Toyota's Prius has been honoured with the Japan Car of the Year Award at the Tokyo Motor Show. A panel of journalists and industry experts voted to make the third generation hybrid vehicle their choice as the country's top car, recognising it for its superior performance over previous Prius models. Japanese drivers have been enthusiastically snapping up the new Prius since it launched in May, with the car ranking as the country's number one seller every month since its release.

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:01:20

Axon Automotive has unveiled its first ever plug-in hybrid car, which it claims offers "revolutionary" technology in its design and construction. The UK carmaker has incorporated carbon fibre technology into the compact two-seater vehicle, allowing for a lightweight build and aerodynamic performance normally associated with racing cars. This will also help the car to further improve its environmental performance, with the dual electric and petrol/bioethanol power systems working together to achieve band A standard performance in terms of carbon emissions.

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:52:58

Mitsubishi's electric i MiEV has been presented with the title of Most Advanced Technology at the Japanese Car of the Year awards. The four-seater family vehicle was honoured at the Tokyo International Motor Show for its cutting edge lithium-ion battery-powered design, which allows it to completely eliminate carbon emissions. It was also recognised for having achieved full production status, with all 1,400 units in Mitsubishi's first production run having already sold out.

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:37:11

The Land Rover Defender is the most popular car in the country, according to research carried out by What Car? magazine. Land Rover's rugged vehicle topped the magazine's Reader Awards 2009 rankings based on its average review score on the What Car? website. The top ten was composed of a diverse range of cars, with the Fiat 500 supermini coming in second above the open-topped Mazda MX-5 and powerful Porsche 911.

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:57:55

Lexus has lifted the lid on the LFA, an exclusive new supercar which it describes as the "most driver-orientated car" it has ever made. The vehicle has been constructed using advanced carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) technology and is powered by a 4.8 litre V10 engine, designed to make the vehicle as fast, light and responsive as possible. Its CFRP-based design has also allowed Lexus to increase the streamlined, curved and aerodynamic nature of the car in ways which it claims would be impossible using metal.

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:17:14

Japanese luxury carmaker Infiniti has confirmed that it is to develop a high-end electric vehicle which produces no carbon emissions. The manufacturer, a division of Nissan, is currently working on a concept for the environmentally-friendly vehicle, which is planned as a compact four-seater model. Carlos Ghosn, president and chief executive officer of Nissan, revealed the plans at the Tokyo Motor Show and told attendees that the car "will be true to the Infiniti brand's promise of inspired performance".

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:56:06

Korean carmaker Kia has revealed the first image of its new luxury saloon, the Cadenza, ahead of its premiere at a Middle East motor show later this year. The sedan, which is named after a type of musical flourish, is being positioned as a stylish and hi-tech vehicle with a "premium image". Among the eye-catching gadgets included in the Cadenza are a floating dashboard display and inner mood lighting, while puddle and interior lights are designed to activate as part of the car's welcome system.

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:44:12

Japanese firm Toyota has been named the most environmentally-friendly carmaker after becoming the first to meet the EU's emissions targets. The company was recognised by environmental motoring website cleangreencars.co.uk for having established average emissions of less than 130g/km across its range of vehicles. Toyota has met this target well ahead of the EU's 2013 deadline, an achievement which the company credits to its range of eco-friendly cars and technologies, including its flagship hybrid model, the Prius.

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:03:42

The new Megane Renaultsport 250 owes its sporty styling to Formula One, according to the French carmaker. Renault's latest hot hatch, which will be available to order from November, boasts a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine capable of developing 250 bhp. That kind of performance is sure to appeal to fans of the type of sporty small cars which Renault has become famous for.

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:11:08

Peugeot has revealed it plans to launch what it describes as "an affordable supercar" in April 2010. The new Peugeot RCZ Coupe has a 200 bhp turbo-charged engine and accelerates from a standing start to 62 mph in 7.6 seconds. While that may not move it into supercar territory in terms of performance, its price tag of £22,200 reflects that.

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:10:49