Monthly Archives: May 2012

Gazoo makes the Toyota GT 86 actually fast


It was only a matter of time before someone came up with a GT 86 featuring an appropriate amount of power.  Here’s the first (we think), from the Toyota tuning buffs at Gazoo Racing. The company, whose actual name is GRMN, an egotistical acronym for ‘Gazoo Racing Masters of the Nurburgring’ has supercharged a car that’s gained lots of plaudits for its handling, but often with the caveat that it’s slightly underpowered.

GM saves Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant


General Motors has confirmed today that Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant has been saved, securing the jobs of 2,100 staff. As we reported yesterday, production of the new Astra will happen at Ellesmere Port, with GM’s two German factories, Bochum and Russelsheim, being the casualties of the move; Bochum is likely to close.

Very rare Jag E-Type Lightweight for sale

The Motorexpo in Canary Wharf will host the sale of “one of the most desirable E-Types to come to open market in recent years.” The 1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight No. 14 is extremely rare and has a very unusual history. Jaguar only made 12 Lightweight E-Type race cars, although as the name suggests, this one is number 14. How so?

It’s because aside from the original 12 cars, Jag made six extra body shells, eight engines and a few gearboxes.

Remember the “German” Citroen C5 ad? It’s actually true


Apparently life does imitate art. The Citroen C5 launched in the UK with an ad saying how it was just like a German car. Now it is rumoured that the next C5 could be made by Opel in Germany. The tie up between Opel/Vauxhall and PSA Peugeot Citroen means most of their cars will eventually have common platforms. The plan being discussed at present would see production of the Astra leave Russelsheim in Germany (the HQ of Opel), and the space being taken up by the next generation C5 (presumably sharing a platform with the Insignia.

VW accidentally advertises Fiat 500


Fiat has managed a cool piece of ambush marketing in Sweden – by parking a Fiat 500 directly outside VW headquarters when Google was filming it for Streetview. Now anyone in Sweden looking up the VW HQ in Södertälje will see a Fiat 500 perfectly parked under the VW corporate identity. Is it Fiat’s way of showing how much better looking the 500 is than the Beetle?