City dwellers might find that the Aston Martin Cygnet Concept is an excellent purchase, despite the fact that it has been described as an ugly duckling. Stuff made this observation, but went on to note that the car - which is the result of a partnership between the manufacturer and Toyota - is an "inventive solution" to the problem of the daily commute. The news source continued, stating that the vehicle combines the technology from Toyota and Aston Martin's ability to personalise and customise to create a "genuine" option for mobility in the future, adding that it comes with a "rich blend of hand-stitched leather, Alcantara and aluminium".

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:00:00

A collection of rare toy cars is being put up for auction and is expected to go for £100,000. Belonging to Horace Dunkley - who has spent over 30 years amassing the tiny vehicles - the Matchbox Models of Yesteryear assortment is believed to be one of the biggest of its kind in the world, with 2,281 individual pieces, the Daily Telegraph reports. Included in the lot is a very uncommon purple Y3 Benz limousine from 1965 and the automobiles range in price from between £5 to £2,200 each.

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:02:26

The Car-puccino - a converted vehicle that uses parts from a 1988 Volkswagen Scirocco and runs on coffee grounds - has succeeded in its venture of travelling the 260 miles from London to Manchester. Created by BBC One's Bang Goes The Theory team, the automobile was making the trip in order to be present for The Big Bang: UK Young Scientists' and Engineers' Fair, the Daily Telegraph reports. Jem Stansfield of the TV show was instrumental in the creation of the model, removing the petrol tanks and carburettor from the Scirocco and replacing them with propane ones and pipes leading into the engine, using parts from a vacuum cleaner.

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:00:00

The Citroen DS3 received a high-fashion makeover this month, thanks to its participation in the Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) exhibition displaying over 300 articles from the designer's line. It was decorated in line with the brand image and colours of YSL and was used to ferry film stars and haute-couture VIPs to Paris's Petit Palais on March 10th. They were off to see items from Pierre Berge-Yves Saint Laurent's collection of work, starting from his 1958 debut for Dior and finishing with his retirement in 2002.

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:32:06

Petrolheads planning a car-related holiday might like to consider heading to Turin or Surrey, as these are just two places included in the list of where vehicle fans might like to stay. The Iron Horse Hotel in Milwaukee, US, for example, is closely situated to the Harley-Davidson Museum and its rooms come with storage areas for helmets, boots and leathers, while bikes are available to hire, the Independent reports. Spending time in Turin's Le Meridien Lingotto - which used to be a Fiat car factory - could also prove to be fun, as there is a jogging trail on the roof.

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:00:00

Petrol heads contemplating their next car purchase might like to tune into their TV sets as Fiat Professional is launching a new sitcom - called The Fleet - to promote its range of vehicles. It stars actor Phil Cornwell and, in ten three-to-four minute episodes, details his day-to-day life as the manager of Lightfoot Logistics, with a script penned by David Scott and Ali Crocket. Directed by Dominic Brigstocke, the first clip is being aired on March 15th during the commercial break for the News At Ten.

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:00:00

The Ford Mustang - of which a new model has been developed and is due to hit the road any day now - has been described as an icon of an automobile. According to The Car Connection, this vehicle can be thought of as the industry's benchmark for overnight success, in spite of the fact that during its "wild youth" it was regarded as "the cautionary tale of what happens when a celebrity hits the skids". The website went on to note that the 2011 Mustang - which succeeded the car that first revved its engines during the 1964 World's Fair - is the best the manufacturer has ever produced.

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:00:00

Lexus has introduced a new model of car - the F-Sport - looking to its IS F high-performance vehicle for inspiration. It comes equipped with a bootlid spoiler, 18-inch alloys, sports seats, leather upholstery and aluminium pedals. What's more, it's available for IS 250 and 220d automobiles, with an exterior featuring a front grille similar in style to the IS F.

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:09:19

The BMW 5-series has been named as the most eagerly-awaited car of 2010 in a poll of automobile enthusiasts. In the survey conducted by ContractHireAndLeasing.com, the car took 20 per cent of the vote, staving off competition from the likes of the Audi A8 and the Jaguar XJ, which garnered 14 per cent and 11 per cent of the support respectively. This BMW offering - which comes with a range of petrols and diesels to choose from - will, according to spokesman for the website Richard Lawton, be the first to benefit from automatic start and stop and the manufacturer's Efficient/Dynamic technologies.

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:28:03

The Aston Martin Rapide and the Cadillac Converj have been named as the two best-designed cars in 2009, winning the production and concept categories at the Car Design of the Year Awards. Those involved in their creations were applauded for their efforts during the Geneva Motor Show, with the results having been decided by a poll of Car Design News readers. Design director for Aston Martin Marek Reichman thanked all those who voted "on behalf of a team that is very passionate about the brand".

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:00:00