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<Designer Of The Mazda Miata, Shunji Tanaka, Dies Aged 75 Thanks for everything, Tanaka-San. Shunji Tanaka, the chief designer of the original (NA) Mazda MX-5 Miata, has passed away. The announcement was made on Facebook by a close friend and chairperson of the MX-5 Club Tanaka was a member of, Mr. Katsuyuki Satake. A translation by a fellow enthusiast alerted CarBuzz to the news with a simple statement, "I'm so sorry to announce that Mr. Tanaka, the Chief Designer of NA MX-5 has passed away on Dec. 12th at the age of 75." Apparently, Mr. Tanaka's last words were, "I have no regret in my life." It's unclear what Tanaka died of, but he was right, not having any regrets. He gave the world the seminal small sports car. The Miata is the Porsche 911 of small sports cars and has a legacy and reputation some manufacturers can only dream of. Mazda Friends Of MX-5/Facebook Mazda Mazda Mazda It remains the world's best-selling sports car and one of the most affordable ways for automotive enthusiasts to have fun. Mazda may be moving over to hybrid power for the MX-5 in future, but we're sure the fun element will be retained. For now, it remains true to its origins. Despite being head designer of the Miata, Tanaka did not get as much attention as the lead engineers, Toshihiko Hirai and Takao Kijima. These two men were responsible for making the Miata the epic driving tool, while Tanaka was responsible for the exterior and interior design. While the Miata certainly deserves praise as a driving tool, the design is as much a part of a very successful and lucrative roadster. Before the Miata came along, the roadster had all but died out. It continued the ethos of British roadsters but rectified their build quality and reliability issues for a complete package like no other. Friends of MX-5 Miata/Facebook Mazda MX-5 Miata 25 years The NA Miata was such a hit, an entire book was written about it when it turned 25. As you can see, the famous pop-up headlights and smiling face were always a part of the design, inspired by the Lotus Elan. According to Tanaka, the concept for the Miata was a "Swinging Time Machine." In short, it was a symbol of freedom and meant to provide a thrilling open-top experience that brought the driver closer to nature. Many people don't know this, but the first concept was designed in California. Mazda approved the project, which sparked the initial design phase. After completing the project, it was shipped to Japan, where a disapproving Tanaka met it. Mazda MX-5 Miata 25 years MX-5 Miata Forum MX-5 Miata Forum According to interviews with Tanaka, he thought the design was too Americanized, and there was no way to identify it as a lightweight sports car. He didn't beat around the bush. He also said the US team must have "eaten too much steak and forgotten the delicacy of Japanese cuisine." You can see the difference between the California concept and Tanaka's clay model in the photos above, with the redesign taking influence from his wife's love of Japanese Noh masks that seemingly change expression depending on the angle they are viewed from. Whether his comments were too harsh or not, history speaks for itself. The NA Miata is a driving and design icon, and Shunji Tanaka was responsible for half of that. Rest in peace Tanaka-San. Your legacy lives on in the heart of every Miata fan. Kenji Matsuda/Facebook Friends of MX-5 Miata/Facebook 佐竹克行/Facebook 佐竹克行/Facebook>

<Why Koenigsegg Never Went Racing, And Why It Doesn't Plan to Start Christian von Koenigsegg explains why his cars have never competed at Le Mans, and why he doesn't intend to participate in the new Hypercar class. KOENIGSEGG Despite building some of the most innovative supercars on earth, Koenigsegg does not currently have a racing team. That's not for lack of trying: Founder Christian von Koenigsegg actually built a viable race car with intent to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans when his company was in its infancy. But it never happened, and during a lengthy conversation with the man behind the Swedish performance car company, we learned more about why his Le Mans ambitions fell apart—and whether he hopes to try again. In 2007, Koenigsegg built a fully-functional race car that exactly followed the FIA's Group GT1 rules. The race car, called CCGT, bore a strong resemblance to Koenigsegg's second production model, the CCR. But its roots went back even further, to the very first prototype Koenigsegg built, called CC. As explained on a Koenigsegg company blog post, the original CC, and the race car it spawned, was designed to fit exactly into GT1's dimension requirements: The car could be two meters wide at the maximum, and the cockpit had to span 70 percent of the vehicle's overall width. It had a dry weight of 2200 pounds (significantly below the minimum weight for GT1, which would mean adding ballast to reach the required weight) and was powered by a naturally aspirated V-8 making well over 600 horsepower. But two months after the CCGT's first shakedown runs, the ACO and FIA had a change of heart. The governing bodies banned carbon-fiber monocoque construction, which was used in every Koenigsegg road car and thus formed the basis of the CCGT. The regulators also raised the minimum production requirement dramatically. Previously, an automaker was required to construct 20 street-legal examples of a model, in total, to be eligible to race. After the 2007 change, that number rose to 350 cars per year, impossible for a tiny automaker like Koenigsegg to achieve. The CCGT was ruled out of the class before it ever competed in a single race. The only Koenigsegg CCGT ever built. | KOENIGSEGG "We were aiming to go racing in the GT1 series, which was perfect for our type of cars—road-going hypercars turned race cars" von Koenigsegg told Road & Track during a recent, lengthy conversation. "Then they shut it down right when we were about to go racing, which was very annoying. Since then, there hasn't been any series for these types of cars." The rule change left von Koenigsegg without a place to take his supercars racing. "Even if we would be allowed to go to the highest level of GT racing, we would be competing against Porsche 911s and Ferrari 488s"—sports cars built to vastly different performance goals than Koenigsegg's cars, which commanded well over half a million dollars each. Even if von Koenigsegg had wanted to compete in such a class, he worried that his cars would be "completely downgraded through Balance of Performance via restrictors, because we are not supposed to be any faster. And then it would be just a super-expensive racing car, which would cost more to repair than a 911, and we might even get beaten by a 911 because of BoP, while in reality, they are completely different vehicles. That doesn't make any sense." So Koenigsegg's racing dreams died in 2007, before they could ever become real. But what about today? The WEC's new Hypercar class debuted this year, and it was seemingly built for exactly the kind of extreme vehicles that Koenigsegg builds. But the man behind the Swedish supercar company is unconvinced. "Of course, they started this Hypercar series at Le Mans, but in the end it turned out to be some kind of LMP car again, so it's just a new name for the same kind of thing, more or less." Does von Koenigsegg see a racing future for his cars? Not under the current rules. "The alternative, I guess, is to build some kind of a Le Mans Prototype, which has no relation to our road cars, which I don't find too appealing. I would like to go back to the GT1 type of class, where we [could] see Bugattis, Paganis, Koenigseggs—modified road cars featuring completely different technologies. Not this silhouette racing where you have the same chassis under different bodies. Granted, it would be a very expensive series, given the price of these cars, but then we could build up on what we have. Everyone could showcase something you could actually buy, if you're extremely wealthy. That's what we would like, but I'm not sure if it could ever happen.">

JDM, Euro and Exotic sports cars For the uninitiated, sports cars consist of 3 main categories: JDM, Euro, and Exotic. These sports cars come in a bunch of varying specifications. Let me give you some examples. The Renault Megane RS is a 4-cylinder turbocharged, manual, front-wheel-drive Euro sports car. Likewise, the Mclaren 720S is a V8 twin-turbocharged, automatic, rear-wheel-drive exotic sports car. Last but not least, we have the iconic JDM street-legal rally car – The Subaru Impreza WRX, a 4-cylinder turbocharged, all-wheel-drive sports car that is available in both the manual and automatic transmission. The list goes on and on, but you get my intention, don’t you? With dozens of offerings for sports cars of varying specifications, there is always an ideal sports car for you, no matter the specifications you require and whether you can afford it. Why 2030? Unless you have been living under a rock, you would have encountered the Electric Vehicle (EV) craze surrounding us lately. According to the SG Green Plan 2030 (SGP 2030) announced during Budget 2021, we will be looking at significant changes to the status quo. Nope, I am not talking about the rise in petrol duty rates. I am referring to the phasing out of Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles by 2040, driven by these three aspects of the SGP 2030: Cessation of new diesel cars and taxi registrations from 2025 Requirement of newly registered cars to be of cleaner-energy models from 2030; and All vehicles to run on cleaner energy by 2040 What does it mean for us? The SGP 2030, coupled with our beloved COE system, is the perfect formula for phasing out ICE cars in Singapore. Unfortunately, this will spell the demise of JDM, Euro and Exotic sports cars alike. From 2030 onwards, the supply of ICE sports cars will be what we currently have in the market. As such, does this mean that the low supply of ICE sports cars drives its market value up? If you wish to drive your dream Nissan GTR, BMW M4 or Lamborghini Aventador in the future, you better pray hard that its current owner renews its COE. Then again, it would be best to consider the maintenance and upkeep cost required for these ageing cars before purchasing them in the future. Similarly, manual transmission cars will be phased out eventually. Here's why. EVs have an electric motor in place of an ICE vehicle’s “engine” by using a single-speed transmission that regulates their electric motor. Except for the Porsche Taycan, which uses a Two-Speed gearbox. As such, EVs come only in automatic transmissions, and the phasing out of existing manual transmission ICE cars means the demise of manual transmission cars. Electric Sports Cars Yes, they are insanely fast. Yes, it produces instantaneous torque. But can we consider them as true-blue sports cars? Aside from the speed and torque, car enthusiasts also seek the pleasure of high engine revs, the burbling exhaust sound and, most importantly, the liberty to modify various car performance components – None of which an electric sports car is capable of fulfilling. Furthermore, the single-speed transmission that regulates its electric motor seems like a bore that takes the fun out of driving compared to manual gear shifts or the quick gear shifting of DCT transmissions. For those Gen Y & Z car enthusiasts out there, I will do one for you. — Here’s a plea to those of you that currently own any sports car; please renew your COE so that the future generations of car enthusiasts will have a chance to own the car of our (childhood) dream someday. Last Thoughts The golden question here is, will a manual (class 3) license still be relevant in the near future? If it is irrelevant and deemed obsolete, this will remove any segregation between the community’s existing “Class 3 vs 3A” mentality. If you are unaware of the "Class 3 vs 3A" commotion, read the article below: --- Thinking of selling your car? sgCarMart Quotz guarantees the highest selling price for your car. We’ll even give you $100 cash if you find a better offer elsewhere! Get a free quote to find out how much your car is worth today!

Saw this story on women who drive fast cars - Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin with nice photos for guys that like fast cars, and guys that like pretty women story in Chinese, Google translated the 1st page was quite acceptable https://www.iconsingapore.com/people/meet-6-women-who-all-love-driving-fast-cars/ ---------------- "I often think that the car has its own personality. My car should be a man. It is my companion on the road and it protects me." If Ferrari or Lamborghini are the active young boys in the sports car industry, then the British century-old Aston Martin is a mature gentleman. According to statistics, Singapore had only 196 Aston Martins as of 2017, which is very rare. However, Germaine Tan describes her car as Aston Martin Vantage S. “Lamborghini is a sports, edgy car. Aston Martin first reminds you of elegance and style. It is a symbol of luxury and status. You may often see Lamborghini on the road, but you will not be too familiar with Aston Martin. So it will naturally attract your attention." Many car lovers become caring for the other half. For Germaine, the car is her best friend. She said: "I often feel that the car has its own personality. My car should be a man. It is my companion on the road and protects me." This is the first sports car in her life. The dark-gray body is low-key and she particularly sprays the rims into red roses, adding a touch of softness to the masculine body. Aston Martin has always been known to be steady, for the 22-year-old Germaine may not pull the wind. In this regard, she had different opinions: "Young people of the same age really like high-profile sports cars, but I like the service of Aston Martin. They are very kind and they often hold events. These activities are very good. The members of the club are very happy and I feel very comfortable.” The car is to her and it is like the second home. Before work every day, this is the private area where she is free to be alone with her. “I will let my mind drift or empty in the car; the rear compartment of the car is my daily sundries. And with the unique taste of the leather chair, I feel as if I'm comfortable at home." When she was shooting, she watched as she removed a big puppet, a box with a coat, a water tank and other miscellaneous items from the car. Can imagine how comfortable she usually is in the car. Young and frivolous, although Germaine had a sports car, she did not have much experience in car racing. At most, she only went to Malaysia with the Aston Martin team. "The car was really stable when it turned, it gave me a sense of security, let me know it is very reliable and will protect me, just like my boyfriend." Then she was amazed by her adjective. Ha ha. Why does such a delicate girl like a sports car? She said that when you step on the gas pedal and hear the wonderful sound of the engine, you will feel a sudden burst of strength. "This power comes from the car."

https://jalopnik.com/the-alfa-romeo-gtv-is-back-with-more-than-600-horsepowe-1826477782 Alfa Romeo’s GTV is a storied nameplate if there ever was one. The GTV, which stands for “Gran Turismo Veloce,” or Fast Grand Touring, has been an Alfa Spider, an Alfa Giulia, an Alfa Alfetta, and a Spider again. And now it’s back with a lot of power. If you can’t read the powerpoint slide helpfully provided to everyone from Alfa’s parent company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, it’s set to have a 50/50 weight distribution; more than 600 horsepower from “E-Boost,” or what’s more than likely a hybrid setup, all-wheel-drive, and “four-passenger seating.” Or, in other words, it’s going to be a coupe. In case you couldn’t tell already from the faint single line on the side of the car, implying one (1) door per side. You know. Like a coupe. With two doors. That’s what coupes are. In fact, it looks remarkably like an Alfa Giulia coupe, and if we’re doing our math properly, it all sort of implies there’s going to be an Alfa GT as well, in addition to the GTV. Alfa’s got all the engines for a more down-market GT coupe to complement the GTV, complete with a range of four- and six-cylinder engines, after all. And we’ve got no problems with an Alfa Giulia coupe, seeing as how the Giulia is one of the best cars on sale today, when it works. Already we’re seeing this thing aimed at the BMW 8 Series and Polestar One. Not that we’re complaining. More on FCA’s plan as we get it. Alfa Romeo brings back 8C and GTV, and adds two more SUVshttps://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/alfa-romeo-brings-back-8c-and-gtv-and-adds-two-more-suvs Alfa Romeo will reintroduce two iconic models, the 8C and GTV, by 2022 as part of a bold five-year strategy announced today. It will also launch a new mid-sized SUV and a large SUV that sit, respectively, below and above the Stelvio, which has brought huge success to Alfa Romeo since launching last year. The Italian brand also confirmed long-wheelbase versions of the Giulia and Stelvio. LWB variants are a growing trend, thanks largely to demand in China, where chauffeur-driven cars are popular. The strategy should mean 400,000 sales for Alfa Romeo by 2022, said brand boss Timothy Kuniskis. This year's sales are projected at 170,000 units. The new additions coming by 2022 will almost double Alfa Romeo's line-up, bringing the range to nine models. Currently, it consists of the Giulia, Giulietta, Stelvio, 4C Spider and Mito. The Mito had been highly tipped to be axed, and although there was no mention of it in today's announcement, a product plan slide suggested that the model will be phased out by 2022. The new 8C will be a twin-turbo mid-engined sports car with an electrified front axle delivering at least 700bhp with a 0-62mph time of less than three seconds. The last time we saw the 8C nameplate was during 2007-2010 with the 8C Competizione, which was a front-engined model that used a 4.7-litre Ferrari-derived V8 and achieved the benchmark sprint in 4.2sec. Meanwhile, the GTV — essentially a coupé version of the well-received Giulia — will have more than 600bhp with E-Boost technology, all-wheel drive torque vectoring, 50/50 weight distribution and room for four occupants. The last GTV went off sale in 2005. Talking about its plans to relaunch the 8C and GTV sports cars, Kuniskis said: "Alfa will deliver the sports car of each segment it enters. We know our future depends on staying true to our sports car roots; cars designed to represent the brand’s position and inspire the next generation of customers. “The 8C is a true supercar with a mid-engined, carbonfibre monocoque chassis and electrified AWD system. It’s a car that will be born for the track here at Bolocco. “We also want a sports car as attainable as it is aspirational, so we’re bringing back one of the most fabled names in Alfa history, the GTV. The Quadrofoglio model will deliver more than 600hp." On the two new SUVS, Kuniskis said: "The timing of our expansion plans couldn’t be more optimum. The premium market is growing and there are considerable opportunities int hat segment. “There are two key segments: compact UV [utility vehicle] and full-sized UV. These segments represent 81% of global premium market growth. We will ensure each new product embraces our brand principles. “What we’ve learned in last four years is that when we stay true to Alfa DNA, we can stand out in any segment, as we did with Stelvio.” He added that, by 2022, Alfa Romeo will compete in more than 70% of the premium industry: “We will launch the sports cars of every segment.” As with all FCA brands, Alfa is phasing out diesel engines from its range, and is launching a range of mild hybrids, hybrids and plug-in hybrids. It aims to offer an electrified version of every model in its range by 2022, including six PHEVs. Alfa’s PHEV system will allow cars to complete around 31 miles on pure electric power, and offer 0-62mph times in the mid-4sec area. All of its models will also offer level two or three autonomous driver assistance systems. Talking of the brand's struggles, FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne said: "We got two things wrong - we underestimated the industrial complexity of launching a brand as complex as Alfa. This caused delays in launch, additional cost, and slowed down the development portfolio. We also underestimated the reaction of Germans to the reintroduction of Alfa." "Would I do it again? Not in the same way, but certainly would do it again."

The Alpina B4 Bi-Turbo Convertible is characterised by short overhangs, precise, long drawn shoulder lines, a wide rear and a charming metal folding roof. Functional aerodynamics, signature 20-inch Alpina classic wheels and two elliptical double tailpipes are hallmarks of the Alpina design philosophy and lend a particularly elegant presence with the Alpina refined convertible. Like the name suggests, the 2,979cc straight-six engine in the Alpina B4 Bi-Turbo is equipped with two turbochargers to deliver 410bhp and a maximum torque of 600Nm. In combination with the excellent ZF eight-speed transmission, the B4 Bi-Turbo Convertible accelerates from zero to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds on its way to a top speed in excess of 300km/h. Braking power is provided by 18-inch high performance brake system with 370mm discs at the front and 345mm discs at the rear. Blue painted aluminium callipers with Alpina lettering, in conjunction with high performance pads, ensure fading stability and optimal pedal feedback. The stainless steel exhaust system was developed in collaboration with Akrapovic and is 7.5kg lighter in comparison to its predecessor. The resonant, sporty sound of the exhaust system is controlled by an intelligent exhaust valve. In Sport Mode, the valve is permanently open and the B4 Bi-Turbo thrills with its distinctive aural character under hard acceleration. The drivetrain, equipped with auto start-stop and Valvetronic also impresses with class leading economy figures of just 13,2km/L and 177g of CO2.

Toyota Motor Corporation was once known for producing some of the best sports cars and during one moment, they fed consumers with beige, drab looking models. With the recent release of several sports-orientated models such as the Lexus LFA, Toyota 86 and Lexus IS-F (there are even plans to release a Lexus GS-F); it seems that the aspiration to produce stylish sports orientated cars has been renewed again at the Japanese firm. But Toyota

Recently, I chanced upon a Youtube video where Autocar UK pits the all-new 2012 BMW M5 against the MY2012 Nissan GT-R. The history of the M5 is legendary, dating back to 1984 where the first generation was then the fastest production sedan in the world. On the other hand, the GT-R is perhaps one of the best, if not the best ultra high performance sports car that Japan has ever produced. It is currently one of the fastest production cars to lap the N

Singaporeans are a pretty practical bunch. It is hardly a surprise that certain car marques associated with reliability, fuel economy and resale value dominate our best seller list. We go for the safe bet; the choice that makes sense to us numerically. And so, I am often met with a puzzled look when I explain that the most important attribute for me when car shopping is power (both bhp and torque) or when I tell people that my hobby is modifying my ride to go that little bit faster. Inevitably, the following refrain will be heard. "Fast car in Singapore? For what? Our roads are so congested and traffic lights are everywhere. You won't be able to travel much faster than my [insert choice of unclemobile]." To them and those of you practical minded folk reading this (yes, even in a car enthusiast's forum, they exist), my answer is a firm Yes. I personally find it strange that society can look upon practicality with such deference and respect. To me, being conventional and practical reeks of one thing - being a boring person. But I don't expect that practical folk can ever understand this and I just want them to stop being so judgmental and so insistent that their way is the only way. So here goes. This is my tongue-in-cheek list of "practical" reasons why sports cars or fast cars have a point in Singapore. 1) Some sports cars can become future classic cars. Just like art pieces, there is a chance that some day down the road, that sports car may actually appreciate in value or at the very least, retain value much better than the typical bread and butter car would. Well, I will admit that it is a bit of a gamble and not all sports cars will reach cult classic status but there is the possibility right? And isn't this just like investing in art or fine wines? 2) Powerful cars are safer. Yes, you heard me right. Powerful cars allow you to overtake more easily and more safely. Fast cars usually also come with better and grippier tyres, better safety features and better brakes. If driven sedately, I would say that such cars would probably be a lot safer than the typical bread and butter car. Now, isn't being safe a very important consideration, even for you practical folk? 3) Sports cars incentivize you to keep you healthy. You never thought this is possible but your car can have an effect on your health. Driving a sports car with a rock hard suspension is painful for those who do not keep themselves limber and fit. The hugging bucket seats mean that you must keep your weight and girth in check. And if you do not stretch regularly, I doubt you will be able to climb in and out of a low slung sports coupe. Now we are often lazy when it comes to keeping fit, so what better incentive can there be than the fact your ridiculously expensive sports car will go to waste if you didn't? With all these practical benefits, be sure to make your next car a fast or sporty one! Note: this is meant to be a light-hearted and humorous article, not genuine advice/opinion!

You see, the French have never really been good at making cars, their designs have always been avant-garde (like the Renault Avantime for instance) but hopelessly impractical and unreliable to the rest of the human world. So they'd rather cook. Or paint. But, with the arrival of the Laguna Coupe, they've finally made one that works. The curves, the grill and the tail-lights are all reminiscent of the Aston Martin DB9.. and with that bold front grille the Laguna Coupe is a stunning car to behold. Never before has Renault ever crafted a car so beautiful and yet practical. What you get is a turbo-charged 2.0l Automatic gearbox which churns out 170bhp which is not bad really. From the looks of it you wont expect it to hunt down Lambos or Ferraris, those are the red hot chillis of the automotive world. But for the Renault, its more like a creme brulee, crisp on the outside and utterly smooth and soft on the inside. The car is fully equipped with cruise control, climate control and everything else that a regular middle-upper class coupe may have, but its real party piece is the way passengers proceed to the back which have real space and not like other 2 door 'four seaters' with room at the rear for the width of golf clubs. Just pull a lever on the front seat and they slide effortlessly towards the front leaving ample room for human beings to enter. And once they're in, pull the lever again and the seat will slide back to its original position as it utilizes the memory settings in the car. Another thing that most people did not notice is that when you open the doors, the pillarless windows actually wind down just a tiny bit just so that opening and closing the doors do not damage the windows. That's pretty neat. Though the interior may have been thrown over from the four door family saloon version, its still a very comfortable place to be in. With a cabin that even Hitler would approve of, i have absolutely no complaints... except the steering wheel shape is a bit weird for a 'sporty' coupe. French cars usually have mad and impractical centre consoles with revolutionary style where function was placed at the bottom of the priority list, but in this it looks almost German with German quality plastics and buttons which actually feel nice to press. It even has that clever LCD screen in the middle telling the driver all the essential trip information. Sadly though, there is no GPS system or a reverse camera fitted in this car and fitting one in the dash would be as good as adding curry to fondue and just destroy the looks of the entire interior. So please... if you buy one, don't be a c--k to do such a thing. Even if you do want to have one make sure it looks good inside or else this car will hate you. If you are a family man with a young one in tow, there are ISOFIX points for that baby seat, and super practical split folding rear seats. And not forgetting safety. Crashing this car will just make you feel like you're in a pillow fight because there are 8 airbags all round to make sure you enjoy the crash. So if this car can sit four people in comfort, including the baby, looks amazing, its a two door car so people won't think you're giving up on life just yet, and its safe, why would anyone buy the four door version? If anyone did sorry to say, you picked Ugly Betty to be your wife instead of Jennifer Aniston or something. On to the way it drives. Under the bonnet is a turbo-charged 170bhp engine which automatically eliminates this car from the supercar/sports car category. I would label it a Gran Tourer where you just want to keep driving this car on and on and on... it just makes you realize the joy of driving and being caught up in a traffic jam won't seem like a drag anymore, you fall in love with it. Girlfriends beware. With 270Nm @ 3250rpm, overtaking is a breeze and the car feels light and powerful off the line which is ideal in Singapore roads where there's a traffic light every 5m. What's more, the car won't burn a hole in your pocket for drinking too much petrol, its more of a social drinker rather than a hardcore clubber. The car has 6 gears and has a feature called the 'self-shifter' which senses the amount of throttle and shifts gear to rev-match with the previous rpm to enable silky smooth gear changes. The worst thing about this car is the way the steering feels. Its as lifeless as Fann Wong's face. There's just no feel when you turn which may lead to over or understeer. But other than that, the Laguna Coupe can complete the century sprint in 9.6 seconds which is neither too fast nor slow for a car in this class. This car is definitely a hit for me with German quality finish, Japanese practicality, French/Italian/British looks and the undeniable attention to detail, the Laguna Coupe is definitely a class above the rest. Renault has outclassed its Japanese rivals like Honda or any of its French counterparts. They have shot for the sky with this one, aiming to be at least on par with the Germans. If Hitler was still around, his face won't be so smug in that fat old Mercedes anymore, here comes General Charles De Gaulle in a Renault.

Like all Jaguars, the new XK looks like its in a class of its own. With curves which appear to be inspired by the Aston Martin One-77, and that new grille from the XF, the old 'Spitfire Wing' oval shape which dates back to the E-type of the 1960s will be retired to make way for this all new sheetmetal and grille design. The new Jag will be on sale to the public from 2013. This will be the British car-maker's first ever diesel powered sports car which will be powered by a 3.0 litre twin turbo V6, and with that lightweight aluminium body, the aggressive 3.0 litre turbodiesel will be able to reach a 100km/h in under 5 seconds with an average fuel consumption figure at 12km/l, its really the best of both worlds where fuel economy and performance are not compromised. The body work and the interior fittings have received the largest makeover. The new styling is parallel to Jaguar's revamp of their image which started with the bold and handsome looking XF and on the interior, Jaguar promise the highest of quality with the car