts the driver directly in control of their environmental footprint. Compared to an equivalent V60 the plug-in hybrid version has an additional 300 parts, such as the electric motor, custom cooling system and battery pack (see video above).

According to Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development at Volvo Car Corporation, the 11.2 kWh lithium-ion battery is the most complex system in the vehicle. After the initial batch of 1,000 cars for model year 2013, production of the V60 Plug-in Hybrid will increase to 4,000-6,000 cars as of model year 2014.

 About 30% of total volume will go to Sweden and the other Nordic countries. Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the UK will have a share of between 5 and 15% each. Volvo Car Corporation expects that 80% of total sales will be in the form of company cars.

READ MORE - Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid Production 2013 Sales Increased

The 2013 Cayenne comes with a 3.0-liter oil-burning powerplant with 240 hp, permanent all-wheel drive (AWD) and 406 lb-ft (550 Nm) torque. Despite the less-than-impressive output, this SUV will reach 60 mph in just 7.2 seconds and tops out at 135 mph (220 km/h). That’s faster than a base Cayenne by 0.2 seconds, but slower than the Cayenne Turbo by 2.8 seconds. It can also go for as much as 740 miles on a single tank of fuel. The Cayenne S Diesel comes with the company's Porsche Traction Management (PTM) active all-wheel drive system and can complete the zero to 100km/h (62mph) sprint in just 5.7 seconds and top out at 252km/h (157mph). 

 There's also a special traction management system that only sends torque to the front wheels when it's strictly necessary - the rest of the time, according to Porsche, the Cayenne, "delivers the dynamic qualities of a rear-wheel drive car. The Cayenne Diesel will arrive in Porsche dealer showrooms in September as a 2013 model, and it will be priced from $55,750, not including a $975 destination charge.Other changes to the 2013 Cayenne lineup are very minor and include a new shade of white, a new central locking button on the front door handles, and a new analog clock mounted at the top of the instrument panel.

READ MORE - Porsche Cayenne Diesel Best Cars

Lamborghini has announced the launch of a new roadster that will make you forget your affectionate dreams of the Countach in a heartbeat.The new Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster is the latest "dream machine" from the Italian firm and boasts stats like 0 to 100 km/h in only 3 seconds flat and has a maximum speed of some 350 km/h. As a refresher, this new roadster is a topless version of the 700-horsepower, all-wheel-drive Aventador, and it features a two-piece removable top made of carbon fiber (each weighing in at around 13 pounds) that can be stored in the front trunk. 

Performance figures include a 0-60 time of under three seconds and a top speed of 217 miles per hour. Lamborghini is currently taking orders for the Aventador Roadster with the car set to go on sale next summer. The new Aventador Roadster is being offered with a two-piece roof made entirely from carbon fiber that can be stored in the front luggage compartment.Under the hood you will find the same 6.5 liter aspirated V12 that delivers a total of 700 horsepower and mated to an ISR 7-speed gearbox. The Roadster version will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3 seconds and can hit a top speed of 217 mph.

READ MORE - Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Price List $441,600

The Fiat 500 mini-car is a two-door hatchback coupe (or convertible, designated 500c) that mixes Italian style with a fun-to-drive personality and comes with good gas mileage as a bonus. A high-performance Fiat Abarth model is also part of the 500 model line. Now, while the idea may not be feasible for everybody, there are those who are applying this very principle.

 This German Fiat 500 owner has taken the leap, and in doing so, has turned his car into something which is, dare we say it, far better than the original. It gets far better performance, a higher top speed (though it is limited to 100 km/h for obvious safety reasons), it is considerably smoother, and a much nicer experience overall. Dimensionally between the ForTwo and the Mini Cooper, the 500 appears more substantial and less toy-like than the Smart; being nearly three feet longer than the ForTwo helps. Compared to the Mini Cooper, the 500 is six inches shorter, 2.2 inches narrower and 3.1 inches taller. On the streets of San Diego, the 500 didn't look out of place. As a matter of fact, it fit.

READ MORE - New Fiat 500 concept

While racing in Europe and North and South America throughout the 1950s, Carroll Shelby cherished one dream; building the world's fastest sportscar. By 1956 he had already come up with a name for his car, it would be named Cobra. Soon after his 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans victory for Aston Martin, Shelby was struck by heart problems. Reluctant to do so, he was forced to give up motor racing as a driver. This did give him time to make his dream come true. 

Carroll Shelby is gone, but at least we can remember him by his work. This 1962 Shelby Cobra CSX200 is the epitome of all his motor racing ideas combined, combining big horsepower engines with inspired engineering. Carroll Shelby is gone, but at least we can remember him by his work. This 1962 Shelby Cobra CSX200 is the epitome of all his motor racing ideas combined, combining big horsepower engines with inspired engineering. 

 Cobra was bought by Lloyd 'Lucky' Casner, Comoradi racing, to race at the 1964 Le Mans 24 Hours. With the smaller V8 it did not prove competitive in practice, so it never ran and Casner sold it to Jean-Marie Vincent in France. By then the new 289 FIA cars were out, it was updated with a 289 engine and a rather odd looking one-off hardtop, which has thankfully disappeared. The only Cobra to enter the Tour de France, this Cobra was a very successful race car with many first place wins.

READ MORE - 1962 Shelby Cobra CSX2000 Contest

One of the biggest drawbacks of the BMW X6 once you’ve learned to live with its awkward styling and steeply reclined roof--is its limited four-seater capacity. Remember, this is a vehicle that nearly matches some seven-seaters in size yet BMW chose to go with a 2+2 seating configuration, clearly emphasizing its coupe-like qualities. 

Apart the the flared wheels arch extensions and side skirts, we can see an aggressive front bumper with voluminous air intakes, a ventilated replacement hood and a set of the company’s RS-XF alloy wheels, 

which are available in sizes up to 11 x 22-inches. 

 As for the wider exterior kit of the Kahn BMW X6, this will offer beefier wheel arches and side skirts, a new front apron with generously-sized air intakes, as wel as a vented hood. Of course, we musn't forget the RS-XF alloy wheels. Kahn tells us that the project will be released in a few weeks'time.

READ MORE - Kahn BMW X6 Desain

The Avalon HV Edition is based on the all-new Avalon Hybrid which shares the same essential body and chassis design with its V6-powered sibling. And like the TRD Edition, the HV highlights the potential of the new car, but with a noticeable nod to hybrid efficiency in its presentation.The paintjob is a bright white with the smallest of electric blue accents for the light assemblies, the T badge and a strip on the back. The car also sports dark gunmetal 19-inch alloys wrapped in 225/40R19 Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires.

The most significant change takes place under the hood. The car retains its stock 3.5-liter V6, but it gets a nice boost courtesy of a TRD supercharger system. Toyota says the supercharger bumps up engine output and torque “substantially,” though no performance numbers were released. The final entry into the custom Avalon derby comes from DUB Magazine, which has put together the DUB Avalon (also known as the 'Avalon with Attitude). Predictably, the full-size car sits on 22-inch rims, features special suspension work, a Brilliant Black paint job with full chrome removal, and a healthy dose of suede inside the passenger compartment. Subwoofers and amps dominate the DUB Avalon's trunk.

READ MORE - New The Avalon HV Edition

It features VW’s familiar 1.4-liter TSI engine, which produces 140 hp and 250 Nm of torque, and ACT (Automatic Cylinder Deactivation) technology cuts automatically deactivates the second and third cylinders, under light or medium engine loads, at rpms between 1,400 and 4,000, and at torque outputs of 25 to 100 Nm. 

Like the new V8 in the Audi S6, S7 and S8 – and also the Bentley Continental - the Polo Blue GT features a cylinder deactivation system. Active Cylinder Management (ACM), to give it its official name, uses two electronic actuators above the camshafts of cylinders two and three. Under light throttle loads, and between 1400rpm and 4000rpm, these move to effectively deactivate the valves, turning the engine into a twin-cylinder moment. VW reckons that ACM works over 70 percent of typical driving time, such as when trundling through towns or cruising on the motorway. 

 Combined with stop-start and the new EA211 1.4-litre TSI engine, which is 22kg lighter than the old unit, the Blue GT claims up to 62.1mpg combined and 105g/km of CO2. Pretty impressive when you consider that – when fully extended - it also posts 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds and a 130mph maximum. 

 Thanks to an ultra-rigid aluminium die-cast crankcase, the new petrol engines are especially light with a maximum weight of 114 kg. A point of reference: the 1.4 TSI of the new Polo BlueGT is a respectable 22 kg lighter than its grey cast iron counterpart of the previous engine series. The meticulously practised lightweight construction for which Volkswagen is renowned extends to the smallest of details: for example, engine developers reduced the crankshaft main bearing diameter of the 1.4 TSI from 54 to 48 mm; the crankshaft itself was lightened by 20 per cent, while the weight of the connecting rods was even reduced by 25 per cent. The rod bearing pins are hollow bored, and the aluminium pistons (now with flat piston crowns) have also been weight-optimised.

READ MORE - New VW Polo BlueGT Spesification

The Volkswagen Bulli Microbus Concept debuted last year at the Geneva Motor Show, and based on its overwhelmingly positive reception rumors quickly spread that it was headed to production. It hasn’t been mentioned much since, but the Bulli Microbus could be the influence for a small crossover model. Similar in size to the Scion xB, the Bulli Concept, if made into production form, will probably be large enough to carry five adults comfortably. 

VW and Audi have the sedan customers covered, but offerings in the crossover segment are slim. Automotive News says it hears VW is planning a couple of crossover variants, the most interesting of which concerns a possible greenlight for the Microbus-inspired Bulli concept from the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. Unnamed VW executives are said to have expressed interest in a Microbus-type crossover large enough for five adults. We think a retro-themed Veedub bus would look very nice next to the newly restyled Beetle. 

While VW officials may have been scared by the negative image impact the production of old cars may have, the fact that this, and the Beetle, as well as other older cars remained in production for so many decades proves that they have been making durable and good cars for a while now, and while they may not be as capable or technologically advanced as new cars, they were an interesting addition to their global range of cars.

READ MORE - VW Microbus 2013 concept

Nissan already sell and makes a lot of cars in China. It is the company’s largest and fastest growing market. Last year Nissan, in conjunction with Dongfeng Motor Group, they sold 1.25 million cars in the country, that was up almost 22% from the prior year, and they thoroughly put Japanese rival Toyota, who only sold 883,000 units, in their rearview mirror. Honda was outsold by a margin of greater than 2 to 1. 

 Nissan claims it launched the Venucia sub brand to house its future EV models, but in the short term it seems to have become a useful storage house for Nissan’s recycled older products. The D50, aka the Tiida Sedan, has already launched with sales being mama-huhu (so-so), perhaps the introduction of the R50, aka the Tiida hatch, will liven things up a little. 

Inside, the R50's Versa roots are immediately apparent but the center console has been given a slight makeover. While not exactly a low-cost car, the R50 is aimed at a more budget-conscious target audience than the Versa so it comes with less standard equipment. The R50 is powered by the same 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that was offered in the U.S.-spec Versa up until recently. It sends 116 horsepower and 112 lb-ft. of torque to the front wheels via either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic.

READ MORE - Nissan Launching Venucia D50