On the eve of the Paris Motor Show, information on the most exciting releases has hit our desk. Mercedes Benz will bid a final farewell to the SLR range with this limited edition SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S. Only 150 examples are planned to be produced before the plug is pulled in 2009. That is right about the same time as Maserati will enter GT3 racing with this GranTurismo MC. At the moment it is still labeled a concept, but it is unlikely that the competition GranTurismo won't hit the track. That is also the case with the Volkswagen Golf VI GTI Concept. As was the case with the previous generation Golf, the production version of the ever popular GTI should look almost identical. There is a lot less certainty with Lamborghini's release, which is one of the highest anticipated of the show. We believe that it will be a four door sedan and could be called Estoque. We will be in Paris later this week and will publish a fully illustrated report straight from the show floor.
One of the most unusual racing cars on the track during the Goodwood Revival two weeks ago was this Healey Elliott. Designed and built by Donald Healey, it combines a saloon body with racing pedigree.
On our forums there was much talk about this fantastic Hispano Suiza H6C Tulip Wood Torpedo. Built as a racing car, the massive chassis sports a lightweight wooden body constructed by an airplane manufacturer. It was placed sixth in the 1924 Targa Florio. The unique machine inspired one of our members to build this Royce-Hispano, which combines a Rolls-Royce chassis with a massive Hispano airplane engine and a coachbuilt body. The absolute master of wooden bodies was Henri Labourdette and at the recent Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance one of his finest creations graced the field. The Delage GL Labourdette Skiff is believed to be one of only three original surviving Labourdette Skiffs.

From next Thursday all eyes will be on the Porte de Versailles Expo center in Paris where the doors of the 'Mondial de l'Automobile' will open. Lamborghini has ensured there is plenty of anticipation and speculation by posting teaser pictures of what could be a brand new model. Other manufacturers have been a little more forthcoming with complete details of their Paris Motor Show releases.
German manufacturer Audi will unveil the all new S4 in both Sedan and 'Avant' guises. The big news is hidden under the bonnet; a brand new supercharged, direct-injected V6 engine. It offers 333 bhp and much improved fuel consumption figures. The environment is also high on the agenda at BMW and Saab. The Munich based manufacturer celebrate the introduction of the new 7-Series with a Hybrid Concept, which uses new technology that can be found in a production model as early as next near. The funky Swedes have created this 9-X Air Biohybrid Concept, which combines interesting styling with an E85-hybrid powerplant.
The legendary Rolls-Royce / Bentley aluminum V8 engine is nearing the end of its lifespan after a whopping 50 years of loyal service. The Bentley Arnage Final Series will be its farewell. With 500 bhp and 1000 Nm, it is still a great match for any 'modern' engine. The Fiat Group has recently brought the legendary Abarth marque back. In Paris they will debut the 500 esseesse, which surely brings back great memories.
Over the weekend Chrysler took the wraps off a range of electric engined prototypes. Among them were two 'electrified' versions of existing models and a very interesting Dodge. Clearly based on the Lotus Europa, the Dodge EV packs a 265 bhp and 650 Nm electric motor. The Chrysler range will be expanded with 'EV' powered production vehicles in the near future.

This weekend over 100,000 people gathered to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Goodwood Motor Circuit and the 10th anniversary of the Revival meeting. This unique event, with a period atmosphere, gives those of us who were too young the opportunity to see what racing was like in the 1950s and 60s. For those who were there it brings back great memories. Racing Dentist Tony Brooks was honoured together with many other of the Legends that competed at the British track back in the day. Off track entertainment was supplied by a recreation of the Earls Court Motorshow and Airplane displays. What really mattered was the on track activity, which consisted of fifteen hotly contested races. They were headlined by a race into the sunset on Saturday evening and the Tourist Trophy Celebration on Sunday with a grid with an estimated value of over $150 million. To pilot the historic racing cars the owners were often joined by the stars of the past and the present like Sir Stirling Moss, Derek Bell, Henri Pescarolo, Martin Brundle and Jean-Marc Gounon. The high speed track is not for the faint of heart and the racing was hard, but fair.
We dressed up, but did bring our modern equipment to capture the Goodwood Revival Meeting in its entirety. Our efforts have resulted in a full-report and 220-shot slideshow, depicting all the races and the off-track activities.

Drastic rule changes ended the Ferrari's long and often very successful sports car campaign at the end of the 1967 season. It was also the end of the great rivalry between Ford and Ferrari. The Italian manufacturer was only gone for one season and returned to find a formidable adversary in Porsche in 1969. Taking the advantage of the regulations, Ferrari's competition department combined their existing sports car chassis with the running gear from the current Formula 1 racer to form the 312 P. The result was a beautiful and more importantly a blisteringly fast racing car. Unfortunately Ferrari only had the resources to enter a single car at most of the races, while Porsche had between four and six of their latest 908s available. With the likes of Amon, Andretti and Rodrigues behind the wheel, the Ferrari qualified on pole in most World Championship races it was entered that year. Unfortunately bad luck prevented it from scoring any victories. Surprisingly for a Formula 1 based endurance racer, reliability was virtually bullet proof throughout the season. In the end the best result was a second overall and a first in class during the Sebring 12 Hours. Ferrari raced the 312 P only for a couple of months and then converted all their resources to build a direct competitor for the Porsche 917. In privateer hands the surviving two examples were raced with considerable success in the years to come.
For us the 312 P was on the top of the list of the 'to-see' cars and last month we were treated to an up-close encounter during the Monterey Historic Races and the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Even on the field at Pebble we were asked to do a feature on it by one of our readers. So here it is: a detailed article and a sparkling 18-shot gallery.
For the record, the Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantique Coupe has now taken up top position on the list.

During the celebration of the company's 100th anniversary, General Motors unveiled the production version of the highly anticipated Chevrolet Volt. First launched as a concept car almost two years ago, the Volt breaks new ground as it uses its petrol engine as a generator for the electric motors and only when the lithium-ion batteries have run out. The range on the batteries alone will be around 40 miles, which is enough for most Americans to drive to work and back. Running on electricity the car will cost only $0.02 per mile. With 150 bhp and 370 Nm available the Volt will be no slouch either.
In addition to the 908 HY demonstrated at Silverstone last weekend, Peugeot will show the Prologue Concept at Paris early next month. Like the Le Mans racer, the small SUV is powered by a hybrid drivetrain. With the Concept Fascination Mercedes Benz will reveal the first styling cues of the upcoming new E-Class at the 'Mondial.' The unusual Shooting-Brake bodied machine already uses the new E's chassis.
It has been several years since Porsche first talked of adding a new four-door sedan to their line-up. After showing a rough sketch two years ago, they have now shown the first glimpse (very literally) of the Panamera Gran Turismo as it is now officially called. To be launched in 2009, Porsche will 'leak' more information as the introduction date comes closer.
To wrap up this update we take a look at the Spyker C8 Laviolette LM85. Inspired by the #85 Spyker Le Mans racer, the LM85 will have a production limited to 24 examples.

Under pleasant clear skies Europe's finest endurance racers took to the track yesterday for the fifth and final round of the 2008 Le Mans Series; the Autosport Silverstone 1000 km. For three of the four classes it was also the deciding race of the championship. All eyes were on the fight between Audi and Peugeot that has been ongoing all year. Coming into the race Peugeot was leading the charts, but only just despite winning all four races.
Before the race plenty of attention was grabbed by an ACO press conference, which outlined the regulations that will come into effect from 2011 onwards. Full details will be made available in November and we get back onto that subject then. Later that day Peugeot unveiled the 908 HY, which combines the current Peugeot racer's diesel engine with a hybrid drive. Moments later Nic Minassian demonstrated that the car is fully functional. Not eligible to score points, the car is expected to make its competition debut after Le Mans next year.
On race day all was forgotten and the only thing that mattered was taking the checkered flag first. What happened next baffled even the most seasoned sportscar enthusiasts and sent one team manager home to his superiors with a lot to explain. For the first time this Le Mans Series season we were track-side all three days and have compiled an in-depth report and a mouth watering 160-shot gallery.

In three weeks time the doors of Porte de Versailles exposition center will open its doors for the bi-annual 'Mondial de l'Automobile,' or the Paris Motor Show. Needless to say the local manufacturers will pull out all the stops with new production and show cars. In recent years particularly Renault has led the way in terms of innovative design. This year the French company will take the wraps off the Ondelios Concept. Compared the previous Renault concepts, the Ondelios features considerably more dramatic lines. At the MINI stand all eyes will be on the Crossover Concept, which is the company's first four wheel drive car and also the first MINI with four doors. There is little doubt that a slightly modified version will hit the streets soon. The same can be said of the Chevrolet Orlando Concept. The seven-seat MPV will be available to Chevrolet customers around the globe. Toyota's luxury brand Lexus continues to expand their range and in Paris will show a convertible version of the IS 250. Unfortunately they have not released any images of this interesting machine. It will share the stage with the LF-Xh Hybrid Concept.
In the coming weeks we will keep you informed of the news as it unfolds and shortly after the show we will publish our in-depth report.

At this coming weekend's Silverstone 1000 km race the popular and successful RML team will field the all new MG Lola EX265C. Sporting the new for 2008 Lola B08/80 Coupe chassis, the British team hope to end this season on a high. By using much of the running gear of the team's existing MG Lola, they have managed to build up the car in record time. The striking new Coupe is yet another reason to visit the Le Mans Series race or watch it on television. After missing a the last two races, we will be there and bring our thorough coverage shortly after the race. The introduction of an all new MG Lola is the ideal time to look back at the very first; the EX257. Raced by the MG works team in 2001 and 2002, it went on to be a competitive machine in privateer hands. It was most successful in the ALMS where it managed to beat the legendary Audi R8 on more than one occasion. Our 18-shot gallery also shows the example that started the partnership with RML.
The pace of the Paris news is still a trickle at best with Citro�n announcing the Hypnos Concept and Honda releasing the first information on the Insight Concept, which should hit the streets as a production car in the next few years. From Down Under we heard a clear rumble as Holden's performance arm HSV took the wraps off the R8 ClubSport Tourer. With 425 bhp on the tap, it is one very fast estate.
The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance always attracts the rarest machines and today we take a look at three one-offs that graced the 18th fairway last month. The most famous is the Lamborghini Miura Roadster, which was recently restored to its original colour scheme after being repainted very early in its life. We have shots of the unique car in both guises. Making its very first public appearance was this Ferrari 400 Superamerica, which was fitted with a Scaglietti built body that closely resembled the renowned 250 GT California. The car we thought could break the tradition that only a pre-War car is picked as 'Best of Show' was this stunning Delahaye 135 MS Faget-Varnet Cabriolet. The combination of the little known coachbuilder's lines and the exceptional two-tone blue livery made it one of our favourite cars on the lawn, but it did not make it into the top three candidates for Best of Show, which again were all built before 1940.

Audi has announced the further expansion of their racing efforts. In addition to the successful Le Mans and DTM programs, they will start offering the all new R8 GT3 to customers next year. Based on the much acclaimed road car, it sports rear wheel drive and a six speed sequential gearbox. In GT3, the R8 will face strong competition from the likes of Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini and Porsche.
One of the most amazing motorsports programs of the recent years has been Acura's assault on the ALMS. The Japanese company's approach was far from conventional, but it paid off in a big way. With two races to go the Patron Highcroft team is just four points shy of the leader in the LMP2 class. With the Acura ARX-01b they scored several class victories as well as an overall win against the mighty Audi R10. Our article gives an interesting insight into the surprising mix of ingredients that has resulted in all this success.
With less than a month to go to the Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris, the manufacturers remain remarkably tight lipped. All we have managed to pry from this week is the sporty Seat Ibiza Cupra and the striking Mazda Kiyora concept.
Among history's most famous twins Romulus and Remus rank very high. According to myth they founded ancient Rome after being raised by a pack of wolves. In motorsport these names also appeared, on the cowls of two ERA racing cars entered by the White Mouse racing team of Siam's Prince Chula. Piloted by his cousin Prince B.Bira, they scored many victories in international races. Romulus is officially known as ERA R2B and remains as the most original ERA in existence. That could not be said of Remus, or R5B, which has been almost continuously raced for over seventy years now.
A famous (American) expression is; "There is no replacement for displacement." In the early 1930s that was already the norm, but what was even more important was the number of cylinders. This led to the development of several V16 engined machines. Best known of these is the Cadillac built example, which remained in production for nearly a decade. The featured Rollston Convertible Coupe ranks as one of the most beautiful. It was the highlight of the Cadillac V16 class at Pebble last month. Also present on the field was this Marmon Sixteen LeBaron Convertible Sedan. Much rarer than the Cadillac, the Marmon is generally considered the superior machine.

August was jam-packed with motoring events, highlighted by the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Featuring all of them at once really would not do them justice, so we decided to run them one by one. The month kicked off in Rochester, Michigan with the 30th annual Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance. Over 230 entries (cars and motorcycles) gathered around the beautiful Meadow Brook Hall. Together with the visitors, they were treated to a rare bright day, which helped make this year's event a great success. By combining beautiful classic machinery with the latest supercars, the organizers managed to attract a broad audience. Highlights included various famous Duesenbergs, massive engined Bentleys and new releases like the Saleen S5S and the Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 11.
Our photographer Rob Clements traveled to Rochester to capture the event in its entirety. His thoughts and images have been captured in a full report and a 210-shot slideshow.
What followed was the week building up to Pebble with auctions, parties, shows and races. To make our lives a little easier, Ford was kind enough to supply us with this Mustang. As you can see in this small gallery, we ran into its big brother along the way. The traditional start of the Pebble week is the very jet-set McCall Motorworks party, held at the Monterey Jet Center.