Last week we found out its hybrid power train will generate 916 HP (674 kW). It consists of a V8 3.8-liter mid-mounted, twin-turbo gasoline engine producing 737 HP (542 kW) and 531 lb-ft (720 Nm) of torque coupled to an electric motor that provides an extra 179 HP (132 kW) and 192 lb-ft (260 Nm).

As already announced, the McLaren P1 will have the combined force of two highly-efficient powerplants: a V-8 engine and electric motor. They offer a mix of insane throttle response, day-to-day drivability and top speed thanks to various driving modes including electric only, gasoline only and combined hybrid modes. McLaren says the additional boost of the electric motor allows a wider performance band, allowing the turbocharged car to feel like a naturally aspirated one. Note, a further benefit is that the electric motor also allows faster upshifts of the gearbox. This is achieved through the application of instant negative torque at the point of shift, making the engine revs drop as quickly and efficiently as possible to the required engine speed for the upshift.

The carbon fiber theme continues into the P1’s relatively spartan cabin, which features a digital gauge cluster complete with a race-inspired digital dash readout. The display has multiple modes including a “Race” mode, where a bank of lights across the top illuminate green, followed by red and finally blue. These act as a shift indicator, as in McLaren’s own F1 car.

Full details 2013 McLaren P1 Production Version will be revealed in early March at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show on March 5 and in McLaren showrooms all around the globe later in the year.

It was only last week when Rolls Royce announced the revival of the “Wraith” moniker with the launch of the company’s most powerful model ever. Now, there is a new teaser with the Ghost Coupe ahead of the car’s official unveiling set for March 5 during the Geneva Motor Show.

Rolls-Royce already confirmed plenty of information in a teaser it released last week, but the latest image shows us a clear shot of what the car’s midsection will look like. Comparing this image and the spy shots, we can see that the Wraith will have a pretty sleek – (almost Bentley Continental GT-like) roof line, and, like the Phantom Coupe, it will have rear-hinged doors. We can also tell from the spy shots that it seems to be keeping the same face as the Ghost and taillights

As previously reported, at its heart will probably be a twin-turbo V12 6.6-liter engine producing 608 HP (447 kW) which should enable the coupe to reach 62 mph (100 km/h) in less than 4.7 seconds.

Arden will also offer customers since spring tuning package for the F-Type, which among other things includes a new set of 20-inch wheels, sport exhaust system, a discrete body kit, a package for reinforcement 5.0 V8 engine (from 495 to about 550HP) and optional high-performance brake kit.

After working on a body kit for the new Range Rover, Arden is now focusing on the Jaguar F-Type. They start off with a power boost for the flagship V8 S version which in its standard version produces 495 HP (364 kW) but after Arden works its magic the engine puts out 550 HP (404 kW). They are also developing an upgrade kit for the V6-powered versions.

The Jaguar F-Type in these two photos is wearing a British Racing Green paint and comes with 20-inch Sport line alloys and the optional high-performance braking system.

For this money customers will get the entry-level 2.5i variant fitted with a 6-speed manual gearbox. Under the hood is a 4-cylinder, 2.5-liter engine producing 170 hp (127 kW) and 174 lb-ft (235 Nm) of torque.

Offered as standard with AWD, the new Forester with the 2.5-liter mill can do 24 mpg city / 32 mpg highway with the CVT while the manually-equipped version does 22 mpg city / 29 mpg highway. Clients can get this engine in Premium, Limited and Touring trims.

The beefier 2.0-liter, inline-four turbocharged engine is available only for the Premium and Touring trims. It begins from 27,995 USD (without destination charges) and offers 250 hp (186 kW) and 258 lb-ft (349 Nm) of torque. Available exclusively with the CVT, the Forester 2.0XT does 23 mpg city / 28 mpg highway. The 2014 Forester will lead the segment in all-wheel drive fuel economy, with the 2.5i model achieving manufacturer’s fuel economy estimates of 24 mpg city / 32 mpg highway / 27 mpg combined. Those figures also compare well with competitors that feature front-wheel drive.

The new Subaru Forester will build on the sales success of the previous generation, which helped the Subaru brand to achieve four consecutive annual sales records. The 2014 Forester is expected to sell in even greater numbers than the outgoing model.

AMG’s CEO Ola Källenius has given an interview to Car & Driver in which he offered some details about the upcoming Business Line package for the 2014 E63 AMG. It will be available only in Europe and will be offered through AMG’s Performance Studio.

This package will tone down the aggressive looks of the E63 AMG and make it look more like a regular E-Class, turning it into a “sleeper car”. One of the most important changes will be the removal of the quad exhaust setup of the AMG version.

All modifications will be in the aesthetics of the car as they won’t involve a performance downgrade. This means the E63 AMG Business Line will retain its twin-turbo V8 5.5-liter engine producing 557 HP (410 kW) and 531 lb-ft (720 Nm) of torque. The reason why it won’t be offered in the United States is because the desire for adopting a more stock appearance for a flagship model is an “almost exclusively German phenomenon.”

Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

ESTIMATED BASE PRICE: $95,000

ENGINE TYPE: twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection

Displacement: 333 cu in, 5461 cc
Power: 550 hp
Torque: 531 lb-ft

TRANSMISSION: 7-speed automatic with manual shifting mode

DIMENSIONS (C/D EST):
Wheelbase: 113.1 in
Length: 193.0 in
Width: 75.9 in
Height: 56.8 in
Curb weight (C/D est): 4350 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 3.3 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 11.7 sec
Top speed (electronically limited): 155 mph

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 16/24 mpg

source: car and drive

Named after custom motorcycle builder Arlen Ness, the one-off model has a two-tone exterior with matte black accents, leather-wrapped mirrors and unique alloy wheels. The car also features an adjustable sports suspension, Ohlins shock absorbers and high-performance Brembo brakes.

Power is provided by a 1.6-liter THP engine that has been equipped with a high-flow air filter and a Termignoni sports exhaust system. This enables the mill to produce over 200 HP (147 kW) which is an increase of at least 44 HP (32 kW).
Source: Peugeot

Autobild says the model will be based on the A3 Sportback and feature a turbocharged 2.0-liter petrol engine, an electric motor and an 8 kWh lithium-ion battery. This setup could enable the model to have a combined output of approximately 237 HP (174 kW). Furthermore, the car is expected to average 2.0 l/100km (117.6 mpg US / 141.2 mpg UK) and have a 50 km (31 miles) electric-only range.

Currently, almost all Audi models are available as clean diesel (Euro 6 standard), but the larger cars need AdBlue injection to remove the NOx out of the exhaust gases – requiring an extra tank, pump, fuel and exhaust mods. The smaller Volkswagen Group cars achieve Euro 6 without all the extras, but this may not be the case under future vehicle-emissions legislation.

The Ingolstadt-based brand’s Paris show concept, the Audi Crosslane Coupe (above), showed what a future plug-in hybrid could look like – combining a super-efficient, small-capacity petrol-turbo engine with a pair of lithium-ion batteries.

Pricing is expected to start at roughly €35,000 with an eye-watering €11,600 premium over the standard model.

Exterior

The combination of aesthetic and aerodynamic enhancements wasn’t lost on Lotus and how they designed the Exige V6 CupR. You’ll notice a slew of these aesthetic stylings that carry no weight on how the car performs, including the prevalent use of satin on the car. The roof, front-lower bumper and front access panel, have all been dressed in this fancy material. A V6 CupR decal was also added on top of the windshield, as well as Exige decals on the back, just in case people forget what this baby is all about. Additionally, a Lotus decal and a Union Jack decal were added on the enormous carbon fiber rear wing.

At the back end, that enormous carbon fiber rear wing is pretty hard to ignore, both for its size and its use in improving the car’s downforce. Aluminum uprights have also been mounted directly onto the chassis while the louvered lightweight tailgate, the mesh grille on the rear transom panel, and the rain lamp, all play roles in ensuring that the car not only competes in tip-top form when it’s on the track, but does so with the sheer fury and handling of a bonafide racing beast.

Performance

As expected, the Lotus Exige V6 CupR is powered by a doozy of a powertrain in the form of a mid- transverse-mounted 3.5-liter DOHC V-6 VVT-i engine that comes equipped with a Harrop HTV 1320 supercharger that utilizes Eaton TVS Technology and mated to a six-speed, close-ratio gearbox with a with paddle shift coming as an added option.

The Exige CupR can produce 361 horsepower at 7,200 rpm and 295 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm. While final figures on the car’s capabilities have yet to be announced, Lotus has estimated that the car can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 170 mph.

Unsurprisingly, the cabin has been stripped of non-essential equipment to keep the car’s weight as low as possible. However the company has added a roll-cage, a fire extinguisher and a racing seat with a six-point harness.
Power is provided by a supercharged 3.5-liter V6 engine that develops 366 HP (269 kW) and 413 Nm (295 lb ft) of torque. It is connected to a six-speed manual transmission which enables the 1040 kg (2,293 lb) sports car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and hit a top speed of 274 km/h (170 mph).

Conclusion

For sheer looks alone, the Lotus Exige V6 CupR is certifiably an eye-catcher. But what can be lost in all of its looks are its capabilities, which, quite frankly, are about as impressive as it gets for a race-tuned Exige. It’s a little curious that Lotus didn’t release the official performance numbers.

Radio Silence

What else can we tell you? Officially, not much. Volkswagen of America will be selling the current Mark VI Golf for at least another 18 months, so it isn’t in any hurry to provide specifics about our Mark VII model. Sure, the PR guys will cop to some already known facts. The new Golf will share the corporate MQB platform with the latest Audi A3; it will be about two inches longer, roughly as wide, and about an inch lower than the old model; and the wheelbase will grow by 2.3 inches to deliver a roomier cabin. But VWoA balks when asked about specific powertrains, equipment, or other details.

Since the model will be based on the Golf, we can expect to ride on an enlarged version of the MQB platform. This will enable the model to have a roomy interior as well as an accommodating boot.

Among the unknowns is where our version of the Golf will be built—and we’re told that even the Germans have yet to decide. It might be assembled in Wolfsburg with the rest of its brethren, but the more likely location is Puebla, Mexico, like our Jetta and the Beetle. (This will, of course, require retooling at least part of the plant for the MQB bits.) Speaking of the Jetta, we expect the 1.8-liter direct-injected EA888 turbo four slated for that sedan­ to serve as the base engine in the 2015 Golf, too, even if VWoA won’t officially confirm it. The current 170-hp five-cylinder is toast on our shores, but we think the 1.8-liter will equal or perhaps slightly surpass its output.

Bag of Tricks

The new Golf boasts some impressive features for its class, including adaptive cruise control and collision warning, which are likely to make it here as options. We’re perhaps more excited that the cargo privacy shade stores under the load floor. The base-level cloth interior in the European-market cars is decent, but the high-zoot premium leather trim is phenomenal. U.S. cars probably will be finished somewhere in between. Automatic climate control and the oversized sunroof are a given for our market. So is a 5.8-inch touch screen, and an 8.0-inch screen is on tap, too, as an option.

Engine options will carryover so expect choices to include a turbocharged 1.4-liter petrol with 120 HP (88 kW) and a 2.0-liter TDI with 150 HP (110 kW). The company could also offer a GTI variant with a 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder engine that develops 220 HP (164 kW) and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque.

Both screens are forward-facing evidence of a new modular infotainment architecture being adopted across the VW Group; most brands will share similar back-end electronics, although the user experience and/or controls will be unique to each. (We went in-depth with the setup in February.) In the Golf’s version, the graphics are bright and colorful, and the software responds quickly to inputs. Even better, the designers saw fit to tilt the center stack a few degrees toward the driver, the better to operate the touch screen. The message is subtle but clear, and the new Golf advertises itself as a driver’s car from the moment you slip behind the wheel.

A Worthy Successor

On perfect roads at reasonable speeds—all we were able to experience on our preview—the new Golf is wonderful to drive. The body feels stiff, the chassis firm, and the steering is as responsive as ever. In other words, VW didn’t screw anything up, creating a new Golf that’s as poised and balanced as the sixth-gen model that was on our 2011 10Best Cars list alongside the GTI.

Whether Golf v7.0 will end up on future iterations of our hallowed list has a lot to do with how much of the European version we drove is forthcoming. We could regale you with all manner of impressive details and numbers—for instance, VW says it has shed some 50 pounds from the body structure through the use of more high-strength steel and some advanced manufacturing techniques—but it’s probably more prudent to wait (and wait) and see exactly what the Germans have planned for us.

The Golf CC is expected to be launched in 2015 with a base price of approximately £19,000.

Based on the Dart Limited, the GT is distinguished by a Hyper Black grille, a dual exhaust system and 18-inch aluminum wheels. There’s also a sport-tuned suspension and “frequency sensing damping shocks.”

Interior changes are limited, but the model comes nicely equipped with perforated Nappa leather seats, a heated steering wheel and dual-zone automatic climate control. There’s also a digital instrument cluster, heated front seats and a Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen display. 2013 Dodge Dart GT revealed ahead of Detroit debut.

Power is provided by a 2.4-liter Tigershark four-cylinder engine that develops 184 bhp (137 kW) and 174 lb-ft (236 Nm) of torque. It can be connected to a six-speed manual transmission or an optional six-speed PowerTech automatic.

The Dodge Dart GT will go into production in the second quarter of 2013 and pricing will start at $20,995.

Now, it’s unclear just what Dodge has in store for a Dart R/T trim level, which it says it “continues to investigate.” A range-topping Dart massaged by the automaker’s SRT performance division is also expected.

Still, the Dart GT, which revives an historic nameplate of its own, brings with it pretty much everything we would have expected to see on a Dart R/T. Namely, a more sport-oriented suspension with frequency-sensing damping shock absorbers, 18-inch alloy wheels and a dual exhaust setup.

To aid in fuel economy – which hasn’t been announced – the Dart GT will use active shutters in its grille to improve aerodynamics.

Despite its $20,995 price tag (which does not include a $795 destination charge), the Dart GT comes rather lavishly-equipped, boasting standard LED tail lamps, perforated and heated leather seats, a heated steering wheel, dual zone automatic climate control, an integrated garage door opener and a power driver’s seat.

On the technology front, the 2013 Dodge Dart GT will come standard with an 8.4-inch Uconnect touch screen infotainment system and a separate 7-inch TFT screen in the instrument cluster. A rear backup camera that displays through the center screen is also standard.

A dozen exterior colors will be on offer, plus extra-cost goodies like black-painted wheels, a power moonroof, HID headlamps, SiriusXM satellite radio, Garmin navigation, an Alpine-branded 10-speaker audio system, a block heater and a Technology Group that includes push-button start, a proximity key, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high beams and a blind spot monitor.