Auto For Speed

It’s no secret that the Brits love drop-tops, so Mazda has naturally decided to promote the latest (and probably last) special edition of the MX-5. In Britain, it’s called the Venture Edition, but it’s basically the same as the Spring Edition that’s coming to the Geneva Motor Show next month.

The edition can be specified in combination with the base 1.8-liter soft-top version and a five-speed. This will cost you £18,995 OTR, but the 126 PS leaves a bit to be desired, so we suggest going for the full 2.0 MZR Roadster Coupe that will set you back £22,285.

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Peugeot might not be able to make a profit out of cars it builds in France, but it’s still not giving up on being European. The new 208 is lighter and much better looking than the 207 it replaces. And with the coming of the GTi, it’s looking good for the supermini segment.

The only other Peugeot we really like right now is the Mitsubishi ASX based 4008 crossover. It’s got a floating grille, lots of chrome and a fresh-looking interior. Peugeot has launched a fresh batch of photos of the crossover today, ahead of the motor show debut in Geneva next month. While they have Photoshoped in some off-roading credentials that the 4008 doesn’t deserve, we’re glad to see it from a different angle.

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It has been 3 years since the RS4 got off Audi’s production line but today we can indulge ourselves once again in the roar of a V8, shelled by a familiar body – It’s the new Audi RS4. The resurrection kicks off with an Avant version which is here to show it’s rivalries what’s what.

The RS4 is back with a bang as it gets the powertrain usually found in the RS5 Coupe – a hand-built 4.1 liter plant, producing 450 PS at 8,250 rpm and 430 Nm of torque from 4,000 to 6,000 rpm. In true RS tradition, that power goes trough a permanent Quattro AWD system. The ‘permanent’ term however, should not scare you off as the Quattro in the latest RS4 is exceptionally flexible – it incoroprates a self-locking crown-gear centre differential that allows up to 85 percent of the power to go to the rear axle or up to 70 towards the front wheels. By default, one would find that the power bias ratio is 40:60 in favor of the back wheels. So for the people who like to travel sideways everywhere that is a relief.

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More often than not, building better vehicles comes at a price but Hyundai’s clientele may not be very happy about the company’s pricing strategy with the brand-new 2012 Azera that starts at $32,000 (€24,500), not including an $875 delivery and handling fee that pushes the price to $32,875.

Granted, the redesigned Azera costs $4,725 less than the 2012 Lexus ES350 ($36,725), but it’s also $6,605 more expensive than its predecessor and only $2,400 cheaper than Hyundai’s more upscale and powerful Genesis V6 sedan, which features a 333HP 3.3-liter engine linked to an 8-speed auto.

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Citroën is expanding its range with a new vehicle named 2012 Citroën C4 AIRCROSS, which is a fresh take on conventional compact SUV design. The new Citroën C4 AIRCROSS will make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March this year. The new vehicle speaks loudly about its new styling – the Citroën C4 AIRCROSS combines the elegance of brand saloons with the more muscular lines of an off-roader. When one looks it from the front, one sees the wide chrome grille displaying the chevron badge, giving the vehicle a strong identity. Viewed from the side one sees a chrome compass, identifying this car as a member of the Marque’s SUV family. This SUV sits on wide 18-inch alloy wheels and has rear lights, inspired by the Citroën C4 hatchback and Hypnos concept car. This was made in order to optimize air flow and cut CO2 emissions. Of course, the designers of Citroen have put a lot of attention on the details, thus making it delivering even more style and efficiency. At the front, for example, the daytime running LED lights are integrated vertically into the aerodynamic vents. In addition, the door mirrors have built-in indicator repeater lights, while the rear light clusters feature light guides. Another interesting instance is that a rearview camera is concealed in the chrome trim of the tailgate.

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