Evil Defence

tower defense games

  Evil Defence

Description Game:

Place your turrets and upgrade them accordingly. Some levels require upgrades over number of turrets.
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How to play Game:

This game is played with mouse only.

Scooby Doo Escape Coolsonian

scary maze game

  Scooby Doo Escape Coolsonian

Description Game:

Scooby is trapped in the Coolsonian Museum. Help Scooby Doo find his way through 3 exibit halls before he ends up on permanent display

How to play Game:

Crazy Orcs Racing

car games

 Crazy Orcs Racing

Description Game:

Those crazy orcs are at it again. Drive over hills like a maniac and score points by doing flips and running over stuff with your wagon.

How to play Game:

Up/Down = Drive Left/Right = Lean Enter = Change Direction Take out as much as possible with your car as you drive without flipping over.

Bart Simpson Basketball

basketball games online

 Bart Simpson Basketball

Description Game:

Help bart simpson to get the ball into the baskets to score and get more points in the minimum time
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How to play Game:

This game is played by mouse only.

Dirty Wheeler

bike games

 Dirty Wheeler

Description Game:

Are you ready for a great adventure Motocross game? If you like challenging motocross games we are inviting you to a hard but fun and interesting game at the same time. It will guarantee a fun time while trying to make it to the finish line as fast as possible, and enjoying a true motocross experience. Do you think you got what it takes to become a skilled motocross driver? then prove it in our latest motocross game named Dirty Wheeler.

How to play Game:

Use arrow keys to drive your Motocross,

Gangster Runner

disney games

 Gangster Runner

Description Game:

The Mob Boss has chosen you as his driver for a series of bank robberies. Drive the getaway car and avoid being caught by the Police!
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How to play Game:

In the game

Monkey GO Happy 4

happy wheels 2

 Monkey GO Happy 4

Description Game:

The hugely popular Monkey GO Happy game is back with a fourth installment! Solve puzzles, shoot stuff and more!

How to play Game:

Use your mouse key to click on objects and locations on the screen.Make the MONKEYS GO HAPPY!

Quick Math

cool math 4 kids

 Quick Math

Description Game:

Pick up the symbol to complete the equation as quickly as possible.
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How to play Game:

This game is played with mouse only.

Copter

Game Info - Drive the helicopter and avoid anything until the end of the stage.
Game controls - Use Mouse to interact.

War Club

Game Info - Fight against CPU or another player.
Game controls - Use the Arrow Keys for direction, then Spacebar to set the strength of your toss. Release the Spacebar to launch.

Choco Museum

Game Info - Find the bags of Choco and click items to make your way through the museum.
Game controls - Use Mouse to interact.

Extreme Trucks

Game Info - Extreme Trucks is another 2D vehicle skill game which is quite similar to the well known bike games.
Game controls - Up Arrow Key - Accelerate.
Left / Right Arrow Keys - Rotate.
Down Arrow Key - Brake / Reverse.

A Big Change

Game Info - Michelle needs a make-over. She's a millionaire and has hired you to give her a new dramatic look. Help her form a new style!
Game controls - Use mouse to interact.

Water Balloon

Game Info - Another fun remake of the game arcade bomber man but with a different twist.
Game controls - Use Arrow keys to move around and Space bar to plant a water bomb.

Student Witch Dress Up

Game Info - This witch may still be in learning, but she's already magicked together some fabulous fashion!
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Natasha Alam Dress Up

Game Info - An Uzbek-born American actress and model currently living in Los Angeles. Television shows she has guest or co-starred in include CSI, NYPD Blue, Nip/Tuck, The Unit and Entourage. She also played the recurring role of 'Ava', a Forrester model, in The Bold and the Beautiful from 2004 to 2007. Films she has appeared in include the 2007 horror Shadow Puppets and the 2008 comedy The Women.
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Bubble Bobble The Revival

Game Info - This is the flash version of the classic Bubble Bobble game where you have to use bubbles to trap your enemies and then hit them and blow them away.
Game controls - Arrow left- Move left.
Arrow right- Move right.
Arrow up- Jump.
Space-bar- Shoot.
P- Pause the game.

John Cena Dress Up

Game Info - Dress Up one of WWE's biggest star.
Game controls - Use mouse to interact.

Dance Girl

Game Info - Before this girl grooves on the dance floor, she needs to dress up perfectly and you are tasked to do that so enjoy!
 Game controls - Mouse - To interact.

Galaga

Game Info - Old flash retro remake of Galaga!
Game controls - Left / Right Arrow Keys - Move.
Spacebar - Shoot.

Image Disorder Jennifer Love Hewitt

Game Info - Jennifer Love Hewitt started earning her living as a child entertainer. She was every teenage boy's fantasy girl while on Party of Five, and now she has branched out into the world of TV dramas, rock and film.

Her popularity among teen audiences was solidified when she picked up the People's Choice Award for Favorite Female Television Performer
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Prince Of Persia - The Forgotten Sands

Game Info - Jump over gaps as you crawl on walls and ceilings to stay alive. Kill enemies and rewind time.
Game controls - Up arrow key to jump.
Down arrow keys to return back to time.
Space bar to attack.

SpongeBob Squarepants: Trail of the Snail

Game Info - SpongeBob took the Dirty Bubble Challenge and became so obsessed with paddle ball he didn't notice his most beloved mollusk was missing! Now it's up to you to help him find Gary!
Game controls - Use mouse to play the game.

Right Dress for Christmas

Game Info - Can you choose a right santa dress for this lovely lady?
Game controls - Use mouse to interact.

Cake Machine

Game Info - Create the most eye candy cake ever.
Game controls - Use mouse to interact.

Daffy's Studio Adventure

Game Info - Get Daffy Duck through the studio sets using the catwalk. The ACME prop machine has gone haywaire, so watch out and don't stay still for too long or the stage weights might fall on you! Earn points and boost your bonus timer by collecting the clocks along the way.
Game controls - Arrow Keys- To Move.
Space bar- To Jump.

Sira

Game Info - Sira is the best student in class and likes to dress up in a serious style. She wants to show that she's a mature woman.
Game controls - Use mouse to interact.

Cooking Show: Deviled Egg

Game Info - Deviled eggs or eggs mimosa are hard-boiled eggs cut in half and filled with the hard-boiled egg's yolk mixed with different ingredients. Deviled eggs are usually served cold. They are served as a side dish, appetizer or a main course, and are a common holiday or party food.
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

2112 Cooperation - Chapter 1

Game Info - As enemies appear shoot their cloak off and then blast them. Play single player or coop.
Game controls - 1 Player:
Mouse - Aim / Shoot.

2 Player:
Enter Key - Aim / Shoot.

Gangster Bros. 1.1

Game Info - The latest version of Gangster Bros, with bug fixes and improved gameplay.
Game controls - Use WASD keys to move.
Mouse to aim and shoot.

Grandma's Kitchen 5

Game Info - 5th installment of the game Grandma's Kitchen. Again, Help grandma to prepare nice and delicious foods.
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Spring Fairy Couple

Game Info - Choose a nice dresses for this cute spring fairy couple.
Game controls - Use mouse to interact.

Lethal RPG Destiny

Game Info - Customize your character and fight it out in this RPG game.
Game controls - Use Mouse to interact.

Necronomicon 2

Game description:
Lay down your cards to continue to defeat the computer opponent as each level the CPU gets better.
Game controls: Mouse only. Pick a card and then click on the book in the center of the game to cast it.

Picara

Game description:
Let blow your mind with some sexy clothes.
Game controls: Use mouse to interact.

Bloom

Game description:
Dress Bloom, the Winx that has wings.
Game controls: Use mouse to interact

Girl in the Band

Game description:
Choose a cool hip dress for this lady rocker.
Game controls: Use mouse to interact.

Pregnancy Fashion

Game description:
Even pregnant women can wear cool and fashionable dresses. Can you help her choose her own maternity dress?
Game controls: Use mouse to interact.

Chaos Game

Game description:
Choose a worker and try to download as much information as you could. If your computer is broken you'll have to get another by using rightly the keyboard arrows.
Game controls: Use Arrow Keys to interact.

Find The Numbers - Challenge 1

Game description: Look at the pictures and try to find all the numbers that are hidden within the scene. Game controls: Use mouse to interact.

Talesworth Arena

Game description: Fight against ever increasing enemies in this turn based card fighting game. Buy better attacks!  
Game controls: Use Mouse to interact.

Blank and Red Dressup

Game description: Design a perfect look for this sweet girl,try on different types of hairstyles and clothes. Game controls: Use mouse to interact.

Safe Mode

Game description: Observe traffic rules and collect all the signs to accumulate points  
Game controls: Up Arrow Key - Accelerate. Left / Right Arrow Keys - Turn. Down Arrow Key - Brake. Spacebar - Horn.

Sexy Shophiticated Dress Up

Game description: Cecilia is a city girl with a sexy yet sophisticated style. Help her get dressed for her day! Game controls: Use Mouse to interact.

Dress Store Show Up

Game description: Before she could even show up at the store, you may wanna dress her up first with beautiful clothes. Enjoy this game!  
Game controls: Mouse - To interact.

Small Changes

Game description: Only minor make-over is necessary for this pretty lady to look fabulous. Can you do the make-over? Enjoy!  
Game controls: Mouse - To interact.

Word Bump

Game description: Can you make words fast enough by clicking on the letters to form a word up to 8 letters? Bump all golden tiles on top to win. Game will end if any golden tile drops below board and you may use like-colored letters together for power-ups. Enjoy!  
Game controls: Mouse - To interact.

Anda Makeup

Game description: This girl want you to makeover her.  
Game controls: Use Mouse to interact.

Fortress Game

Game description: This is a fun throwing game. Use mouse to select the proper angle then right click to throw.
 Game controls: Use mouse to interact.

Little Doll Girl Dressup

Game description: Hold the first button above the screen to show up several moldings of dressing up. Game controls: Use mouse to interact.

Blonde Girl Makeover

Game description: She is a blonde girl who needs a make over. She wants new looks, new hairstyle and a total make over. Help her out by making her beauty stand out.  
Game controls: Use mouse to interact.

Never Be Changed Dress Up

Game description: Are you like back and white? Lets dress up
 Game controls: Use Mouse to interact.

Gun Master Onslaught 3

Game description: Stay alive for as long as possible, again!
 Game controls: A(hold)- Move left. D(hold)- Move right. W(hold)- Climb up ladder. S(hold)- Climb down ladder. E- Throw molotov cocktail. R- Throw shrapnel proximity mine. Space bar- Jump. Left Control- Crouch Number 1 to 5- Firing Modes: Gun, RPG, Rocket, Shotgun, Uzi.

Naughty Starlets

Game description: Oh, Starlets, why do you tempt us so? With your revealing clothing and lovely smiles. Snap paparazzi pix of camera-shy starlets. But avoid the bodyguards, and don't waste your film on scary stars!
Game controls: Mouseclick to snap revealing pictures! 

Twilight Puzzle

Game description: Play this puzzle game with Edward en Bella form the Twilight movie. Put the jig saw pieces in the right position on the right place and create a beautiful picture. It looks as if Edward and Bella are really alive.
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only. 

Mary and Melissa

Game description: Can you help this two cute little girl to choose their outfits.
Game controls: Use mouse to interact. 

Unreal Flash 2007

Game description: Unreal Tournament soldiers, now here comes your 2D solution. Master all mission in this nice remake.
Game controls: W, A, S, D - Move. Mouse - Aim / Shoot. 

Tessa's Party

Game description: Today it's party time, because Tessa has something to celebrate! Can you help her decorate the garden and the house? You can choose balloons, disco lights, ribbons and party hats. Search some cool lounge chairs so that her guests can relax. Of course Tessa wants to serve her guests a lot of tasty food and drinks. It's all there, so pick the items of your choice and make it a fun party!
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only. 

Foxy Sniper - Pirate Shootout

Game description: Blast some pirate heads open as they attempt to hold our oil captain hostage. Time to snipe!
Game controls: Mouse- Aim / Shoot. Spacebar - Zoom. 

Crystal Story

Game description: Crystal Story is a turn based rpg that uses a random dungeon generator. You control four characters and configure what skill sets they learn along the way. You can earn equipment upgrades that will help you traverse through Evil Cave by destroying monsters or playing minigames.
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only. 

Romantic First Date

Game description: Handsome Prince Charles invites glamorous Princess Debby to have an autumn trip. It is their first date and he is her Prince Charming, so she is very nervous and excited and do not know what to do. Give her some advice and dress her a chic princess to show her peculiar charms . Sweet and romantic date begins!
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only. 

Bake Shop

Game description: An addictive little puzzle game especially if you're hungry! Swap the different cakes. Switch the cakes around to match them up in rows or columns of three or more.
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only. 

Whack Your Boss

Game description: Find the seven ways to whack your boss.
Game controls: Use mouse to interact. 

Tecmo Super NBA Basketball(1993)

Game description: Tecmo Super NBA features real teams (all 27 contemporary teams) and a roster of real players (over 320). One or two players can compete in regular, reduced, or short seasons, or play an exhibition game. Though primarily horizontal scrolling, digitized speech and cinemas, along with a free throw point of view, add drama to the proceedings. Besides the expected elements of basketball (substitutions, penalties, steals and blocks, time-outs, overtime), Super NBA gives you the chance to call offensive plays and to program win/loss records. Has a battery to back-up season play.
Game controls: ASZXDC + enter and right-shift. D and C are for the side buttons. 

Devilish Stylist

Game description: Good and evil continues. Your weapon? Some deliciously devious styles!
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only. 

Hopeless 2

Game description: Shooting twelve yard shots has never been quite as fun! Set the direction, the pitch and the power of your shot at the bottom of the field and try to hit all the players that are standing in front of the goal before your time is up.
Game controls: WASD keys to move. C to crouch. 1-8 to select items. See the game for further instructions. 

Kids Pancake Corner

Game description: Welcome to this fun filled game “Kids Pancake Corner”. In this game you play as Anna, your aunt owns a Pancake shop but due to her illness she won’t be able to run the shop for a while, so she has asked you to run the shop till she recovers. Serve the customers as per the required target and move on to the next level. Unlock all the different varieties of food items and make the customers happy. Note that your points will depend on the remark given by the customer. So what are you waiting for, its time to start having some Fun.
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only. 

Dragonball Z Tournament

Game description: Control your TV heroes in this tactical fighting DBZ.
Game controls: Use Mouse to interact. 

Citroen Picasso five-seater (2007): first official pictures

Citroen C4 Picasso: the lowdown

Citroen’s new five-seater compact MPV has arrived on UK shores to take on the likes of the Renault Scenic and the Toyota Verso. The C4 Picasso is essentially a stubbier version of the (subtly renamed) Grand C4 Picasso, Citroen’s seven-seater MPV which went on sale last year. And you could be forgiven for confusing the two - at the front, there’s not much difference apart from an extra couple of slashes in the bumper. However, this C4 is 120mm shorter than the Grand version, and the rear end has been completely redesigned. The tail-light clusters are now positioned neatly below the newly sloping rear windscreen and there’s a dinky roof spoiler to add a 'sporting' touch.
Any changes inside?

Not really, apart from having two fewer seats than the Grand C4 Picasso. Expect Citroen’s usual quirky bits and bobs, such as the fixed centre steering wheel and huge panoramic windscreen. The C4 Picasso is available with five engine options ranging from a 1.8-litre petrol with a five-speed manual gearbox to the range-topping 2.0-litre HDI with an electronic paddleshift ‘box. Prices start at £14,495 for the entry-level 1.8 LX and top out at £21,195 for the kitted-out HDi Exclusive. They're all on sale now.

Fiat 500 (2007): first official pictures

Is it a Trepiuno, Cinquecento or 500?

Welcome to the new Fiat 500 - due to launched 50 years to the day after the unveiling of the original 500. That car became an icon, and Fiat is hoping for more of the same with this modern interpretation, the most exciting launch in Turin for a generation. On 4 July 1957, the original 500 marked the culmination of the Italian manufacturer’s post-war revival: the new car will again be crucial to Fiat, consolidating the success of the Panda, Grande Punto and Bravo.
So what’s changed since the Trepiuno concept?

Not a lot. Massive public interest after the car was shown at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show convinced Fiat to put the 500 into production, and thankfully it remains faithful to the concept. So it's pretty cool, then. There have only been detail changes: the Trepiuno's door handles and indicators have been replaced by more conventional items, the rear lights are no longer smoked, and the exhaust has been moved from its central position. The rest of the exterior is near identical, especially the wonderful proportions.

Caparo T1 (2007): first official pictures

Not another super cars games?

Afraid so, though that’s hardly a bad thing. And unlike the numerous other sketches and concept cars that seem to appear by the day, deliveries of the Caparo T1 will start in May. It will also be running up the hill at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in June. However, since the car was first unveiled last year it has undergone a few changes. Read on to find out what the team in Basingstoke has done to create the British Bugatti...
So what’s new then?

Gone is the supercharged 2.4-litre V8, and in comes a bespoke, all-aluminium, naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V8. Of course, this means more power. Rather than a measly 480bhp, especially in the days of 600bhp S-classes, the new engine promises up to 200bhp per litre. That’ll be 700bhp, then. Oh, and it’ll run on sustainable fuels too.

Infiniti G37 Coupe (2007): first official pictures

Infiniti G37: the lowdown

Infiniti has so far been a brand best known in the US, but over the next few years Europeans are going to hear a lot more about them. The brand is to Nissan what Lexus is to Toyota - the Japanese firm’s luxury brand. But while Lexus does luxury, Infiniti is chasing BMW. A range of saloons, 4x4s, and this sleek G37 coupe will be launched over here in autumn 2008.
So tell me more about the G37

As you can tell from the G37 badge, this coupe is related to the G35 saloon we recently tested. It's aimed at the Mercedes-Benz CLK and BMW 3-series coupe and has a 3.7-litre V6 under the bonnet. Derived from the 350Z engine, it’s bored out to give 330bhp and 270lb ft. It will be officially unveiled at April’s New York Motor Show and we’ll get behind the wheel soon after. It should be a cracking drive. When we tested its G35 sibling, we called it ‘as rewarding as anything a 3-series can deliver’, whilst the ride and steering were little short of ‘brilliant’. That's not bad for an upstart brand that's starting from scratch in Europe.

Hyundai Genesis Concept

Hyundai Genesis Concept: the lowdown

The first official pictures of Hyundai’s Genesis concept confirm that the company will soon be snapping at the heels of Lexus and Infiniti. The new executive saloon will be unveiled at the New York Show in April. There’s a 32-valve, 4.6-litre V8 under the hood sending power through a ZF six-speed auto and limited-slip diff to the rear wheels; we’re promised a 0-60mph time of less than 8.0 seconds. The rear end could be taken for a BMW at first glance, while the front could be a Lexus as it approaches and the sloping rear roofline is a homage to Infiniti. No interior pictures have been revealed, but this car is guaranteed to be loaded with kit for a sub-Infiniti price.
Will buyers warm to Hyundai?

They have so far. Hyundai celebrated its 20th year in the US in 2006, and sold 500,000 cars in its anniversary year. It has an enviable 56% loyalty from buyers and its large Azera sedan, a rival to the Toyota Avalon, did well in the Vehicle Satisfaction Awards presented by industry analysts AutoPacific. Like Toyota, it aims almost to be seen as a domestic brand. Its designers work at Irvine in California and it has recently invested $1.6bn in its plant in Alabama.

Infiniti EX Concept (2007): first official pictures

Infiniti EX Concept: the lowdown

Infiniti is Nissan’s answer to Lexus, a wannabe aspirational and luxurious brand aimed squarely at Audi, Mercedes and BMW's home turf. Nissan has enjoyed a reasonable success with Infiniti in the US, and they're coming to Europe next year. The new EX, shown today for the first time in concept form, is to be unveiled at the New York Motor Show in April - and it will spearhead the launch in Europe in 2008. This is Infiniti's bid to lure us away from their BMW X3 and Lexus RX rivals. Are we impressed? Well, on first acquaintance it looks like a slick crossover - with more than a hint of its big brother, the ultra-cool FX45...
So what’s the EX got that the X3 hasn’t?

At least an extra 500cc. The EX will come with the 3.5-litre V6 currently found under the bonnet of the Nissan 350Z, so it’s likely to be packing some healthy horsepower. We're talking around 300bhp, and Infiniti is promising a barrage of technology as standard, including blind-spot cameras and lane departure warning systems. The downside to the EX is that there will be no diesel option available for the first two years of production, which is pretty crucial for the European market. Infiniti has a Renault-derived V6 TD unit lined up for 2010, and it can't come soon enough.

Hummer H2 (2007): first official pictures

Hummer H2: the lowdown

It’s best not to look directly at the new Hummer H2 in sunlight; you’ll be blinded by bling. New bits of glitz have appeared on the 2008 model, going on sale later in the year, including newly chromed door handles and a larger, lower grille. This grille, along with larger gaps in the seven-slot full-frontal smirk, helps to cool the more powerful 6.2-litre V8. Otherwise the exterior remains much the same, but the interior has been seriously plushed-up. The all-aluminium small-bock V8 delivers 393bhp, an increase of 20 percent, while torque swells to 415lb ft from 365. We’re promised that variable-valve timing and the six-speed transmission increase efficiency although no figures are given. But then, any improvement over 15mpg would be good...

What’s inside?

The rap stars and moms who so frequently drive this macho beast will appreciate the all-new interior. Instead of the previous austere environment, we’re promised improved materials, leather seats with smart piping and interior gap tolerances of 1mm or less. Kids in the back get a new rear-seat overhead DVD system and a full third-row seat for two with its own heating and cooling vents. The H2 will be able to clamber over rocks just as before, and new safety features for on or off-road include a new electronic stability control system with roll-over mitigation and roof-rail head curtains. It can tow 8000lb, too, and a rear-view camera will help hitch the trailer. Clearly, the H2 is aimed squarely at the US market, and other space-abundant markets; only its smaller H3 brother is deemed small enough to be sold in the more congested European market.

Cadillac STS (2007): first official pictures

Cadillac STS: the lowdown

A new in-yer-face grille will let neighbours know who’s driving a 2008 Cadillac STS. GM’s luxury barge is bigger than ever, and a restyle gives it a confident American look, sharing elements with the flagship Escalade SUV. The multi-faceted grille was first seen on the Sixteen concept, and incorporated onto both Escalade and the 2008 CTS. The Sixteen’s side air extractors also appear on the STS, too. The STS will be available with a new cleaner direct-injection V6 when it goes on sale in the summer; it's the first GM vehicle to be equipped with the new 3.6-litre direct-injection V6 delivering 298hp and 268lb ft, and this will be the first V6 mated to a Hydra-matic six-speed auto. The pairing promises to cut cold-start hydrocarbons by a quarter, while improving fuel consumption by 15 percent. Neat.
Ok, but will it drive better than the current STS?

A new performance handling package will be available for V8 RWD and 4WD models, and rear-drive V6s. This includes 18in chrome-plated wheels with summer-only tyres. Brembo brakes with four-piston calipers provide enhanced braking, too. StabiliTrak is standard on V8 models and it now combines active front steering to turn the front wheels into a skid when the rear wheels lose traction. One great new gadget is optional radar-based blind-spot alert. Not so great is lane-departure warning, which has proved extremely annoying on other vehicles. The STS lands in the UK in right-hand drive form at the end of 2007.

Hummer H2 SUT (2007): first official pictures

Hummer H2 SUT

The H2 SUT gains the same 393hp 6.2-litre V8 and six-speed box as the SUV, plus its more refined interior. This might seem incongruous to a Brit: a pick-up is a working vehicle, right? Not in the States. Come any public holiday in America, Hummer owners require somewhere to dump wet gear associated with the boat, jet ski, or whatever else they towed to the nearest water. Self-levelling rear air-spring suspension is available for extreme off-roading or towing on the SUV and SUT.

Ok, so it'll lug my jet ski, but what about my mates?

The SUT can seat four inside, plus gear and pooches in the 4ft by 6ft pick-up bed. If more cargo space is needed, you can lower the rear window and fold the midgate and rear seat down to create a longer bed. At the push of a button, the driver can also lower all four side windows, plus the rear windows to get some breeze in the follicles. The extra chrome will also go down well with cruising owners; the SUT is a favourtite with ‘urban’ customisers.

Chevrolet Trax (2007): infomation

Chevrolet Trax: the lowdown

How low can you go in the US? That’s the question three compact concepts are asking the public at next week's New York Motor Show. GM revealed just one of the mini car games today - this cute, four-door Trax. It’s smaller than the Kalos/Aveo supermini and powered by a 1.0-litre engine. The Trax, and its yet-to-be-seen siblings, is designed to gauge public enthusiasm for a truly tiny car in the US. All three cars were created at GM’s design studio in Incheon, South Korea, and built on GM’s global mini architecture. They’re designed to appeal to young buyers in urban markets with the promise of fun, economy and value. It also points to a replacement for today's Chevrolet Matiz for Europe. Visitors to the show will be able to vote for their favorite of the three on www.vote4chevrolet.com. The results will show GM which design resonates best with potential buyers.

Ford Focus Estate (2010) at Geneva motor show

Ford has shown off the new estate version of the Focus family on the eve of the 2010 Geneva motor show. The new Focus wagon is one of 10 bodystyles planned off Ford's new global C-segment architecture.

The new third-gen Focus family doesn't come to the UK until spring 2011, and although the estate is likely to make up only a small proportion of UK sales, it is set to be the second biggest selling bodystyle globally, predicts Ford.

New Ford Focus Estate (2010): the details

Remind you of a Mondeo estate? It does us, especially in profile. However, the new Focus Estate has a character of its own, with intriguing crease lines down the flank of the car. Like on modern Seats, the line is disrupted with different details picked out.

The estate has a roomy boot and a simple lift-up tailgate (which will be available with a powered option).

When can I buy the new Focus?

There's a bit of a wait; the five-door hatch goes on sale first in spring 2011, followed soon after by the estate. The first C-segment vehicles off the new platform will be the C-Max and Grand C-Max arriving in September 2010.

Ford of Europe chief John Fleming announced in Geneva that a new global performance derivative would join the Focus family, produced by Jost Capito the man behind the Focus RS and ST range. While those badges haven't yet been confirmed for Mk3, the new hot Focus will be a global car for the US as well as Europe, and will feature EcoBoost power.

The current 2.0-litre turbo direct injection EcoBoost engine develops 200bhp, but it can be tweaked up to 240bhp, insiders tell CAR GAMES.

VW Sharan MPV (2010) at Geneva motor show

This is the new Volkswagen Sharan, and it’s about time too - the original was launched in 1995. In the time it’s taken VW to replace the Sharan, Ford has ditched its Sharan-based Galaxy, launched a new version using S-Max and Mondeo parts, and facelifted it.

We’ve all laughed at the geriatric Saab 9-5, but for the mighty Volkswagen Group this seems like a serious oversight. The new VW Sharan was launched tonight – along with the Polo GTI and Mk2 Touareg – at the company’s huge pre-Geneva 2010 party.
Volkswagen has had enough time to get the new car right – how good is the new VW Sharan?

According to the company, it’s 'the most advanced people carrier Volkswagen has ever produced' and there’s the promise of class-leading refinement, practicality and efficiency.

For a start both rear doors now slide (electrically if you pay for it), allowing easier access to rows two and three. The three seats in the middle row slide back and forth by up to 160mm, pivot forward by 20 degrees to allow easy access to the rear row, and both the second and third row of seats can fold flat into the floor.

On the outside VW’s design team has taken cues from the new Polo – inspiration would be the wrong word – and there’ll be a Seat version shown in autumn 2010. It’s big and slab-sided (we’re aware there’s a boat in the background of one of our images!) but that also means more space inside. And although the Mk2 Sharan is 220mm longer (including a 75mm wheelbase stretch) and 92mm wider than its predecessor – it’s also 12mm lower – the new MPV actually weights 30kg less than the car it replaces.

Under the bonnet there’s the option of two petrol and two diesel engines; we expect the 2.0-litre TDI (available with 138 or 168bhp) to be the big seller, but ex-Golf GTI owners might plump for the 197bhp 2.0-litre petrol. The final choice is a 1.4 TSI with 148bhp. The lower-power diesel manages 52.3mpg and emits just 143g/km CO2.

On the options is sat-nav, VW’s Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC) system with three different damper settings (including a Sport mode) and the latest Park Assist device. UK sales start in August 2010, and prices and specifications will be announced later this year.

Lambo Superleggera (2010) at Geneva motor show

This beautiful green beast is the new Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera, unveiled tonight at the Volkswagen Group’s big party ahead of tomorrow’s 2010 Geneva motor show.

This LP570-4 Superleggera will hit 62mph in 3.4 seconds (its predecessor took four tenths longer and the LP560-4 needs 3.7 seconds for the benchmark sprint), dash past 124mph after 10.2 seconds, and reach 202mph flat out. It’s not a harder, faster version of the special edition, rear-drive Balboni Gallardo, but a harder, faster version of the regular LP560-4.
Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera? That means four-wheel drive and close to 570bhp, right?

Spot on. LP stands for ‘longitudinale posteriore’ and means the glorious 5.2-litre engine is mounted longitudinally behind the driver, as in all Gallardos. The ‘570’ designates the output in PS, and ‘4’ means the power goes to both axles.

Over and above the regular LP560-4 Gallardo there is only a modest increase in power (9bhp), but there’s still 562bhp delivered at a howling 8000rpm. And that 562bhp means the dry-sumped V10 produces 108bhp/litre, along with a total of 398lb ft at 6500rpm. Incidentally, the Superleggera's power output, top speed and 0-62mph time match those of the new Ferrari 458 Italia exactly...

The fact that an E-gear equipped Superleggera will spit of 319g/km CO2 and consume a gallon of fuel every 20.9 miles – it’s 344g/km and 19.6mpg if you pick the six-speed manual ­– might not sound that impressive. Yet put the new Superleggera back-to-back with its 5.0-litre predecessor and Lamborghini claims a 20.5% improvement in fuel consumption and emissions. Thank direct injection for that, and for the increases over the old car’s 523bhp and 375lb ft.
Superleggeras aren’t just about power figures though – how light is the new car?

Superleggera means ‘superlight’ and 70kg has been cut from the kerbweight, giving the LP570-4 Gallardo a dry weight of 1340kg. Some of you might not be too impressed – the first-gen Superleggera was 100kg lighter than standard and tipped the scales at 1330kg ­– but you can't call Lamborghini's efforts half hearted.

The rear and side windows are no longer glass but polycarbonate, as is the engine cover. The rear deck is carbonfibre, along with the side sills, rear diffuser, fixed spoiler, door mirror casings and various bits of the underbody panelling. Inside the transmission tunnel, door cards and frames of the Alcantara-trimmed seats are all carbon. In total the black stuff accounts for 40 of the 70kg Lambo’s engineers have saved.

Air-con and electric windows are standard, you still get mats and you can spec sat-nav, a nose-lift system and a rear-view camera. There are a few showy options too, including a carbon package for the engine bay, or for the interior that trims the centre console, instrument panel, handbrake, wheel and door handles. Also on offer is an R8-inspired LED package that illuminates the V10, plus coloured brake callipers, though the steel roll cage, fire extinguisher, four-point harness and ceramic brakes are the options that caught the eyes of the CAR office

Porsche 918 Spyder (2010) at Geneva motor show

Porsche has shown off this stunning new 918 Spyder concept cars games on the eve of the 2010 Geneva motor show. It’s a mid-engined two-seater in the mould of the Porsche Carrera GT – a landmark supercar to showcase Porsche’s technical nous.

Michael Macht, president and chief executive officer of Porsche, unveiled the 918 Spyder in Switzerland, and intriguingly proclaimed that Porsche has never shown a concept car that it hasn’t put into production…
Wow! What do we know about the Porsche 918 Spyder?

Porsche’s official press release was light on the details, but after the unveil Porsche’s R&D chief Wolfgang Durheimer talked CAR around the 918 Spyder and revealed some eye-popping figures for this part-electric hybrid supercar which weighs in at 'less than 1490kg'.

For a start, we need to think of the 918 Spyder as the latest Porsche road car to be born from a race car. ‘Just as the GT1 race car became a GT1 road car, and the LMP1 morphed into the Carrera GT, so the 918 Spyder is the street car version of the RS Spyder’, Durheimer told CAR.

In concept car form, the 918 Spyder uses the same mid-mounted 3.4-litre V8 that has powered the American Le Mans Series RS Spyder, but the engine will grow if (or when) the concept reaches production. Just as the Carrera GT’s 5.7-litre V10 was born as a 5.5, Durheimer revealed that a 4.6-litre V8 had been calculated as ideal for the stunning new 918 supercar. A seven-speed PDK gearbox sends the engine’s power to the rear wheels.

But the 918 Spyder isn’t just petrol powered – there are three electric motors which drive the front axle. It’s not a flywheel system similar to that on the GT3 R Hybrid racer, or a hybrid system as in the new Cayenne Hybrid, but a third plug-in solution.

The 918 Spyder is claimed to produce just 70g/km of CO2 and consume fuel at the rate of 94mpg when its plug-in hybrid module is working – yet it can lap the Nurburgring in under 7min 30sec.

The lithium ion batteries can power the 918 for 25km on electric power alone; a dial on the steering wheel lets the driver choose between Electric, Hybrid, Sport and Race modes.
Phew! Anything else about the new Porsche 918 Spyder?

Yes. There’s active aerodynamics: the rear spoiler lifts up at speed, and two intakes rise from the twin flying buttresses to help ram air into the hungry V8 engine.

Most of the major controls are also grouped onto the steering wheel, and Durheimer told CAR that the 918 Spyder showcases Porsche’s future interior design ideas.

Finally, the 918 Spyder has cameras that replace the door mirrors, and although they are not currently legal, Durheimer is hoping Porsche can convince the relevant legislators to give the technology the green light.

Renault Clio Gordini RS, Megane GT at Geneva motor show

Renault’s Renaultsport tuning brand is out in force at the 2010 Geneva motor show. While the Megane CC and Wind were unveiled for more mainstream customers, Renault today revealed the new Renaultsport Clio Gordini 200 and a range of GT and GT Line models by tweaked by its in-house tuner.
Anything that involves a Renaultsport Clio is exciting. Tell me about the new Renaultsport Clio Gordini 200 please.

You’ll either love it or hate it. Rather than thoroughly re-engineer the Gordini-badged Renaultsport Clio, the French company has just liberally applied the blue paint. Now many of you will find that sacrilege, but underneath it’s still the dynamically brilliant Clio RS that CAR loves. That means a rev-hungry 2.0-litre engine producing 197bhp and an adjustable chassis. It’s quite possibly the best hot hatch on sale today.

The Gordini tweaks are designed to make the Renaultsport Clio stand out from the crowd: not everyone wants an Alien Green hatch with white Speedline wheels. So the Clio Gordini is Malta Blue with two white stripes, and inside there’s blue and black leather seats, a blue and black leather-trimmed steering wheel, and a few other Gordini-specific visual tweaks. The shaper Cup chassis is an option.

UK sales start this summer but prices have yet to be announced. We say save the money and spend that cash on getting a regular Renaultsport Clio with the Cup chassis, Recaro seats and Speedline wheels. Trust us, it’s a decision you won’t ever regret.
And what about these new Megane models I can see pictures off?

They’re also Renaultsport models: the GT and GT Line cars will be the base of a three-tier RS range, with regular Renaultsport models in the middle and Gordini models at the top.

Initially available across the Megane range (hatch, coupe, Sport Tourer estate and CC) all cars come with new front and rear bumpers, tweaked sports chassis, Megane 250 RS seats, aluminium pedals and carbon interior highlights. GT Line models also gets 17-inch wheels, while GT cars get 18s.

The GT cars are designed to be more exclusive, as some of the chassis components (and the steering wheel) come from the Megane 250, plus they are only available with either the TCe 180 petrol or the dCi 160 diesel engines. The GT Line models are less focussed, coming with the Sport chassis from the Megane Coupe and a number of eco-friendly engines. Both ranges go on sale in the UK this summer.
Anything else?

Yes. Also announced at the 2010 Geneva motor show was Renault’s first dual-clutch gearbox – dubbed EDC for Efficient Dual Clutch – and a bunch of Eco models. All 5 are diesel powered and offer ultra-low CO2 figures: the Twingo is the best, with just 94g/km, the Clio emits 98g/km, and the Megane, Scenic and Laguna Ecos respectively puff out 114, 125 and 122 g/km CO2.

The Paris motor show this autumn will be even bigger for Renault though: it’s then that we should see the first production versions of the electric vehicles due in 2011.

Ferrari HY-KERS hybrid (2010) at Geneva motor show

Ferrari today showcased its latest green fuel tech in a new 599 GTB Fiorano concept car dubbed HY-KERS. Maranello announced a five-year eco plan in 2007 when it unveiled the Mille Chili and the HY-KERS is the latest step in the programme.

It's a high-performance supercar to display how frugal consumption and razor-sharp responses can go hand in hand, say the Ferrari engineers.

Ferrari HY-KERS: the detail

The 599 is equipped with a hybrid system claimed to add little extra weight over a conventional V12 599. All the electric gubbins are positioned below the centre of gravity, including the flat lithium ion batteries which sit beneath the floorpan. Ferrari claims the c-of-g is even lower than a regular petrol 599.

How have they achieved such marginal weight gain? Maranello says the new electric motor, generator and batteries are offset by the lack of a traditional starter motor and batteries. The HY-KERS system provides short bursts of extra acceleration when moving from a standstill and overtaking, but can provide full EV capability for short periods.

The electric motor weighs just 40kg and drives through the seven-speed twin-clutch transmission. Ferrari says it aimed to produce one extra horsepower for each kilogram gained in weight, so the e-motor develops more than 100bhp.

Ferrari says that the new direct-injection California and 458 Italia have already cut CO2 emisisons by 30% since 2007.

Seat IBE (2010) at Geneva motor show

Seat's new IBE concept car provided the thrills on the Spanish firm's stand at the 2010 Geneva motor show. Although more about the tech than the design, the IBE does drop a few clues to the next Leon family.

It's based on the running gear of the new Leon and packs a 75kW electric engine capable of daily use around town thanks to lithium ion batteries with 18kWh capacity. The IBE is a classic 2+2 shooting brake design and is teeny tiny; at 3780mm long, it's 10 inches shorter than an Ibiza supermini.

Seat IBE concept car: the electrical gubbins

The IBE packs an electric motor under bonnet driving the front wheels and fed by rear-mounted batteries. The 0-62mph dash takes 9.4sec, thanks to a 1000kg kerbweight designed by Seat dieticians working in collaboration with academics around Spain.

James Muir, president of Seat, said: ‘With the IBE we are demonstrating that, for Seat, electric mobility will always be combined with excellent design and outstanding driving fun. The IBE is in the best Seat tradition of always offering the boldest and most youthful cars in its class. On top of that, our first electric concept car represents the continuation of our strategy for the future.

‘Along with the huge success of the highly efficient Ecomotive models, we are now working intensively on electric mobility; and that includes plug-in hybrid drive, as well as an all-electric vehicle.’

Mercedes E300 Bluetec Hybrid (2010) at Geneva motor show

Mercedes unveiled its first ever diesel hybrid at the 2010 Geneva motor, along with a Bluetec version of its ageing Geländewagen and an SLS AMG supercar decked out in full F1 safety car spec.
Does the Mercedes diesel hybrid achieve some incredible figures?

They’re pretty good. The E300 Bluetec Hybrid features Merc’s 201bhp twin-turbo, 2.1-litre four-pot, with a 15kW electric motor positioned between it and the seven-speed auto ‘box. The motor is powerful enough for electric-only driving, the claimed figures are 68.9mpg and 109g/km CO2, and sales start at the end of 2011.
What about this Bluetec G-class?

It’s hardly a showstopper, but Mercedes has outfitted its ancient 4x4 with its state-of-the-art NOx battling tech. The engine itself is hardly the most powerful (208bhp) but there is 398lb ft produced from 1600 to 2400rpm, and NOx emissions are cut by around 50%.

If diesels aren’t your thing then Mercedes also has the SLS AMG on display, and in full 2010 F1 safety car-spec. The 6.2-litre V8 is unchanged, but there is a ‘aerodynamically optimised light bar incorporating LED technology’ complete with TV camera. If Merc can’t lock out the front row with Messrs Schumacher, Button and Hamilton, then at least they’ll be one three-pointed star leading the field on a few occasions.

Infiniti's new M and hybrids at Geneva motor show

Infiniti, Nissan’s upmarket wing, can finally have a serious stab at the European luxury car gaems market after launching its Renault-based turbodiesel V6. Its pleasingly idiosyncratic range of cars – ultra modern, finely crafted and mostly fun to drive – have been hamstrung in the showrooms by a range of V6 and V8 petrol engines which have been designed for customers in Los Angeles or Boston, not London or Berlin. Of a diesel, there has been no sign. Until now.
New M Line takes on 5-series and E-class

The Japanese maker also launched its handsome new M Line saloon at Geneva, a swoopy curvy E-class or 5-series rival that boasts excellent space and a stylish cabin. The new 238bhp V6 diesel will naturally be the big seller – although actual Euro volumes, from this budding brand, are still tiny. The big news at Geneva was its hybrid engine.

This is the first hybrid powertrain developed by Nissan – previous US-focused Nissan hybrids have been licensed from Toyota – and there are a number of technical improvements compared with the competitor Lexus GS hybrid. The whole hybrid unit is more compact – not least because it uses one electric engine, not two – and lighter (by 30 kg). Its lithium ion batteries are also more compact than the Lexus’s nickel metal hydride units and, says Infiniti, will last longer. Their compactness means boot space, in the hybrid M, is still generous. Rear leg room is positively capacious, close to class best.
Infinitis are supposed to be sporty cars. Is the M hybrid a slug or a sportster?

As Infinitis are performance biased, the hybrid is more sports saloon than street slacker: 0-60 in 6.0 seconds, and it can do 62mph in electric drive alone. The seven-speed dual clutch semi-auto box removes the torque converter, helping throttle response. Even in electric mode, it drives through the seven-speed ‘box, so you can play with the paddles even when you’re purring on battery power.

The hybrid is clearly aimed at the US, easily Infiniti’s biggest market, but even in diesel-obsessed Europe, bosses expect the hybrid to account for a third of M sales.

Bertone Pandion (2010) at Geneva motor show

You can see the Bertone Pandion from almost anywhere within the giant halls at the 2010 Geneva motor show. It might be low and sleek, but the rear-hinged scissor doors run almost the entire length of the car and stand over 3.6 metres high when open. It’s quite a sight.
What is the Bertone Pandion?

Underneath it’s an Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione – complete with a 444bhp 4.7-litre V8 engine – but the body and interior are the work of Italian design house Bertone, which built the car to celebrate Alfa’s 100th birthday.

Not all of you may be sold of the looks of the Pandion (Bertone calls its aggressive yet beautiful) and we’re not sure there are many ways to improve on the 8C. It’s the detailing that stands out though, including those doors; the Pandion moniker comes from Pandion Haliaetus ­– the scientific name for an Osprey – and designer Mike Robinson and his team drew inspiration from the hawk’s wings to create the incredible doors. That’s not the best part of the Pandion; the most incredible features are the thousands of tiny intertwined blades in the front and rear grilles.

The Osprey’s facial features were also copied to create the Pandion’s angular nose, but while the front of the Bertone concept car is supposed to be evocative, the rear is abrupt. Robinson calls the contrasting design Skin and Flame, a play on Alfa’s badge: the snake in the logo is beautiful, flowing and full of emotion, but the cross is organic, sharp and structural. The tail lights are made from the intertwined blades, but disappear when turned off. Unfortunately there are no production plans.

Lexus GS F Sport (2012) first official pictures

Hot on the heels of the all-new Lexus GS revealed in August 2011, the Japanese luxury brand has revealed the mildly heated-up F Sport version, ahead of its official unveiling at the Sema show in Las Vegas on 1 November 2011.
So what’s changed on this new Lexus GS besides the application of the F Sport badge?

Visually, the F Sport is a tad more aggressive, especially at the front. The standard GS’s slatted grille and smooth bumper have been replaced by a unique mesh design for the inserts and purposeful, vertical side grilles add to the visual menace.

The jury’s still out on the new corporate spindle grille, but here on the F Sport, it looks to be the most satisfying application of it yet. See this looming large in your rear view mirror and you’d feel you ought to be pulling over to let it through.

Tweaks elsewhere are less dramatic: the rear bumper has a metallic grey lower diffuser hinting at a road-hugging tail, which is further embellished on the GS450h with a chrome moulding. In current Germanic fashion, the trailing edge of the boot lid is adorned with a vestigial rear spoiler strip.

Lexus GS F Sports ride on a new design of dark-finished 19-inch alloys, wearing wider tyres at the rear. The fronts measure up at 235/40/19 versus the 265/35/19s at the back. This not only improves traction, says Lexus, but it also dials in a few more notches of butchness to the overall look.

Lexus has used these first official photos to show off its striking new garnet red leather interior treatment, a hue that will be unique to the GS F Sport. But will Lexus buyers really pick bright red hide? We'll see...

Sporty styling cliches have been selected so wood is shunned in favour of aluminium, the headlining is blackened and perforated leather swathes the sports steering wheel and gear knob. And of course, your feet touch aluminium pedals.
But all that glitz does not a sports saloon make. Has Lexus done much to improve the dynamics of the GS F Sport?

Lexus is keen that customers recognise the F Sport isn’t simply a regular GS where all the body kit boxes have been ticked on the options sheet, claiming significant improvements to the handling. If Lexus is to be believed, this is much more aimed at the thrusting 5-series end of the sports saloon market.

Lexus claims to have improved the new GS’s agility with a retuned suspension set-up at both ends, with Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) waving a magic wand over body control and steering response. Rear shock absorbers have been repositioned, mounted on stiffer bushes to reduce body roll.

Being a Lexus, the interior is a button fest, so drivers will be able to play at will, flicking between the suspension’s Normal (read ‘everyday’) and Sport S+ (‘let’s ‘ave it’) settings. The latter controls the stiffness of the damping on either side of the car when winding through a series of bends maximising poise and agility.

The GS F Sport’s steering has also been beefed up. When Sport S+ is engaged, the electronic trickery reduces the gear ratio by 10% requiring less input at the wheel, whilst a 4% dose of extra torque is applied too, in an attempt to reward enthusiastic drivers with greater feel in the palms of their hands.

Furthermore, the GS450h F Sport is also equipped with Lexus Dynamic Handling, providing a rear wheel steering function, the first such system on a hybrid. Lexus promises ‘sharp and confident driving behaviour’ with a more direct response to the driver’s actions. The electronics monitor all the cars performance parameters and independently controls steering angles. Under normal driving, the rear wheels, which can turn up to two degress, turn in the opposite direction to the fronts up to 50mph; beyond that on the same trajectory.
Isn’t all this F Sportiness at odds with Lexus’ green image?

Lexus isn’t abandoning its carefully honed environmentally-conscious persona. The F Sport GS features four driving modes from a thrift-minded Eco setting where minimisation of fuel consumption is king, through a graduated series of Normal, Sport S and Sport S+, the latter of which cranks all the setting up to optimum for the most responsive driving experience the GS can muster.

No official performance or economy figures have been released for the Lexus GS F Sport yet, but as a guide the standard 450h model has a governed top speed of 155mph and will reach 62mph in 5.9 seconds. Lexus also claims fuel consumption has been improved by 18% over the outgoing GS at 44.8mpg, while CO2 emissions have dropped below 145g/km.

UK sales of the Lexus GS F Sport are due to commence in summer 2012.

Audi A4 (2012): the revised saloon, Avant and Allroad

It’s an impressive feat when a manufacturer releases five new models in a single day, and that’s what Audi’s managed to do. Or has it? By clever manipulation of its naming strategy, five new cars turns out to be a mid-life refresh of its popular A4 range and all its variants.

So there's the refreshed-for-2012 Audi A4 saloon and Avant; their performance-oriented S4 derivatives; and the chunkier A4 Allroad crossover. Hence the five new cars. Clever, eh?
Isn’t this just the old Audi A4 with the facelifted 2012 A5’s front?

No, not quite. Observe the new A4 alongside its coupe cousins and immediately the A5’s makeover appears more rakish. The new styling brings the A4 into line with the more angular noses of its newer siblings, but it's retained more of a conservative look overall. The Ingolstadt-based manufacturer may be occasionally accused of offering the same flavour of Audiwurst in different sizes, but the A4 remains its core seller and consequently it doesn’t want to interfere too much with a formula that’s struck a chord with 10 million customers over its eight generations.
Okay, so what has changed on the 2012 Audi A4?

Well, it is subtle, but the bonnet and front bumper have been replaced, along with the grilles and lights they envelope. There’s a stronger curvature in the bonnet that flows down to that latest iteration of Audi’s shield grille, with chamfered upper corners. You must have spotted all these changes...

The grille treatment differentiates each level of A4 hierarchy for that all important company car park one-upmanship: four-cylinder models have grey horizontal slats, whereas V6-engined and all S-line versions feature theirs in gloss black. As before, the S4’s slats are chrome-edged, while the Allroad takes a different path with slender, vertical chrome vanes.

Not only is the shape of the headlight more angular, the graphics within them have been modernised too. Out go the old LEDs that resembled short lengths of Christmassy rope lights, replaced by homogenous strips of whiteness. Similarly, tweaks to the rear are superficial, limited to prettying up the lights and bumper mouldings.
Has the money been spent on revitalising the 2012 Audi A4’s interior then?

Erm, not exactly. A4 interiors have long been considered the quality benchmark for this class, but only aficionados will be quick to spot additional gloss and chrome trim, chunky new steering wheels and a revised multi-media setup, accessed via a simplified version of Audi’s MMI interface. That really is about it, other than a range of new colour combinations and inlay trims.

Available equipment embraces the latest technological advances that have already appeared on other cars, so the A4 doesn't break new ground. A safety monitor alerts the driver if they appear to be drifting off to sleep and recommends when to take breaks, while radar cruise control and a lane monitoring system help ensure safe passage on motorway jaunts.
But they’ve spent the money somewhere, surely? Does the 2012 Audi A4 feature new engines?

Indeed it does, or more specifically a range of refined and improved motors compared with the ones installed in the existing A4. Audi claims to have achieved an 11% improvement in fuel consumption across the range, by virtue of the standardisation of direct-injection, forced induction and stop-and-go systems.

Smaller, more efficient engines are expected to be the most popular. Audi quotes 50.4mpg and 134g/km CO2 for its comprehensively reworked 1.8 TFSI unit which produces 168bhp in the process. The four-cylinder diesels are also kinder to the environment than the outgoing motors with the base 134bhp 2.0 TDI providing 67.3mpg and just 112g/km CO2.

The UK engine line-up for the 2012 Audi A4 will be:

Petrol
• 1.8 TFSI 118bhp, four-cylinder
• 1.8 TFSI 168bhp, four-cylinder
• 2.0 TFSI 208bhp, four-cylinder
• 3.0 TFSI 328bhp, six-cylinder

Diesel
• 2.0 TDI 134bhp, four-cylinder
• 2.0 TDI 141bhp, four-cylinder
• 2.0 TDI 161bhp, four-cylinder
• 2.0 TDI 175bhp, four-cylinder
• 3.0 TDI 201bhp, six-cylinder
• 3.0 TDI 242bhp, six-cylinder

Depending upon the model you choose, drive is channelled to either the front wheels, or all four on Quattro models, via a six-speed manual, CVT Multitronic or seven-speed S-tronic automatic gearboxes. A4 Allroad customers are limited to a choice of the 2.0 TFSI or 2.0 TDI (in 175bhp guise), and the 242bhp 3.0 TDI.

The S4 continues to use the same 328bhp 3.0 TFSI engine as before, top speed remains limited to 155mph while the 0-62mph sprint is rounded down to 5.0 seconds. More impressive is the improved fuel consumption, jumping significantly from 28.2mpg to 35.3mpg.
What else?

The A4’s chassis has been delicately fettled too, with Audi confidently boasting of its sporty yet comfortable precision. Whether these detail changes are enough to challenge the BMW 3-series and Mercedes C-class remains to be seen.

Audi claims that the chassis tweaks not only benefit the driving experience but also reduce the A4’s impact on the environment, the new electromagnetic power steering system alone is said to reduce CO2 output by 7%.

Prices for the full UK 2012 Audi A4 line-up will be confirmed in the coming weeks but aren’t expected to deviate dramatically from current levels.

Ferrari California: more power in 2012 update

Ferrari is updating the California coupe-convertible for 2012, CAR GAMES has learned. According to dealer updates provided to prospective owners, the new 2012 California will be more powerful, lighter and with a smattering of new tech to give it a second wind.

The new Ferrari California will start production in January 2012, with first UK deliveries due in time for the new '12' plate in the UK next March.
What's new on the 2012 Ferrari California?

The direct-injection 4.3-litre V8 is upgraded with an extra 30 horsepower, taking the total to a pretty serious sounding 483bhp. Torque swells, too, up to 373lb ft - and it's a higher plateau across the board.

Maranello says the power comes from new software and improved machining of the internals. For instance, the exhaust manifold is now 'optimised micro cast' and the ECU is reprogrammed to deliver those new outputs on 98 octane super unleaded. (it'll run on 95 too, just with less muscle).
You say the new 2012 Cali is lighter, too?

Yep. Impressively, for a mid-life facelift, Ferrari has managed to snip away 30kg from the kerbweight. It's now around 1705kg, thanks to new lighter aluminium alloys in certain parts of the chassis.

Net result? More power + less weight = 0-62mph in 3.85sec. The new Cali is only availble with the twin-clutch transmission.
Anything else new on the California?

A bit of minor spec fettling here and there. It looks the same externally (although you can now order an optional silver flecked front grille) but the in-car entertainment system has a bigger hard drive - now 40GB, up from 30GB - and it'll sync seamlessly with your iPhone 4 or Galaxy smartphones.

You can also spec the optional Handling Speciale pack if you want to sharpen up your California's corner carving skills. The new magnerheological dampers are upgraded and the ECU has a 50% faster response rate.

Ferrari says the time to respond is now just 5ms, and each damper can go from its most fluid state to its hardest state in just 8ms. Cue claims aplenty about reduced body roll, sharper steering response and more agility.
Has the Ferrari California been a success?

Maranello knows a good business opportunity when it sees one. A solid 80% of Cali customers are conquests - bringing a whole world of Aston/Bentley/Merc/Porsche customers to the Prancing Horse for the first time.

No price yet for the new 2012 California, but we expect a chunky premium in the annual January price increases. Today's Ferrari coupe-cabriolet costs £146,960.

Mini Roadster (2012) first official pictures

This is the new Mini Roadster - a second convertible for those who find the Mini Convertible a bit too pedestrian.

The new Mini Roadster is based on the Coupe, meaning a different rear deck and - with the roof folded - no more pram-like hood antics stacked on top of the boot. The rear end is pleasingly flush.
Mini Roadster (2012): in detail

The new Roadster is the first production two-seat open-top Mini in history. It'll be built in the UK at Plant Oxford, with sales here kicking off in spring 2012 from £18,015 for a Cooper Roadster, climbing to £24,850 for a John Cooper Works Roadster.

In between those two extremes, you can pick a Cooper S or Cooper SD. Given time, we'd expect a One and Cooper D to join the ranks.
Tell me about the hood!

That roof is fabric - no bulky folding hard tops here - leaving a 240-litre boot. The Roadster is unashamedly based on the Mini Coupe, stretching out to 3734mm long. While other markets are taking a manual roof, the UK is only taking the 'semi-automatic' hood which requires a manual unlock and then flops back electrically.

Its footprint may copy that of the 'four-seat' Mini Convertible, but the Roadster sits 20mm lower to the tarmac. And that windscreen is angled 13deg faster than the existing soft-top. More sporty, ja?
So is the Mini Roadster a realistic MX-5 rival?

Conceivably, yes. We already know and, mostly, love the Mini's front-wheel drive chassis. You can spec your Roadster with a choice of engines familiar from elsewhere in Minidom. Power ranges from 120bhp in the Cooper to 208bhp in the JCW.

Similarly, pick between 118g/km emissions on the diesel or 169 on the more profligate petrol turbo.

All other regular Mini characteristics are intact. Stop-start is standard, the cabin is stock Mini and the Coupe's pop-up spoiler will block out Plod from 50mph.

Saab 9-3: is this the new 2013 hatch?

Is this the new Saab 9-3? Contained in Saab's business plan submitted to the Swedish National Debt Office was this grainy image of what purports to be the new 2013 9-3.

If it is indeed a model of the finished 9-3, then it shows that the 2011 Phoenix concept car was influential in guiding what should become Saab's best-seller.

But we approach this leak with caution; it is also possible that Saab may have inserted a work-in-progress styling option in this business document. Enough to get bankers excited, but not enough to spill the beans.
Saab 9-3 (2013): the lowdown

It's been a busy week for Saab. The embattled Swedish car maker has languished in bankruptcy protection since the summer, but on 28 October two Chinese car makers stepped up to the plate with a €100 million offer to buy it outright from Victor Muller's Swedish Automotive.

As part of the reorganisation process, Saab has been frantically pedalling its business plan to banks and potential investors. This image of the new 9-3 was contained in one of those documents, obtained by a Swedish newspaper.

The new 9-3 has been designed by Jason Castriota, the head of styling for Saab and his own consultancy. In side profile, it's described as a SportCombi – in the spirit of the 1970s Combi Coupe. We'd heard it would revert to a hatchback bodystyle, and this is sure to please the Saaberati.
What will underpin the new 2013 Saab 9-3?

Saab has been developing a new platform based on the new 9-5's architecture. It is said to be flexible enough to underpin all future Saab models from 9-3 upwards. So if the mooted 9-2 were to appear, it would have to find a separate platform.

Phoenix means front- or four-wheel drive and a range of the latest petrol engines sourced from BMW. The Mini's 1.6 petrol turbo will power the majority of Saab 9-3s. We hear the new Saab 9-3 will stretch to around 4400mm long, with a wheelbase shrunk by some 150mm under today's 9-3.
So will Saab survive to launch the new 9-3?

We hope so. But the sale to China's Pang Da and Youngman is still subject to several approval processes which may yet scupper the deal. Banks and authorities in Europe and China must approve, as must GM which remains a major supplier to Saab. We've seen deals collapse before and everyone in Trollhattan is crossing every limb to make sure this one goes through.

Chairman Victor Muller told CAR that work on the new 9-3 had continued over the summer. 'We have incurred delays of around two months on this project because of lack of funding,' he said. But he vowed it would be ready for launch in 2013.