Thai Floods Cause Delay in European Launch of 2012 Honda Civic Hatch

The 2012 CR-V isn’t the only new Honda model to have its market launch delayed (albeit in the U.S.A.) due to the catastrophic floods in Thailand as the Japanese automaker confirmed that production of the 2012 Civic hatchback has also been affected.

"We are closely watching the supply chain situation," John Kingston, Honda Europe manager for corporate affairs told Autonews Europe during the press launch of the hatchback in Malaga, Spain. "Right now we fear the new Civic introduction will be delayed by three to four weeks."

Read more »

Official: Hot Opel Astra OPC / Vauxhall Astra VXR gets 280 Ponies, on Sale in 2012

It’s finally official; the production version of the most powerful model in the new Astra GTC range that will be marketed as the Opel Astra OPC in mainland Europe and as the Vauxhall Astra VXR in Britain.

These pictures show the Vauxhall model but the styling and the performance specifications are common between the two Astra GTC-based hot hatches.

Power is derived from a new 2.0-litre turbocharged direct injection four-cylinder engine capable of 280-horsepower and 400Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque that are channeled to the front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox and a specially developed mechanical limited slip differential.

Read more »

BBR Offers New Power Kits for Mazda3 and Mazda6 MPS with up to 400HP

Power is the name of the game when it comes to UK tuning firm BBR that has just released a newly developed range of engine and suspension upgrade packages for the Mazda3 and Mazda6 MPS models (named MAZDASPEED3 and MAZDASPEED6 respectively in North America).

Since the two Mazda models are powered by the same 2.3-liter turbocharged four-pot, BBR's engine kits apply to both vehicles.

Read more »

Refreshed 2012 Mitsubishi Shogun Hits UK Shores

The 2012 model year brings a subtle makeover for the Mitsubishi Shogun that is set to arrive in UK showrooms next week.

The revised Shogun, which is also known as the Pajero and Montero in other markets around the world, comes with an updated Euro V compliant turbo diesel engine and a choice of either three door short-wheel base or five door long-wheel base body styles.

Read more »

What a Feeling: Carscoop Reader Takes Lexus LFA for a Spin around Silverstone

Say what you want about the Lexus LFA and whether or not it is worth the hefty $375k sticker price; if you're a true-blue petrol head and you were given the opportunity to get behind the LFA's wheel for a lap around a professional circuit, you'd do it in a heartbeat no matter what you thought about the car.

And that opportunity came for Carscoop reader Jean-Luc Cartwright from Britain who was able to drive the V10-powered Lexus LFA at the Silverstone racetrack in England.

Read more »

Sold: One Brand-New Porsche 959 Sport with Just 207 Miles on the Odo

In 1986, it was the fastest street-legal car in the world with a top speed of 199 mph (320 km/h). Initially designed to compete in the Group B World Rally Championship, the road version was of the most technologically advanced car anyone had ever seen at the time. It remained in production for just three years, and only 337 units rolled out of Porsche's factory.

It is of course the 450HP 959, Porsche's 911-based, high-tech all-wheel drive answer to the raw Ferrari F40 in the late 1980s, and it changed the way supercars were built from that point on.

Now, if you were lucky one to own one of automotive history’s most vaunted icons, what would you do?

Read more »

Students get a Rare Tour of the McLaren Factory as Part of UK Government Initiative

A group of local students and teachers received the opportunity to visit the state-of-the-art McLaren Technology Center at Woking and take a glimpse at its MP4-12C manufacturing operations.

The McLaren Automotive factory tour is a part of the British government's “See Inside Manufacturing” campaign and was organized in cooperation with the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.

Read more »

Current Land Rover Defender to Soldier On Beyond 2017 in LWB Form

Land Rover has already announced plans to replace the Defender with a brand-new model in four years from now. It has even displayed not one, but two such concepts named DC100 at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show, previewing the 4x4 model’s successor in three-door form.

This, however, does not mean that the current Defender, which traces its roots back original Land Rover Series launched in 1948, will be discontinued.

Read more »

VW Releases Pricing and Opens Order Book for New Beetle in the UK

The brand-new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle will arrive in British showrooms next spring with a starting price of £16,490 OTR. However, the German firm is accepting orders from today.

In the UK, the new Beetle will launch with two available petrol engines, a 1.2-litre TSI unit with 105-horses linked to a seven-speed DSG transmission and a 1.4-litre TSI delivering 160HP with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Read more »

Lexus Brings CT 200h F-Sport to Britain

In a move to target customers looking for a bit more character in their cars, Lexus is expanding its UK lineup with the introduction of the CT 200h F-Sport, which is available to order now with first deliveries in January. On-the-road prices start from £27,850.

The new F-Sport grade brings a raft of unique exterior and interior styling goods, additional equipment features and perhaps more importantly, sharper handling thanks to a modified suspension.

Read more »

Video: One Very Caring Motorcyclist

Here's some proof that you don't have to be an inconsiderate driver (you can replace the description with something more R-rated if you'd like…) to make headlines.

A UK motorcyclist's simple gesture of stopping between a Ford Ka and a Toyota Avensis estate to open the latter's closed passenger-side mirror while giving a thumbs up to the driver after his deed, has garnered more than 60,000 views on Youtube in less than 24 hours after it was uploaded.

You can watch it for yourself right after the break.

Read more »

Rumors: McLaren Planning to Launch Iconic F1 Successor as Early as 2012

Since the launch of the MP4-12C, McLaren has made it pretty much clear that it plans to establish itself as a serious sports carmaker and gain a full range of models that will cover the entire supercar spectrum.

Now it seems that the British car manufacturer is moving up its schedule, as according to a report from British magazine Autocar, it will launch a successor to the iconic F1 of the 1990s in 2012 – that’s one year earlier than expected. Perhaps the reason is to coincide with the original F1's 20-year anniversary.

Read more »

Rare RHD 1972 Lamborghini Miura SV Hits the Auction Block

Enzo Ferrari might have not known it at the time, but when he famously dismissed Feruccio Lamborghini as a “tractor manufacturer”, he planted the seed for the creation of not just a single beautiful vehicle, but a whole class of supercars.

The Lamborghini Miura was launched in 1966 and stunned everyone not only with its design, but also with its specifications. It featured independent suspension and disc brakes all around and more importantly, it was propelled by a mid-engined V12 that enabled the Miura to reach a top speed of 180 mph (290 km/h).

Read more »

Imperium Automotive Presents New Bentley Continental GT Audentia

Headquartered in the historic city of Edinburgh in Scotland, Imperium Automotive is a high-end design house that focuses on the Bentley and Bugatti brands.

Their latest offering is a new limited-edition styling package for the recently updated Bentley Continental GT Coupe named ‘Audentia’, which is said to be a direct Latin translation for ‘boldness and courage’.

Read more »

Vauxhall Introduces New Fiat-based Combo Van in Britain

Pricing for the Opel Combo's British twin that will be sold under the Vauxhall brand will start from £14,703.33 on the road (excluding VAT) for the L1H1 2000 1.3CDTI 16v (90PS) model when the new panel van goes on sale in February of 2012.

Read more »

Artsy Film on MRC Tuning's 700HP, 204MPH Audi S4 B5

When it comes to presenting their vehicles, most tuning houses are content with a comprehensive set of high quality photos, but not Banbury-based MRC Tuning that has prepared a very cool two-part video showing off its Audi S4 B5 Type.

The UK tuner's highly modified Audi saloon boasts a wide body kit and numerous performance upgrades including a 3.0-liter V6 that pushes out a mouth-watering 700-ponies for a top speed of 204.4mph (329km/h).

Read more »

Car Nut Heaven: London’s US$7,875 a Night Jaguar Suite

If James Bond ever needed a permanent residence in London, chances are it would look a lot like 51 Buckingham Gate Taj Suites and Residences’ Jaguar Suite.

Costing £5,100 (US$7,875) a night and decked out in oak veneer, leather, damask and stainless steel, general manager Prabhat Verma describes the suite as a, “24-hour Jaguar immersion experience”.

There are also historical photos, framed hood ornaments and 1:100 scale model cars scattered throughout.

Read more »

Woman Designs a Unique Necklace Piece out of…Ford Focus Parts

Chevrolet isn't the only company to have its centennial this year; so is Ford, or to be more precise, the Blue Oval is celebrating 100 years of Ford in Britain as the company itself was founded in 1903.

As part of the company’s Centenary Tour, which is a month-long event, Ford of Britain commissioned Cornish designer, Katherine Hawkins, to craft a unique piece of jewelry made out of select Ford Focus parts.

Read more »

Proton Refutes Reports that it will sell Lotus to Genii Capital

Proton, the Malaysian owner of Lotus, released a statement where it dismisses reports that appeared in several media outlets and which said that it is planning to sell a stake of the British sports car manufacturer.

Here’s what the company stated: "The alleged moves between Group Lotus and Genii Capital are untrue and the reports are highly speculative in nature. Proton’s relationship with Group Lotus is as good as it has ever been.”

Read more »

Hyundai Announces UK Pricing and Sales Date for Veloster

Already available in many countries around the world, the new Hyundai Veloster will reach British shores in February 2012 with a starting price of £17,995 on the road and an insurance group rating of 16E.

The 1+2 door Hyundai model will offer buyers a single engine choice and two main trim levels, base and Sport. The Veloster is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder GDI petrol engine that produces 140-horsepower. It can be combined with a six-speed manual gearbox or Hyundai’s first dual-clutch transmission.

Read more »