Bullet Defense

defense games

  Bullet Defense

Description Game:

This game is made based on the movie Let The Bullet Fly, which is really a hit in China. It is mainly a tower defense game. I believe you will enjoy it!
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How to play Game:

This game is played with mouse only.

Zombies In The Shadow III

scary games

 Zombies In The Shadow III

Description Game:

In this third episode of Zombies In The Shadow you have to help Jim rescuing his family and finding the general who seems to have get in trouble by the waves of attacking zombies.

How to play Game:

Clutch Burn

cars games

  Clutch Burn

Description Game:

A super addictive racing game. Loads of premium content. unique scenery, unlockable upgrades, autosaving system. smooth balanced gameplay. It’s just a real fun and well made game. – 4 stunning tracks which are unique, Gravel, Ice, Tarmac and inside a volcano! -Game saves all progress automatically (upgrades, trophies, money) – 4 iconic super cars. – Premium look and Feel – Challenging opponents with a balanced learning curve – Performance upgrades like Grand Turismo – Jumps/ Ramps – Nitros Boost

How to play Game:

Use the arrow keys and mouse to play

Free Slow

basketball game

 Free Slow

Description Game:

Score as many basket as you can.
(Visited 6 times, 1 visits today)

How to play Game:

Use Mouse to interact.

Fairy Ride

dirt bike games

  Fairy Ride

Description Game:

It’s almost Christmas and this fairy shows up! Driving along on his red motorcycle, he discovers the snowy landscapes. Make sure he doesn’t fall, because he can’t get injured on Christmas.

How to play Game:

Arrow keys to drive

Grid Racer

disney cars

 Grid Racer

Description Game:

Get out and race.
(Visited 6 times, 1 visits today)

How to play Game:

use the arrows to move

Happy Kids Bike

happy wheels game

 Happy Kids Bike

Description Game:

Ride your bike on the back wheel in this decent kind of bike game and don’t let the front wheel touch the ground.

How to play Game:

Use Spacebar to interact.

Not Correct School

Cool math for kids

  Not Correct School

Description Game:

Very a complex mathematical game. Necessary to correct the critical error. Try manage without the help . Try solve the math problem quickly and correctly.
(Visited 17 times, 1 visits today)

How to play Game:

This game is played with mouse only.

Foxhole #13: Sharpshooting

Game Info - Shoot down the enemy from your Foxhole, with multiple weapons available.
Game controls - Use Mouse to interact.

Operation Alien Rescue

Game Info - Help Buzz rescue the aliens.
Game controls - Left / Right Arrow Keys - Move.
Spacebar - Jump.

Async Racing

Game Info - Zoom past the finish line and get the gold! Trick out your car and go on a campaign of glory or challenge your friends with the unique 'Asynch' mode. Either way you're in for high octane fun.
Game controls - Use arrow keys to drive.
H to horn.

Street Ball Showdown

Game controls - Use Mouse to move around.
Left Click to Shoot

Fairy 16

Game Info - What's not to love about fairies? They have the magic power that we dream for, the looks we envy and the wings that are not only accessories. So bring on the magic power and give this fairy the look she deserves.
Game controls - Use mouse to interact.

SteppenWolf (Chapter 4 - Episode 3)

Game Info - SteppenWolf and Olaff are entering the submarine. Meg shut the airlock when the terrorist attacks! She must defeat the maze of Dagger League men before they can sabotage the submarine with SteppenWolf and Olaff aboard!
Game controls - Arrow keys to walk Shift to run Ctrl to short jump Space for action keys T to toggle the selected items I to open inventory

Cute Little Dresses

Game Info - This little cute girl has a lot of Asian-inspired outfits that looks cool when worn. Dress her up and enjoy!
Game controls - Mouse - To interact.

Image Disorder Hilary Duff

Game Info - Arrange the tiles to complete Hilary Duff's image.
Game controls - Use mouse to interact.

Cupcake Frenzy

Game Info - Create cupcakes for the customers.
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Stunt Mania 3

Game Info - Stunt Mania 3 is finally here! 10 levels of awesome stunts! Can you get a gold medal on all of them?
Game controls - Use arrow keys to drive.
1-7 to perform stunts.

Ferrari Dress Up 4

Game Info - What kind of outfit would match this Italian super car?
 Game controls - Use Mouse to interact.

Pokemon - Bond The Buddies

Game Info - Draw a line connecting two or more of the same characters. You can draw over empty spaces, until you connect the same characters.
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

My Daily Tarot

Game Info - Have to make a tough decision? Wondering about the future? Get a new reading every day!
Game controls - Click on the type of reading you want.
Then type in your question.
Shuffle the cards, then wait while the cards are cut.
When the cards are spread out, click a card for each spot. Then read them one by one.
There are many different types of readings??ne for every kind of situation!
You can get a "daily reading" every day. Each time you get a daily reading, you collect 1 of 78 tarot cards for your album. Collect all 78!

Find the Objects Store Room

Game Info - Find Unique items inside the store room.
Game controls - Use mouse to interact.

Mercenaries 2: World Nearly in Flames

Game Info - Use whatever means necessary. Payback Mercenaries style! Game features Gun Yielding, Tank Driving, Copter Aiming, Sniping Shooting and TONS of big explosions.
Game controls - Basic Control:
Arrow up/W- Aim up.
Arrow down/S- Aim down.
Arrow left/A- Walk left.
Arrow right/D- Walk right.
Z/L key- Jump.
X/K key- Shoot.
C/J key- Grenade.
P- Pause menu/options.

Advanced Control:
WASD- For movement.
Mouse- To aim, left click to shoot.
Space bar- To throw grenades.

This Seasons Best Dress Up

Game Info - Lets dress up this girl with popular jacket trends.
Game controls - Use Mouse to interact.

Angel Garden Decor

Game Info - Drag items into the scene and make your own scene that you want. Multiple girls, creatures and items.
Game controls - Use Mouse to interact.

Ninjaman

Game Info - Take revenge on the Dark Ninja, but watch out for his minions of evil as you navigate hazardous traps!
Game controls - Arrow Keys - Move.
D - Attack.
S - Depend.
J / Spacebar - Jump.

Tricky Duck Volleyball

Game Info - Hit the volleyball onto your opponents side and keep it from hitting your side.
Game controls - Left / Right Arrow Keys - Move.
Spacebar - Serve / Hit Ball.
Z, X, C, V - Trick Moves.

Baby Blimp

Game Info - Where do babies come from? From the baby factory of course, and you're in charge!
Game controls - Use mouse to interact.

Fashion Room 2

Game Info - This punk and stylish girl cant seem to decide which dress to wear for the day. Help her dress up and enjoy!
Game controls - Mouse - To interact.

Champion Archer

Game Info - Help your army win the war with your talent in archery.
Game controls - Use mouse to determine direction and power.

Kings Island

Game Info - An awesome RPG! Hack, slash, and explore your way through King's Island. If you're familiar with action-rpg hack n'slash games , launch the game, and crush everything in your path. Just pay careful attention to the ?ature?of the attacks that you will carry out with your weapons
Game controls - Use mouse to interact.

Meal Masters 2

Game Info - This is the second part of Meal Masters. In this game you're making different meals using a wide array of ingredients and kitchen tools. You have 3 screens: The one where you cook and have tools, The one where you have ingredients and ovens and the one where you place the ready meal. Follow the instructions to make meals and become a chef.
Game controls - Use Mouse to interact.

Pure and Clear Beauty

Game Info - She has all the good looks. Now she needs a fashion makeover to further enhance her beauty. Enjoy!
Game controls - Mouse - To interact.

Petlink

Game Info - In this game you have to put animals of the same kind together on the table.
Game controls - Use mouse to interact.

Cooking Spaghetti

Game Info - Here is a new tasty recipe for you! Prepare the ingredients and vegetables to cook a delicious Spaghetti.
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Tetris Sprint

Game Info - Play some good old fashion tetris.
Game controls - Use arrow keys to play the game.

Battlefield Game

Game Info - Shoot all your enemies and don't let them destroy your wall.
Game controls - Mouse - Aim / Shoot.
Spacebar - Zoom.
Up / Down Arrow Keys - Switch weapon.

King of Fighters WING - NEW VERSION 3

Game Info - Fight against the computer as you setup your game, choose your character and try to win.
Game controls - Player 1:
J - Select
WASD - Move
U - Light Punch
I - Medium Punch
O - Hard Punch
J - Light Kick
K - Medium Kick
L - Hard Kick

Player 2:
Move - Arrow keys.
Attack: 123 456. (on Number Keypad)

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.

Intrusion

Game description:
An awesome sidescroller action game that feels a lot like Heli Attack. Shoot down enemies and more!
Game controls: W, A, S, D - Move.
Moue - Aim / Shoot.
1-4 - Change Weapon.

Layla

Game description:
Dress Layla, the bravest Winx, how you like.
Game controls: Use mouse to interact.

Perfect Color Blending

Game description:
Do you think that it's not easy to mix colors to match your clothes with boots, bags, jewelery? How to make your unique style with a perfect color blending? You can find the answer here!
Game controls: Use mouse to interact.

The Queen's Jewel

Game description:
Rotate a gem one space at a time clockwise or counter clockwise to line up 3 or more gems of the same color. You can also line up 3 or more gems by moving a column toward or away the center jewel. Matching rows of gems earns you points that power up the center jewel. When it is completely powered up, you advance to the next level!
Game controls: Use Mouse to interact.

Decorate Cake

Game description:
Use your creativity to create your own birthday cake!
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.

Ms. Pacman

Game description:
is a popular arcade game released by Midway in 1982. This sequel to Pac-Man differs from its predecessor on the fact that it has different screens and a female character. It was also one of the more successful of early arcade games as its sales record is still unmatched.
Game controls: Arrow keys- To move.

Stickman Madness 3 - Stronghold

Game description:
Keep the stickmen from reaching your base as you shoot them. Upgrade to new weapons and more.
Game controls: Use mouse to aim and shoot.

Tasty Witches Brew

Game description: Candy, veggies and all sorts of scary fun cute critters are climbing in and out of this Witches cute cauldron. Help her brew up a deliciously magical concoction for her Halloween party!  
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only.

Mickey Mouse in The Lost Treasure of Maroon

Game description: Help Mickey reach the lost Treasure of Maroon. Make sure he doesn't hurt himself! Game controls: This game is played with mouse only.

Shooter Girl

Game description: Match her shooting skills with sharp fashion style.  
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only.

Parking Space

Game description: You've found the perfect parking space...if only you could squeeze into it!
 Game controls: Use arrow keys to drive.

Fix-it-up: Kates Adventure

Game description: When Kate returns home from college she finds her father's garage is failing. She decides to help out by cleaning and repairing cars to sell them at a higher profit so the shop can make its rent. As Kate soon learns, however, she has a knack for this business, and after her father's garage is back on its feet, she takes off to half a dozen locations from backwoods farms to Hollywood, California.  
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only.

Treasure Seekers Canvases

Game description: Nelly has just arrived home from Guatemala to find a letter from her brother, Tom. He has invited her to join him at a castle in Romania to solve a mystery, just like when they were kids. When she arrives at the castle, however, Tom has disappeared! The story of the siblings takes a backseat once Nelly arrives and begins to struggle through a series of enchanted paintings, solving problems for the inhabitants as she goes along. Fans of Azada: Ancient Magic will recognize this familiar set-up, but Treasure Seekers 2 goes a step further with more tasks and mini-puzzles to solve in each painting.  
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only.

Color Up Unicorn

Game description: Put some color to this Majestic and mythical beast.
 Game controls: This game is played with mouse only.

Mahjong Cook

Game description: Original Mahjong game. Instead of the Chinese symbols the cards show cooking tools. Game controls: This game is played with mouse only.

Popcorn and Movie Date

Game description: Get dressed and ready to go out with your guy to see a fun movie and eat some popcorn. Dress to impress and enjoy the big screen.  
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only.

Tessa's Winter Boots

Game description: This is a part of the Tessa series. Tessa is going to town with her friend Eva, for some shopping. It's snowing, so they want to buy beautiful and warm boots to keep their feet warm. Can you help them find the most gorgeous boots? After a lot of shopping, Tessa and Eva would like to go to have a drink. I think they'd like to order a hot chocolate. Could you prepare this for them?
 Game controls: This game is played with mouse only.

Paint A Postcard

Game description: Do the best you can painting this post card. The tools are old-fashioned but the result is good, and that is what counts.
 Game controls: This game is played with mouse only.

Lovele: Career Casual

Game description: These are some casual dress to a career woman.
 Game controls: This game is played with mouse only.

Get the Look of Skinny Tights

Game description: You don't have to go with skin tight to get the look of the trend. tights vary from super-skinny to a kinder, straight-leg cut.
Game controls: Use Mouse to interact. 

Stairs Dressup

Game description: She's going to the cinema but has no idea what to put on. Can you help her?
Game controls: Use mouse to interact.

Short Jeans and Shirt

Game description: Design a perfect look for the girl in short jeans and shirt.
Game controls: Use mouse to interact. 

Doom, Hexen, Heretic Triple Pack

Game description: 3 super classic FPS games : Doom Hexen and HEretic all slapped together in one awesome shoot 'em up flash game. Sweetness!
Game controls: WASD keys to move. Left and right arrow keys to turn. Space bar to fire. R to use. Shift to run. '[' and ']' for inventory. Enter key to use inventory. Q to jump. 

Pizza Making

Game description: Make delicious Italian pizzas.
Game controls: Use mouse to interact. 

Sea of Fire 2

Game description: Build Barracks and Factories to build Troops and Tanks to demolish your enemy! We don't take prisoners in this Real Time Strategy!
Game controls: Use mouse to control the game. 

Cactus McCoy 2

Game description: Cactus McCoy returns for a brand-new epic adventure! After a struggle with rival treasure hunter Ella Windstorm, McCoy learns of the ruins of Calavera and the riches it holds in the distant lands to the south. When an ancient enemy appears and kidnaps Ella, McCoy sets out on an epic journey across the continent to find Ella and claim the treasure of Calavera. Once again, McCoy will have to run,
Game controls: Use the arrow keys to move, A to jump, S to attack. 

Toto's Missing Blankie

Game description: Help Toto find all the missing objects in his room and reveal his missing blankie!
Game controls: This game is played by mouse only. 

Super Mario Racing II

Game description: Mario is racing again with Toad,Lugi, princess,Bowser,etc. However, It is not easy for Mario to get to the first place, he will has to stop his opponents from passing him by taking all of them out of the race. Go and help Mario win the race.
Game controls: Use Arrow Keys and Space bar to Play 

Unlimited Rescue

Game description: Rescue the people from the water.
Game controls: Use arrow keys to move the boat  .

Ugi The Alien

Game description: Ugi is a lost alien who needs directions to get back in the Galactic Age, from where he traveled. Do your best trying to get Ugi through all the ages, from Ice Age, Medieval Age, Mechanic Age and Galactic Age. Each age has 20 levels and it requires your highest skills to unlock each stage. What you will need to do is to draw lines with the mouse, use as minimum paint as possible in order to get all three stars and then click play so Ugi could reach the secret gate that takes him to the next level. There will be little rockets that will give him a little boost, some bubbles that will help him to float. You can also undo the lines, try as many time as you need on one level. Be ambitious and clever, using as less paint as possible. Have fun!
 Game controls: Use your mouse to draw line so Ugi could slide on them.

Cars vs Guns

Game description: In a world invaded by cars, your job is to ensure that they can`t access your resources of gas. Use your heavy and powerful guns to destroy all the cars. Upgrade your guns as much as you can because is the only way you can survive. Try to last until the last car is destroyed.
Game controls: This game is played by mouse only. 

Cute Picture Matching

Game description: Getting rid of two blocks with the same color by linking them with less than 3 lines.
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only. 

Incoming

Game description: Defend your base at all costs! Save up money by mowing down enemy soldiers to buy bigger and better guns! Make sure you save up for the tank levels. By then, your pistol will be almost useless. Take advantage of other weapons while you reload your more powerful guns. Good luck, and happy shooting!
Game controls: Use your mouse to aim and left-click to shoot. Use the number keys to change weapons. 

Mario Heli Strike

Game description: Shoot incoming enemies as fast as you can.
Game controls: Use WASD to control Mario Heli, J to Fire, K to switch weapons. 

Renault Laguna (2007): first official pictures

New Renault Laguna: the lowdown

Renault's big-selling Laguna will be replaced in the autumn autumn with this distinctive new family car sgames. Okay, so it's not the most radical car Renault has ever produced, but it does usher in some interesting developments from La Régie, as it chases down the new Ford Mondeo and forthcoming Vauxhall Vectra. For starters, the Laguna is the latest car to be lighter than the model it replaces; despite being longer, wider and taller, it's an average 15kg skinnier across the range, which should boost performance, economy and emissions. The new Laguna spearheads a new push to make Renaults better known for quality and eco credentials. Press 'Next' to find out why.
What's under the skin?

Renault makes no bones about it - the Laguna is aimed squarely at the business market in many countries, so most buyers will avoid the two petrol engines (a 2.0 with 138bhp or turbocharged to turn out 168bhp) and plump straight for one of the diesels. Unusually for a big family car, the Laguna will offer a small 1.5 dCi with 109bhp, as well as a more typical 2.0 diesel. Pick the former for clean emissions - just 136g/km of CO2 is impessive for such a big car - or the latter for some motorway-munching torque. The 2.0-litre diesel is available in 128, 148 and 173bhp guises. Renault is making a lot of noise about the eco credentials of the new Laguna; the top diesel with particulate trap is Renault's first to meet forthcoming Euro5 emissions regulations, while every new Laguna will have a six-speed gearbox for quieter cruising. To answer critics who berate the Laguna for its so-so driving qualities, this one could even be a fun drive. The engineers have stiffened the damper rates by 20 percent at the front and 50 percent at the rear, and are claiming a much sportier response. But then they would say that, wouldn't they?

BMW X5 M Sport (2007): first official pictures

Wait! Let me guess - a fast X5?

You're very good. Yes, BMW’s X5 range has a new flagship model – the tough-looking 4.8i M Sport. The £53,440 SUV gets a not-so-subtle Motorsport upgrade including an M Sport body kit and steering wheel, lightweight 19-inch alloys, uprated suspension, grippier leather-wrapped sports seats, high-gloss roof rails and matt aluminium exterior trim. Bigger 20-inch alloys are a further option as is bamboo and poplar internal trim. The Sport model is a big seller in the UK – nine out of 10 buyers of the outgoing X5 opted for an M Sport model – but diesel fans, who account for 90 percent of X5 sales, will have to wait until October for the 3.0d M Sport model to arrive. Expect a £43,600 price tag. Read our first drive of the new BMW X5 here.
It looks the part...

And it goes some too. The M Sport is powered by BMW’s 4799cc V8. Fitted with Bi-Vanos and Valvetronic, the high-revving unit pushes out 355bhp at 6300rpm and a 350lb ft at 3500rpm – enough to rocket the 2245kg all-wheel-drive X5 to 60mph in 6.5 seconds and onto a 150mph top speed. The popularity of the M Sport line-up is central to BMW’s decision to create even more radical sports cross-overs like the recently announced SFC space functional concept to take on the Mercedes R-class and the upcoming Range Rover Sport rival, the X6 four-seater.

Caterham Seven X330 (2007): first official pictures

Caterham Seven X330: yet another track-day weapon?

More of a track-day god. This is the most powerful Seven ever, packing a supercharger and 330bhp in a car that weighs next to nothing. That makes for a mammoth 600bhp-per-tonne and places the X330 firmly in front of the Bugatti Veyron in the power-to-weight stakes. Don’t start dribbling just yet though, as the X330 is strictly a concept – for now. Caterham is toying with the idea of production but the car is currently a test bed for the firm’s development of bioethanol power.
So, what have the boffins at Caterham done to create such a massive power-to-weight figure?

The standard range topper from Caterham is the CSR Superlight which pumps out 260bhp from the 2.3-litre Ford Duratec engine and results in a blistering 0-60mph time of 3.1 seconds. Add to that a Rotrex supercharger and you’re looking at acceleration to make your eyes water. It’s too early to confirm figures but Caterham is estimating a 0-60 time of 3 seconds or less. Not content with bolting on a meaty supercharger, Caterham has also shaved a few more pounds off the X330 by using lighter gauge steel in the chassis, new lightweight wheels and oodles of carbon fibre for the bodywork. Track-day junkies should start praying for production.

Volkswagen Tiguan (2007): first official pictures

Volkswagen Tiguan: the lowdown

Here’s an unusual scoop – officially sanctioned photos of VW’s Tiguan hot-weather testing in Namibia. It’s still in pre-production form, but these shots reveal the finished look aside from the fake grille to fool ‘real’ spy photographers. The Tiguan has changed little since it was unveiled in concept form at the Los Angeles show last November and save for a bit of disguise around the lights VW isn’t leaving much to the imagination.
What exactly is the Tiguan?

Based on the Golf, the Tiguan is VW’s contender in the mid-range SUV market. It will take on the likes of the Freelander, X3 and Audi’s forthcoming Cross Coupe Concept. Volkswagen is boasting a vast array of electronic gadgetry on the Tiguan, which makes it the most advanced small SUV on the market. VW claims it will arrive in showrooms later in the year.

Caparo T1 (2007) in detail

What's the latest news?

The Caparo T1 is launched today, and it's the most extreme supercar ever built, claim its creators. Out of the way Le Mans racer or superbike – the British designed T1 is mightier than both. Thanks to its featherlight structure and 575bhp V8 engine, the Caparo can crack 60mph in less than 2.5sec, and demolish the 100mph barrier in under 5.0sec. It piles on speed at such a phenomenal pace thanks to a staggering power-to-weight ratio of 1045bhp per tonne. That's twice as powerful as the world's fastest production car, the 252mph Bugatti Veyron, which musters 'just' 506bhp per tonne. The T1 is the first series production car to break the 1000bhp per tonne ceiling, a feat beyond even the most vicious superbike, say the Caparo team. Two prototypes are lapping the Goodwood Motor Circuit right now, as the new British hero is showcased to the press. Naturally CAR Online is there, and first to bring you all the details.
Sounds amazing. Let's have the juice then...

The T1 supercar is a showcase for automotive consultancy Caparo Vehicle Technologies. This British-based multinational designs, manufactures and supplies components to the automotive industry. Its dream is to get more parts from lightweight metals or composites into mass production, to bring down the weight of family cars. Just don't expect the average family hatch to be as exotic – and therefore as expensive – as the T1. The limited edition supercar will cost £190,000 plus taxes. For that price, you get a car that weighs a featherlight 550kg. That's around one-third of the weight of a family saloon, and an impressive 250kg less than a Lotus Elise. The T1's principal designer is Ben Scott-Geddes, who cut his teeth at McLaren cars working on the Mercedes SLR. Like the McMerc, the T1 is made of advanced materials carbonfibre and aluminium. The monocoque is made from carbonfibre, like an F1 car which it closely resembles.

Daihatsu Materia (2007): first official pictures

Daihatsu Materia: the lowdown

At last, a Daihatsu with at least some street-cred! This is the new Materia mini-MPV, due to go on sale in July. It borrows the slammed-low, urban styling pioneered by cars such as the Nissan Cube and Honda Element, but this one will be imported officially into the UK. The choice of engines isn’t a choice at all – you get a 1.5-litre petrol with 102bhp and a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic gearbox. Standard equipment is generous and includes power steering, ABS, air-conditioning and six-speaker radio-CD. It’s refreshing in this day and age to find only one factory option available: metallic paint at £325.
That design seems familiar...

Elsewhere in the world, the Materia is sold as a Daihatsu and a Toyota Bb, so you might recognise it from foreign shores. But there are definite echoes of the Nissan Cube (sold only in Japan) and the Honda Element in the boxy design. Daihatsu isn't trying to hide it either, admitting that the squat stance, flared wheelarches and minimal overhangs look has achieved a ‘cult-following’ in Japan, with several manufacturers struggling to keep up with consumer demand. Who is Daihatsu targeting with the Materia? It reckons European customers will be in the market for a Renault Modus and Vauxhall Meriva, and the Materia is undeniably cooler looking than either. But only time will tell whether Europeans will stomach the toy-town looks and shun the more conservatively styled MPVs they’re used to.

Ferrari Mille Chili conceept (2007): first official pictures

The Mille Chili? So this is Ferrari’s green supercar…

Yes. Officially it has no name, but internally it’s called the Mille Chili (thousand kilos) and it’s arguably the most important concept car Ferrari has ever shown. Don’t be fooled by its shrunken-Enzo appearance. In revealing the car today at its Fiorano test track, Ferrari has lifted the lid on a series of radical new technologies – including a hybrid powertrain – which will cut weight, improve efficiency and help it make its case to lawmakers worldwide intent on imposing emissions limits which Ferrari can’t hope to meet. The concept shows how small and light an Enzo could be if it used all the technologies Ferrari is currently working on; the Mille Chili is around 300kg lighter and nearly a metre shorter. But it will never be made; it is purely a technology showcase. Ferrari claims that almost all the advances have their roots in Formula One, and all are being readied for introduction on different future Ferraris. Component by component, CAR Online exclusively reveals what makes the Mille Chili so important. Click 'Next' to read more.

Surely the Mille Chili isn't a real hybrid?

No. From 2009, F1 cars will be able to regenerate and re-use 60kW of power. The same system will be adapted for road cars from 2012. A battery and electric motor will briefly deliver a slug of torque to the rear wheels to cover the gap when shifting. By then, shift times could be as low as 30 milliseconds; even the current F430 takes 150ms. The result will be shifts as seamless as a twin-clutch, DSG gearbox, which Ferrari is also developing but remains sceptical about. Including an electric drive element would be a huge leap for Ferrari; engineers won’t speculate about developments beyond 2012, but this system could be the precursor to a performance-oriented full hybrid.

Renault Twingo (2007): first official pictures

A GTI for the cash-strapped, then?

Exactly. Renault’s new Twingo range arrives in showrooms in September, topped by the feisty GT with plenty of downsizer appeal. It only packs a 100bhp 1.2-litre engine beneath its stubby bonnet but Renault claims the £9999 turbocharged supermini delivers the performance of a much bigger-engined car games without any economy or emissions penalties. Perfect for budget buyers wanting a lot of flash for their cash.

So plenty of go and tiny fuel bills?

Relatively speaking, yes. The GT’s all-alloy blown unit develops 100bhp at 5500rpm and 107lb ft of torque at 3000rpm – enough to scoot the 980kg Twingo to 60mph in 9.8 seconds and onto a 117mph top speed, while still returning a combined economy figure of 47.8mpg and a 140g/km CO2 rating. That’s a power-parsimony ratio to put it slightly behind rivals like Fiat’s Panda 100 and the Citroen C2 VTS in outright speed but well ahead at the fuel pumps.

Mitsubishi Lancer (2007): first official pictures

Mitsubishi Lancer: the lowdown

With all the recent attention focused on Mitsubishi’s hot shot Evo X, its donor car, the Lancer, has been a bit neglected. Until now. A far cry from the unbreakable but unlovable stock Lancers that went before it, Mitsubishi’s new Jetta basher mixes sleek lines with four-square attitude and a healthy dollop of value for money. When the saloon arrives in March next year, the Lancer will join the family car sales fray, with a choice of three engines and a bewildering array of transmission options. Hit next for the all the details.
So, what’s new for the Lancer?

The Evo X may get all the bells and whistles, but the standard Lancer starts off with a 142bhp, 1.8-litre petrol unit aimed squarely at the fleet sector. There's also the option of a more frugal 2.0-litre diesel engine, which pumps out an equally healthy 138bhp. The five-door will arrive the following August, and with it, an entry-level 1.5-litre MIVEC petrol engine, which will not be available on the heavier four-door becasue of its paltry 109bhp. Mitsubishi has gone all out on the gearbox front. Buyers will have the option of a five-speed manual with the 1.5 and 1.8-litre petrol engines, a six-speed manual with the diesel and a CVT 'box with the 1.8. Mitsubishi's automated manual transmission will be reserved for the Evo only. That's a lot of choice just to change gear.

Volkswagen Tiguan unmasked

Volkswagen Tiguan. We’ve seen this before, haven’t we?

We have indeed. The Tiguan was first shown as a concept at the Los Angeles show in November, and it’s now primed and ready for production. CAR Online first spotted VW’s baby SUV, coated in black disguise, hot weather testing back in August. Volkswagen also released ‘official’ spy pictures of the car earlier this month, in an attempt to ward off usual spy snappers. The Tiguan will be revealed at the Frankfurt motor show in September and will arrive in UK showrooms next February, with prices kicking off around £19,000.
What sort of market is the Tiguan aimed at?

VW will take on the burgeoning small SUV market with the Tiguan, so it will be facing up the Freelander, BMW X3 and the Honda CR-V – pretty stiff competition. The Tiguan’s selling point, Volkswagen claims, is its vast array of technology. Despite being based on the Golf, VW reckons it will be a pretty sharp off-road tool, with its familiar 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system, chunkier wheels and tyres and beefed-up suspension complete with an aluminium sub-frame up front and a multi-link rear axle. And naturally, there will be plenty of driving aids such as hill-climb assist, EDS adaptation which electronically locks the diff at the sign of a slip and, for when all else fails, an compass. Power will initially be provided by either a 2.0-litre, 138bhp TDI unit, or a 1.4-litre, 148bhp TSI petrol engine. The diesel is likely to be the bigger seller, and will be joined by a more powerful 168bhp TDI engine later in the year, along with two more 2.0-litre petrol engines, developing 170bhp and 200bhp.

Mini E Racer (2010) takes on the Nurburgring

In these days of 7min laps, rounding the Nurburgring in 10min hardly classes as electric. Unless you’re in a Mini E. A battery-powered baby BMW driven by ex-DTM racer Thomas Jäger turned in a 9m52 lap, hitting a heady – but presumably near silent – 116mph on the way. That’s its top speed of course, not a lap average.

Far from standard, the green Mini E in question featured a lighter body, a roll cage and uprated brakes, tyres and suspension. No need to rip out the back seats – there aren’t any in the Mini E because the cabin is stuffed full of the 5088 lithium ion battery cells needed to power the 201bhp electric motor.
A silent race car: the new electric Mini E Racer

‘I’ve driven this circuit many times, but never in such an extraordinary car,’ Jäger said. ‘The power of the electric motor has an incredible effect, as you can access its full reserves of torque at all times. Another element of this fascinating experience is the lack of noise from the drivetrain. All in all, that was certainly the cleanest and quietest race lap I’ve ever driven.’

It’s all just a publicity stunt designed to prove that electric cars can be about more than just urban transport. But since the Mini E can only do around 100 miles in normal driving conditions it’s unlikely to be competing in the Nurburgring 24-hour race any time soon.

Audi A8 W12 LWB (2010): the first official photos

Audi today announced the new long-wheelbase A8 L. Due to be unveiled at the 2010 Beijing motor show, the stretched Audi A8 will be popular with the chauffeur crowd and the extra 130mm in the wheelbase liberates oodles of space for back-seat loungers, judging by these first official photos.

The new A8 L now tops 5267mm in length and Audi points out that makes it longer and wider than any of its LWB rivals.

The new W12 spec Audi A8

It's excess all areas with the new A8 L – Audi's previewed it with the group's W12 petrol engine. It's now 6.3 litres in capacity, fitted with FSI direct injection and develops 493bhp and 461lb ft. Enough for 155mph and 0-62mph in 4.9sec.

The previous 6.0-litre W12 was behind in every area: 443bhp and 12% thirstier (the new A8 L W12 averages 21mpg). Why does VW persist with this idiosyncratic layout? It says the W12 is more compact than a similar capacity V8, thanks to the four rows of three cylinders with a 15deg bank.

How can I spot the W12 when it muscles past me with its scowling LED face?

The W12 is distinguished by a black-gloss finish to the single-frame, goatee-beard grille, chromed door mirrors and air inlets and new bespoke exhaust trims.

Other A8 toys are present and correct: optional LED headlamps are the world's first all-diode front lights and A8 L can now order rear seats that move in every which way and a full-length console which houses a fold-out table and even a fridge.

And check out the massaging services on offer – 10 air pockets inflate and pummel away the aches and strains of hiring and firing for busy executives, and even the footrest is electrically operated.

Citröen Metropolis concept car (2010) first pictures

Citröen is using this week’s 2010 Shanghai motor show to give a sneak view of how a new Citröen limo could look. The press statement says the Metropolis concept ‘pays homage to China’s extraordinary development’ but just how this Citröen forces millions of people to live in poverty with no access to an uncensored media isn’t yet clear.

A massive 5.3m long (longer than a stretched 7-series) but only 1.4m high, the four-door coupe’s styling has echoes of Citröen’s incredible GT super cars games concept of 2008 and was developed by Citröen’s Shanghai-based design team. China’s car market is phenomenally lucrative and rich Chinese are hungry for luxury saloons so the Metropolis is likely to resurface as a Chinese-market limo rather than point to the next C6.

A Citröen hybrid limo

To ensure occupants get a level of ride quality worthy of a limo it’s fitted with Hydractive suspension; to keep their conscience clean it’s fitted with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain.

At low speeds it operates in fully electric mode and has up to 95bhp at its disposal. But out of town a 272bhp 2.0-litre V6 chimes in. Combine the two and you’ve got 460bhp and 317lb ft of overtaking muscle available yet the Metropolis emits just 70g/km of CO2. Details are vague, but it sounds like the petrol engine powers the front wheels while the rears are turned by the electric motor.

According to Citröen it’s just a concept at this stage, but expect some of the design cues plus the hybrid technology to make it onto future Citröens.

Seat Alhambra (2010): Spain's new full size MPV

Seat has whisked the covers off its rebodied VW Sharan: the new 2010-spec Seat Alhambra. Like its creaking predecessor, it's a seven-seater MPV based on Volkswagen group underpinnings and is bound for a life of family functionality and taxi airport runs.

Sliding doors figure this time round to give the Sharan a dose of car park practicality. A single wheelbase will be offered – at 4850mm it's long enough for seven seats (should you choose the maximum option) but still offer a slug of luggage space out back. That's 22cm longer than the previous Seat Alhambra.

So it's practicality galore in the new Alhambra?

It seems so. The sliding doors can be specced with electric operation; the five rear seats fold flat into the floor at the tug of a lever; and you can select your boot size from 885 litres in five-seater trim to an echoing 2297 litres with both rows of rear seats stowed. You can even order built-in child seats.

Looks a bit like a Sharan with a blindfold!

The Alhambra is naturally mostly Sharan, with just a few lighting, grille and badging accessories to distinguish the Spanish MPV from its German brethren. It's hardly been a problem on previous badge-engineered cars and while the new 2010 Alhambra is unlikely to set pulses racing around these parts, it's certainly a neat enough design.

A slew of different engines is available this time round. A 148bhp TSI petrol engine serves petrol lovers while derv fans can pick a TDI engine in 138bhp or 168bhp outputs. All feature stop-start.

The most economical 2.0 TDI averages 51mpg and emits 143g/km of CO2 – not bad for such a big car.

Seat Alhambra: the 2010 options fetish

It's a new-era VW Group product, so naturally toys galore are available: DSG twin-clutch transmissions, panoramic glass sunroofs, gizmos to park the car itself and three-zone climate control.

The new Alhambra will be built in Portugal and goes on UK sale in autumn 2010.

Mercedes Shooting Break concept (2010)

Mercedes is this week – volcanic ash cloud notwithstanding – due to unveil this new Shooting Break concept car at the 2010 Beijing auto show. It's a barely disguised show version of a sporting CLS estate. Think a Mercedes wagon for picky types who find the E-class Estate a tad too sensible.

Stuttgart is being unusually candid about this car's provenance, sprinkling the press kit with hints that this will join the next CLS family as a sporty, crossover coupé-estate. There's even an internal codename – X218 – hinting at its production intent. It seems to us that this Shooting Break concept is an altogether far more attractive offering than the 5-series Gran Turismo which fills a similar nano-niche in rival BMW's range.

Mercedes-Benz Shooting Break concept car (2010): the lowdown

The CLS 'coupaloon' was conceived as Merc's 'Jag fighter' and has been a success story since launch in 2004. Now it's time to replace the CLS and this is our first look at the new styling direction planned for the 2011 CLS family – albeit in 20in-shod exaggerated show car form.

If this shooting break looks familiar, that's because it follows in the footsteps of the 2008 Paris show car, the Fascination concept. Look out in particular at the body surfacing and the new-look nose – the floating grille appears separate from the bonnet, and those headlamps are entirely LED (all 71 of them).

'The Shooting Break concept car is based on the great tradition of a stylish, cultivated sportiness which has always characterised the great Mercedes coupés, and it takes this unique legacy an exciting step further,' gushed Professor Gorden Wagener, chief designer at Mercedes-Benz. 'At the same time it points the way towards the future design idiom of Mercedes-Benz.'

Any technical innovations on the new Merc Shooting Break?

For sure. This is the world's first car with LED front headlamps that are fully active, swivelling around corners and dipping the range in a bespoke fashion depending on your speed and road type. It's also the first time we've seen Merc's latest 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine: a 60deg V6 with direct-injection, 302bhp and 273lb ft, and a new lean-burn mode said to reduce emissions and rate of fuel guzzle.

Inside the CLS crossover has a full-length console to emphasise that this is a four-seater only. Being a concept car, the boot is lined with dark-stained oak – so you might be plucking splinters out of Fido's feet.

VW Phaeton – the 2010 facelift is unveiled at Beijing

Pay attention at the back. This is the new, facelifted VW Phaeton, unveiled today at the 2010 Beijing motor show.
You’re pulling our leg! This can’t be a new Phaeton…

It most certainly is. The design refresh may be subtle, but there are a few small cosmetic changes to accompany a flurry of minor technical upgrades.

You’ll (just about) spot the new 2010 Volkswagen Phaeton by its bi-xenon headlamps and LED running lights wrapped around a minutely resculpted grille with two horizontal bars. Whether that lends the car ‘a more imposing stance’ as VW claims or not remains to be seen.

The front wings and bonnet are reprofiled too and the bumper now gets chrome strips and LED foglights, while the alloys are new and rear bumper gently reshaped. Oh yes.
What’s new inside the ‘new’ Phaeton?

We’re deep into minor facelift territory here, in case you hadn’t guessed. The steering wheel is new, Google maps are now plumbed into the sat-nav and – this is how you can tell how little has changed on the Phaeton – there is apparently 3.2 kilometres of cabling to connect all the car’s electro gizmos. Blimey.

The revised 2010 VW Phaeton goes on UK sale in August 2010 in two guises: a 237bhp 3.0 TDI V6 or the 444bhp 6.0-litre W12 petrol. Choose between standard and LWB, the latter with a stretch of 120mm in the wheelbase.

Volvo C30 Performance Concept Prototype (2010) first pictures

No, we hadn't heard of the Gothenburg motor show, either. But appropriately enough, given the Volvo sale to China's Geely, it overlaps perfectly with the 2010 Beijing auto show – and was the launchpad of the homegrown Volvo C30 Performance Car Prototype.

This Volvo concept car was produced by Polestar Performance, the people behind the company's Swedish Touring Car team. The C30 PCP produces a claimed 400bhp from its blown 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine. That's achieved with a larger intercooler, KKK turbo, new pistons and conrods.

A 400 horsepower C30? Fighting talk!

Indeed. Keeping all that 376lb ft twist in check is a four-wheel drive system, using Volvo's proven Haldex system. There's a Quaife mechanical diff too to prevente the front driveshafts from scrabbling into oblivion.

The chassis is tuned accordingly. Ohlins shocks are fitted, a quicker steering rack and Brembo discs with six-pot callipers up front, four-pots at the back. It's a touring car for the road, really, sitting four-square on its 19in rims and Pirelli race rubber.

The race car image is enhanced by four-point harnesses, race buckets and an aero makeover inspired by the Volvo STCC race car. Sarah-Jayne Harrison, keeper of CAR's long-term test C30 1.6 DRIVe – eat your heart out!

Chevrolet Volt MPV5 (2010) – it's the real Orlando

This is the new Chevrolet Volt MPV5 concept car – shown off at the 2010 Beijing auto show this week. It's also a thinly veiled look at next year's crossover MPV to move Chevy into more family focused territories.

But the Volt MPV5 looks just like the Orlando concept car!

Good spot. The Orlando show car was shown at the Paris 2008 expo and this is, bar a few show-off details, the production iteration. The Volt MPV5, as its name suggests, is the first brand extension of the Volt plug-in hybrid that's bound for showrooms in 2011. This one's taller, bigger and more practical; Chevy calls it a crossover, but it's closer in spirit to a five-seat MPV than a mud-plugger.

The Volt MPV5 concept uses the same Voltec hardware as the Volt family car: there's a range-extending hybrid system, whose petrol engine is only ever used to charge the 16kWh lithium-ion battery to drive the electric motors. A zero-emissions EV range of 30 miles is claimed (double the daily average urban commute in China) and when the batteries are nearly flat a 1.4-litre petrol engine kicks in to charge up and provide a further 300-mile electric range.

The production Orlando car will use GM's global Delta 2 architecture, as seen in the Cruze and Astra, and a seven-seat option is expected to feature as on the original concept car. See the real thing at the September 2010 Paris motor show, with UK sales in March 2011.

So the Chevy MPV5 isn't just pie in the sky?

Nope. The designers based at GM's studios in the US and Australia say this is close to production. Strip away those 19in wheels, and the rest of the car is stock. There's a 2760mm wheelbase (up 15mm over the donor Volt) and it's 181mm longer, 73mm wider and 182mm taller too to liberate more cabin space.

Although only a five-seater in this MPV5 iteration, the second row of pews tumble flat to make a 1764 litre boot. With all the seats in place, the boot stands at an impressive 864 litres. Expect the choice of five- or seven-seater specs in production guise.

'The Volt MPV5 concept demonstrates the flexibility of the Voltec propulsion system, which can produce enough electric power to propel a range of vehicles, from a compact sedan like the Volt to a crossover like the Volt MPV5 concept,' said Doug Parks, Global Vehicle Line Executive and Global Vehicle Chief Engineer for Electric Vehicles at GM.

That's one helluva job title. Almost as big as the mountain GM has to climb to persuade punters to pay the premium for a plug-in range extender...

BMW Concept Gran Coupé concept (2010) first news

BMW today showed off the Concept Gran Coupé show car games at the 2010 Beijing auto show. It's a near-production version of 2007's Concept CS show car and a good nudge at a new type of BMW due in the next couple of years. Yes, a four-door 6-series is coming.

Hmm. Looks like a Mercedes CLS by BMW!

Exactly. The 2010 Concept Gran Coupé previews the four-door BMW 6-series coming in 2012. BMW plans to launch a rival to the successful Merc CLS and the forthcoming Audi A7 – in a bid to swell 6-series sales from their current total of 38,000 in coupé and convertible guise.

The Gran Coupé is being shown in Beijing alongside a production long-wheelbase 5-series for the stretchalot Chinese market. But don't assume that's the bread and butter car and the concept all pie-in-the-sky dreaming. The blurb from Munich even admits 'the aspiration of the BMW brand to build four-door high-performance coupés with the sportiest proportions and the most elegant design.'

Yes, the four-door 6-series will look almost exactly like the Gran Coupé show car.

It does look very production realistic...

Indeed it does. Stretching to nearly 5m long, the Gran Coupé is a low-slung 1400mm tall and, like the CS show car, mixes coupé swoops with saloon volumes. For reference, that's 10cm lower than a 5- or 7-series sedan.

Of special note is the new front end, with the latest iteration of the BMW kidney grille in shark nose format. Those four doors are frameless too.

BMW 6-series saloon: the tech story

Instead of a top-end aluminium-skinned sports saloon, the CS concept has transformed into a conventional steel bodied 6-series family member. That means resolutely conventional powertrains, with a mix of petrol and diesel engines from the 5/6/7-series clan, eight-speed transmissions and – potentially – hybrid versions.

The 6-series saloon will stretch from a 625i (2.0-litre twin-turbo four) all the way up to a scorching M6 (575bhp twin-turbo V8). It's all change in Munich's product plan.

Jaguar XF – the 2010 police version for Plod

This is the first police-spec Jaguar XF – bound to an orderly life of patrolling the motorways around the Midlands area encircling Jaguar's HQ. The local constabulary has bought seven 271bhp 3.0-litre Diesel S models in police trim.

What's changed to make the XF a police car?

Not much out of the ordinary. It's much easier to spot than a demarked police car, with its roof bar, LED flashers in the grille and refletive decals galore.

It's ironic that Jags used to be the getaway vehicle of choice in the 50s, 60s and 70s in films of a certain bent; now Jaguar has gone good and supplying Plod himself.

BMW 3-series (2012): our comprehensive guide to F30

BMW has sold 12 million 3-series models since 1975; it’s an important car, one that accounts for a third of global BMW sales. The sixth-generation, codenamed F30, has a lot to live up to, then. Here are the key changes:
Chassis

The F30 is still, of course, rear-wheel drive, has 50:50 weight distribution, and sticks with the MacPherson strut front/multi-link rear suspension layout of its predecessors rather than following the double-wishbone front suspension employed by the new F10 5-series. The suspension is, however, much tweaked, and the chassis itself is all-new.

Four-wheel drive will be offered on right-hand drive cars for the first time (you could get a four-wheel drive E30 3-series back in the 1980s!), and, while the previous-generation M3 was the only 3-series to get a limited-slip differential, the new lesser Threes get an LSD-mimicking electronic diff – accelerate out of a hairpin and it will subtly brake the unloaded inside wheel to stop it spinning away power.
Ring the changes

We’ve already mentioned the optional four-wheel drive, but there’s more new stuff too: an eight-speed auto will be offered across the range; there’ll be a high-performance 335i hybrid; stop-start is standard; and there’s a Drive Performance Control to offer a choice of four driving modes, from Eco Pro to Sport+.

But perhaps the biggest shift is reserved for the 328i. Cast your mind back to the E36-generation of the 1990s and you might remember a 320i – most people would have guessed it was a four-cylinder, when in fact it was a silky smooth six. The new 328i pulls the opposite trick: that badging has previously been appended to six-cylinder BMWs, but now it’s a downsized turbocharged four. It makes 242bhp and 258lb ft, while delivering 44.1mpg and emitting 149g/km.

And while the last-generation 3-series mixed naturally aspirated and turbocharged petrols and diesels in its line-up, the F30 is the first ever 3-series to have nothing but turbo power. Yes, even the upcoming M3.
Dimensions

The all-new chassis incorporates a 50mm stretch in wheelbase to liberate more legroom. There’s also 8mm more headroom, plus 20 extra litres of stowage space in the boot. Overall length/width/height dimensions swell from the outgoing E90-generation’s 4531/1817/1421 to 4624/1811/1441mm. Despite this, a focus on weight-saving technology has shaved 50kg from the kerbweight.
Standard equipment

As before, the 316d sits at the bottom of the 3-series ladder. Its price rises by £320 to £24,880, yet there’s much more standard kit than before: 17-inch alloys, automatic air-con, Bluetooth phone connectivity, BMW Professional radio with 6.5in colour screen and iDrive, keyless starting, a USB port, multi-function leather steering wheel, cruise control and automatic boot opening.
The 320d

Ah yes, the fleet favourite. In fact, if you want a diesel from the February 2012 launch date, only two are on offer, and both are badged 320d: the regular model and an eco-optimised EfficientDynamics variant. The regular model gets 181bhp, 280lb ft, 62.8mpg and 120g/km, while the 320d ED reduces power to 161bhp (torque remains the same), which partly helps to explain the improved 68.9mpg and 109g/km. Both 320d variants cost £28,080 – just £180 more than before – and you can expect the Efficient Dynamics to go down a storm on the company fleets – not only does it cost £20 to tax and brings low Benefit-In-Kind company car tax, but those firms that purchase a 320d ED outright will be able to write off 100 percent of its cost against tax.

The 316d and 318d will join the line-up next, while six-cylinder diesels will follow.

>> Click 'Next' for the trim level details for the BMW 3-series

Inside MP4-12C's new McLaren Production Centre

McLaren today opened the doors to its new McLaren Production Centre which will build the MP4-12C and all future supercars from Ron Dennis's fledgling sports car brand.

British prime minister David Cameron attended the event, hailing the economic benefits of manufacturing. He said the UK car industry was helping reshape the national economy from a service-based one enriching the minority to one which actually made things again - to the benefit of a wider slice of society. 'Even the French are sitting up and taking notice,' he joked.
What's the new McLaren Production Centre like?

As pristine as you'd expect from Ron Dennis's detail-obsessed enterprise. It's a new facility next door to the F1 team's McLaren Technology Centre. Walk along a 92m tunnel and you're plopped into a space-age laboratory, where rich confections of carbonfibre and aluminium are married over several days to create the 12C.

It's a 20,000sq m factory unlike any other car plant I've seen. The floor's so clean, you could eat your lunch off it. And you get the impression the muted silence isn't just for the VIPs - studied hard work is order of the day at Woking.

'We don't drop parts or have leaks - it's not like other car factories,' Antony Sheriff, managing director of McLaren Automotive, told CAR.

This a final assembly affair, with no components manufactured in Woking. The 12C's parts come from France (some body panels), Italy (the roof) and of course the UK (that turbocharged V8, made by Ricardo). It's like a meticulous, highly skilled giant Airfix model centre, only with six-figure prices.
How many cars do they build in Woking?

They're currently at six and a half 12Cs a day, but that's steadily ramping up. By the middle of the decade, the plan is to build 4000 cars a year here, once convertibles, top-end supercars and a cheaper sports car have been launched.

Today's event was all about spreading the message of McLaren's reach. We heard how McLaren Applied Technology had helped British Olympic cyclist Mark Cavendish save weight on his Specialized road bike. About how McLaren's electronics wing will from 2012 supply all the control systems for every F1, Indycar and Nascar team. Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button were rolled out to talk about the F1 season ('not our best,' admitted team chief Martin Whitmarsh) and they're all hoping 2012 will be more successful on track.
The McLaren way

Coming second in the championship is clearly not good enough for McLaren. Only 6% - six per cent! - of next year's F1 car is carried over from this year, and it's that sort of attention to detail which makes us think the 12C is just the beginning for McLaren Automotive.

They're clearly smarting from the launch tests of the 12C and most magazines' verdicts placing it a whisker behind its Ferrari nemesis. But with an appetite for perfection like McLaren's, I'd wager the next cars will raise the bar even further. 

Infiniti electric sports car concept (2012) teased

Infiniti has trailed a new range-extending electric sports car concept - a long way ahead of its planned debut at the 2012 Geneva motor show.

The company already plans an electric Infiniti to piggyback the EV learnings from parent firm Nissan, whose Leaf is the first mainstream electric car built from scratch. But this new sports car will pack a range-extender system, with a petrol or diesel engine to charge the battery when charge gets low.
What else do we know about the electric Infiniti sports car?

Not a huge amount. We hear it's a mid-engined two-seater, which suggests Infiniti is about to ramp up its product offerings. So far, the models have been quite US-centric, but if the company is to achieve its ambitious growth targets it'll have to deliver cars aimed at Europe and the rest of the world too.

Sounds to us like an edgy sports car games could be just the ticket to get people to take Infiniti seriously. And press home its connection with Red Bull Racing.

These first teaser photos reveal complex form language emphasising the 'curves' obsessed over in the latest advertising communications. And that lush molten metal paint job reminds us somewhat of the Infiniti Essence concept car from 2009.
The rear of the electric Infiniti concept car looks quite Essential too...

Indeed it does, with a similar gunwhale boating feel to the as-yet-unnamed car's hips.

From these rather limited first photographs, we can see it's a sports coupe, but can tell little else about it at this stage.

Andy Palmer, executive vice president at Nissan and Infiniti, said: 'At the Geneva show next year, we will present our vision for a totally new kind of inspired premium performance car.

'Infiniti already has hybrid and clean diesel models on sale. And with an all-electric sedan on the way, the natural next step was to push the boundaries where performance and the environment intersect.'

See Palmer talking about the new electric range-extender concept car in the video below.

Audi A1 Sportback (2012) first official pictures

Audi is expanding the A1 range with the long-anticipated five-door, the new A1 Sportback.

The five-door A1 arrives in showrooms in spring 2012. You won't mistake it -although it's the same length as the three-door A1, at 3950mm, it's 6mm taller and wider to pack in more space for heads and doors.

The wheelbase is the same, but those extra doors have a noticeable effect on the stance.

Audi's shrewdly chosen to issue first pictures of a car with the Sportback-only Samoa Orange colour scheme and optional roof graphic to differentiate it further from the three-door regular A1.
Audi A1 Sportback (2012): the lowdown

All UK-bound Sportbacks will come with five seats as standard, though you can spec a four-seat configuration for no charge. We can't really see the point, can you?

At first Brits will be offered a choice of four TFSI petrol and TDI diesel engines, with a spread of muscle stretching from 85bhp to 182bhp.
So how much more practical is the new A1 five-door?

It's a few millimetres here and there, if we're being honest. Anyone with kids will appreciate the extra pair of doors, but the 270-litre boot is identical to the three-door A1's.

UK prices for the new A1 Sportback kick off from £13,980.

Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet (2012) first pics

These are the first official shots of the Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet, which goes on sale in March 2012.

The convertible top still looks as if it was made of soft fabric, but it actually consists of three semi-rigid lightweight panels coated with a novel furry material, which conceals the cutlines.

A fabric top layer finishes things off, and is claimed to be very soundproof, while the rear glass screen is heated and scratchproof.
So the new Porsche 911 Cabriolet is a bit of a porker?

No, this doesn’t pile on the pounds: a focus on lightweight tech – such as the use of magnesium in the hood frame, together with other strategies deployed in the 911’s aluminum and steel bodyshell – means the new Carrera Cabriolet is lighter than the car it replaces, despite a 100mm increase in wheelbase.

Inspired by the Boxster, the folded stack does without a rigid tonneau cover on the 991. Naturally, everything is powered and the roof will flop up or down in less than 20 seconds at speeds of up to around 30mph because the folding process doesn’t obscure the rear lights or numberplate. Rival cabrios – particularly folding hard-tops – often require the car to be stationary before the roof will drop.
A sunroof... on a cabrio?

There’ll also be an optional sunroof section, a so-called top-glider, that our sources suggest will either be a large tinted glass or painted aluminium panel which comes to rest on top of the roof rather than between roof and headliner. A bit like on the Mini cabrio.

As per the 991 coupe, buyers can choose from either the standard seven-speed manual transmission (yes, seven), or the optional seven-speed dual-clutch PDK gearbox. No official word yet on the four-wheel drive models, but they’ll come on stream at a later date.

If you like your 911s open but not exposed, you'll have to wait for the planned successor to the 911 Targa. We hear it's due in late 2014, and will switch to the original's removable roof panels. There may even be a 911 Speedster this time round. Although unconfirmed, it would offer a chopped-screen version ideal for those in sunnier climes.