Super Sport Car: December 2010

Citroën DS3 1.6 THP Racing Euro

The engine is noticeably stronger

The Racing’s stiffer springs and wider track mean relatively little roll and good body control

The brakes are huge for this size of car and don’t lack performance

The ride at low speeds is firm

The DS3 R can struggle for traction – which is understandable with 203lbft of torque

The twin stainless steels exhausts help the Racing look the part

With 215/40R18 tyres there is plenty of grip

The 1.6-litre engine uses a turbocharger to boost power to 204bhp

The steering is much improved and is one of the better electrical set-ups around

Two colour schemes will be offered - black with orange, or white with grey

The dashboard is anything but subtle

New sports seats are one of the interior highlights

The carbonfbre trim used for the interior trim is real, hence the high price

Citroen Racing is behind the DS3 R; it's best known for its successful WRC cars

Citroën DS3 Racing
Price: £23,100; Engine: 4cyl in line, 1598cc, turbocharged; Power: 204bhp at 6000rpm; Torque: 203lbft at 2000-4500rpm; 0-62mph: 6.5sec; Top speed: 146mph; Combined: 44.1mpg; CO2: 149g/km; Kerb weight: 1240kg; Gearbox: 6-spd manual

Aston One-77: 60 of 77 sold

Aston Martin has sold 60 of its £1.2 million One-77 hypercars, out of the 77 units it will produce.

More than half of the buyers have also ordered one of the firm's Toyota iQ-based Cygnet city cars, usually in matching colours, to go with their One-77, insiders have revealed.

To help sell the remaining units, Aston is taking the car on a tour of Asia, visiting Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei and China.

See pics of the Aston Martin One-77 being built

The One-77 will be powered by the world's most powerful normally aspirated production engine, a 7.3-litre V12 producing 740bhp and 553lb ft.

It has already become the fastest production Aston ever, eclipsing the Vanquish by recording more than 220mph in testing; 0-60mph is expected to take around 3.5sec. Power is transferred to the road using a beefed-up paddle shift-only Graziano gearbox from the DBS.

Features include a carbonfibre monocoque chassis that helps to keep the One-77’s weight down to around 1500kg; active aerodynamics also feature. The One-77 rides on 20-inch forged alloy wheels wearing Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres.

'Free power' with Brabus Tesla

Tuning company Brabus has teamed up with German electricity company RWE to create a ‘Green’ package for the Tesla Roadster.

The package includes a quick charging station for the owner’s garage and more than 18,500 miles worth of electric power, courtesy of RWE: this means that the Tesla Roadster can be fully charged in around six hours for an operating range of up to 220 miles.

See the official pics of the Brabus-tuned Tesla Roadster

Exterior features include carbonfibre splitter, spoiler, LED daytime running lights and 18-inch front and 19-inch rear Monoblock S alloy wheels. On the inside, the interior can be specified in a combination of perforated leather and Alcantara and even with a leather covered floor.

As with Brabus’s previous Tesla examples, the Roadster features sound synthesiser, which can replicate the grunt of a V8 engine, a race car or two futuristic soundscapes, according to the company.

Mini Countryman for Dakar

Mini’s new Countryman rally car will enter the 2011 Dakar Rally.

Rally specialist X-Raid is developing the all-wheel-drive crossover with funding from energy drink firm Monster Energy. It will also run a Monster Energy livery in the event, which starts next month in Argentina.

See a rendering on the X-Raid Mini Countryman

X-Raid previously ran the successful BMW X3CC rally car and won three FIA World Cup cross-country racing titles with the car. The Mini All4 Racing’s Dakar appearance will be its competitive debut, ahead of a part-time programme in next year’s World Rally Championship.

The X-Raid Countryman will borrow the X3CC’s 311bhp, 523lb ft turbodiesel unit. X-Raid will be hoping to better last year’s fourth and fifth places acheived with the X3CC as the Countryman has larger air intakes, a shorter wheelbase and a much lower centre of gravity than that car.

Mégane racer hints at hotter RS

Renault has revealed this tarmac rally version of the Renaultsport Mégane, which hints at a harder version of the road car that’s tentatively pencilled in for a 2011 launch.

The Renault Mégane RS N4 is built to Group N specification. It is powered by the road car's turbocharged 2.0-litre engine but is given a power hike from 247bhp to 266bhp, while torque is given a considerable boost from 251lb ft to 347lb ft.

See the official pics of the Renault Mégane RS N4

Other N4 upgrades include the road car’s Cup suspension and racing seats and harnesses. Larger brake discs are also fitted and a limited-slip differential is standard. Weight is also down, but Renault hasn’t quoted an official figure.

The harder version of the road car was scooped testing at the Nürburgring in the summer. Features of the rally car – more power, larger brakes and a stripped-out interior – are all likely to feature on the road car, in the mould of the R26R.

Fiat tech for new Dodge Viper

Dodge will use Fiat technology to improve the performance and accessibility of the next generation of its Viper, due in 2012. But the American sports car looks set to retain its own platform rather than becoming too closely linked to Ferrari’s and Alfa Romeo’s product lines.

Fiat, Dodge’s new owner, gave approval to the new Viper in the autumn, and Fiat Group chief Sergio Marchionne revealed a preview of the car to Dodge dealers in September. But the new model was expected to make extensive use of the Fiat parts bin; some sources had even suggested that it could be based on the same platform as Alfa Romeo’s 8C Competizione.

See a sideways pic of the outgoing Dodge Viper

However, Dodge CEO Ralph Gilles has now revealed that the Viper will get a chassis set-up designed with assistance from Fiat but not derived from another product. The car “is not based on anything else”, he told the Detroit News.

“Where the cabin is, relative to the wheels, is unique,” said Gilles. “The Viper cabin is very rearward and the hood [bonnet] is very long. Few cars in the industry are designed with those proportions any more.

“We will use Fiat’s expertise to open the performance envelope in the Viper,” he added. “Fiat has an awesome ability to tune cars. I want the new Viper to be a more forgiving car to drive and accessible to more people. We’ve never had stability control on a high-performance car, which is about to happen on the new car.”

Read more on the new Dodge Viper

Gilles ruled out the idea of the Viper switching to Ferrari power but admitted that there won’t be a part of the car that’s not open to a radical overhaul.

It’s thought that two engines could be offered in the new Viper: an 8.4-litre V10, possibly making us of Fiat’s innovative MultiAir technology, and an entry-level V8.

Production of the current Viper stopped on 2 July, after 18 years. Chrysler has yet to commit to where its successor will be built, although it’s thought that the line will be kept in Detroit.

BMW 5 Series 535d M Sport

This is the return of the 535d to the range, absent since the launch of the F10

Although retaining two turbochargers, the 35d engine has been comprehensively re-engineered

535d M Sport with all the toys is an excellent executive all-rounder

Sprint to 60mph takes 5.7 seconds. Fuel economy figure of 46.3mpg is impressive for such performance

Inside, there's an M Sport steering wheel, sport seats, anthracite roof lining

Further interior touches include aluminium trim

Clad in leather and offering acceptable legroom, the rear is a pleasant place to be

BMW 535d M Sport

Price: £45,320; 0-62mph: 5.7sec; Top speed: 155mph (limited); Economy: 46.3mpg (combined); CO2: 162g/km; Kerb weight: 1790kg; Engine: 6 cyls in line, 2993cc, twin-turbodiesel; Power: 295bhp at 4400rpm; Torque: 442lb ft at 1750rpm; Gearbox: 8-spd automatic

Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG

This facelifted CL-coupé gets Merc's 5.5-litre direct injection ‘biturbo’ motor

Its character and sound is more akin to the old 5.5-litre supercharged motor AMG used before the 6.2

Still large and heavy but handles its bulk remarkably well, even in very tricky conditions

It's sprint to 60mph takes 4.5 seconds: not bad considering its 2145kg of weight

Engine uses a staggering 38 per cent less fuel than the one it replaces, but ups power to 536bhp

At £111,985, you’ve earned the right to a bespoke cabin

Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG
Price: £111,986; Top speed: 155mph or 186mph, depending on options; 0-62mph: 4.5sec; Economy: 26.9mpg; CO2: 244g/km; Kerb weight: 2145kg; Engine type: V8, 5461cc, direct injection, twin turbochargers; Power: 536bhp at 5500rpm; Torque: 589lb ft at 2000-45000rpm; Gearbox: seven speed automatic

Tesla reveals Roadster art car

Tesla has revealed this Roadster art car at Miami's annual Art Basel festival.

See the official pics of Tesla's art car

The company collaborated with digital artist, Laurence Gartel, who wrapped every body panel with this digital swirl design "to break ground in the automotive and art worlds".

The one-off Roadster, which was displayed and toured around Miami beach, accelerates from 0-60mph in just 3.7 seconds and has a range of over 200 miles.

Proton rebadges Lotus Europa

Proton has wheeled out a string of concepts - including a version of the Lotus Europa - at the Malaysian manufacturer’s local motor show in Kuala Lumpur.

The most sporting of the models is the Lekir, in effect a Lotus Europa with restyled bumpers, black trim ahead of the rear wheelarches and Proton badging. Sources in Malaysia suggest that the Lekir could become the long-term future of the Europa, which has not been a success for Lotus.

See pics of the Europa-based Proton Lekir

Such a model would feature a 1.6-litre turbocharged Proton powerplant, and make use of the Europa’s platform and suspension components, plus much of its bodywork.

More significant for Proton’s mainstream sales is the Tuah, a neatly styled four-door saloon which is said to preview the next-generation Persona. Its bold front end has LED daytime running lights, and its blistered wheelarches give it an unusually sporting stance.

Read the full story on the Mitsubishi Evo-based Jebat

Proton is also using its home show to reveal the Lekiu, a small SUV crossover that could well be destined for the Chinese market, and the Jebat, a crudely bodykitted take on the Mitsubishi Evo X that features swathes of matt-black plastic at its front and rear.