Yamaha Banshee Frame on 2040-parts.com

New Skoda Octavia vRS hatch & estate revealed

The 2013 Skoda Octavia vRS has been revealed (vRS hatch pictured) The Skoda Octavia vRS – the latest version of Skoda’s quick and appealing take on the VW Golf GTI – has been unveiled ahead of its debut at the Goodwood FoS in July, and it looks a cracker. Available as either a hatchback or estate – and as a diesel or a petrol – the Octavia vRS manages to repackage the Golf GTI and Golf GTD in to one Skoda, offering good performance (the vRS is a bit slower than the GTI to 62mph at 6.8 seconds but has a 2mph higher top speed), good looks and the promise of prices starting not much above £20k. The petrol vRS gets the Golf GTI’s 217bhp 2.0 litre TSI and the diesel vRS the 181bhp 2.0 litre TFI from the Golf GTD, both with a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard and a six-speed DSG as option, sports suspension, XDS differential, quicker steering and multi-link rear suspension.

Brabus SV12 R Biturbo 800 (2010): world's fastest 4dr

Warped Merc tuner Brabus has turned the latest S-class into the world’s most powerful and fastest saloon car. The new Brabus SV12 R Biturbo 800 takes the S600 and transforms it from discrete businessman cruiser to 800hp limousine bruiser. The 5.5-litre V12 has grown to 6.3 litres, and power increased to a heady 788bhp (800ps – hence the name), with a theoretical peak torque of 1047lb ft.

Pontiac G8 inspires new police car for Chevrolet

Chevrolet is expected to reveal plans for a new, rear-drive police car on Monday--and it could be based on the doomed Pontiac G8, Automotive News reports. Chevy will reveal details at the International Association of Chiefs of Police convention in Denver. GM CEO Fritz Henderson has told an Australian newspaper that the company is working on a cop car based on Holden technology.