Honda planning a hybrid sportscar

We're hoping to have heard the first sign that Honda are developing a hybrid roadster to replace the much loved S2000 roadster.

Honda's Head of Design Nobuki Ebisawa revealed "This is something that we are considering, and the CR-Z is only one shape of Honda’s hybrid sports cars in the current age".

So that they're planning a hybrid sportscar is for sure but the details are sketchy. Honda’s US dealers are known to want the company to produce a rival to the Porsche Boxster and BMW Z4, so the new hybrid sportster could effectively replace the S2000. Ebisawa could not divulge the format of the new car but he did reveal that his team is looking at weight saving techniques such as using more aluminium and active areodynamics.

The Honda S2000 is famed for being an innovative design and impressive driver's car but due to it's age is being phased out this year. So far there had not been any news of a replacement but this may be the first evidence. We'll be keeping our fingers crossed for something new over the next couple of years.

Daihatsu Basket Concept

Daihatsu unveiled a rather unusual and yet typically Japanese concept at the Tokyo Motor Show. The name comes from the shape of the cat with it's large roll-over bar.

The retro styled utility convertible is based on the Mira with a 660cc engine and four wheel drive. The concept of a tiny off-roader may at first seem strange but in fact could be very practical in poor rural areas.

We were hoping to see a a new Copen Roadster replacement in Tokyo but it seems that this car may be taking a rest from development while more practical cars are proposed for the weak global financial climate.

Veritas goes into production, priced at €345,000 each

The Vermot Veritas RS III Roadster is beginning its production run for it's first lucky customers. Deliveries of this back-to-basics supercar will begin in January 2010 and buyers will have to part with €345,000 (US$514,700) for the privilege. According to its maker, Vermot AG, the 1+1 seat (a second seat is hidden) supercar has already been sold to eight customers from places such as Australia, Monaco and the UK. The eight are part of only 30 that will be produced. It takes 15 people about eight weeks to complete one car and three cars at a time will be built.

Every inch of the car is about performance which results in a car that reputedly outpaced a Ferrari F430 Scuderia around Germany’s Hockenheim race circuit. It's a looker too with aggressive, determined lines. Constructed of a lightweight carbon fibre body wrapped around a tubular frame structure the RS III Roadster features ceramic brakes and sports suspension as well as 325/25 rear and 255/30 Dunlop front tyres. Power comes from the BMW Motorsport's naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V10 which makes 373kW (507hp) at 7,750rpm and 520Nm of torque at 6,100rpm. As standard it comes with the BMW 7-speed SMG transmission but a 6-speed manual is available as an option. 0-100km/h takes less than 3.2 seconds while the top end is 347km/h (216mph).

The curb weight is a mere 1,080kg (2,381lbs). Vermot has extensively tested the car on the Nurburgring circuit and says it will give drivers a sense of a real racing car while for the more cautious owner there are safety nets such as ESP stability control and ABS brakes.

The British hold the European flag at the Tokyo Motor Show

In contrast to the bustling Frankfurt Motor Show, the Tokyo Show promises to be a rather more low key affair. Only three European manufacturers will be exhibiting, among them Britain's specialist sporstcar builders Lotus and Caterham Cars.

Japan has long been a key export market thanks to the country’s fascination with all things connected with innovative British design. Caterham has sold cars successfully in Japan since the 1970s. The exhibit at the Tokyo Motor Show is the latest move by Caterham importer, Premium Cars Import (PCI) to help promote the brand in the Far East. PCI was confirmed as Caterham’s Japanese exclusive importer in January this year.

Caterham Cars managing director, Ansar Ali, will be attending the show and said: “Japan has always been one of our biggest export markets. During the early 1990s, Caterham was selling over 100 cars a year in Japan and now, with our new importer doing great work to highlight the company from their Tokyo base, we are looking forward to pushing sales up again.

“I have no doubt we will achieve this objective as we now have a retail network of over 15 dealers in Japan who are committed to making Caterham another British success in this exciting and dynamic market.

“The Tokyo Motor Show is a fantastic way to showcase our unique products alongside the numerous world premieres from other manufacturers. To be one of only a small handful of European manufacturers present shows our commitment to this market.”

The poor European turnout at Tokyo suggests that within these recession-hit times the big European brands see taking on the Japanese on their own turf as unrealistic. Lets hope the Japanese can look on the bright side and show us some lovely new convertibles!

Convertible Muscle Cars

Two American muscle cars - the Dodge Challenger and the Chevrolet Camaro are like twins separated at birth. Each is a retro revival of a car killed off by the 1970's oil crisis. Despite the current recession, high oil prices and trend for environmental awareness these 'gas guzzlers' maintain strong sales for their struggling manufacturers.

Since the launch of each car there has been much talk of convertible versions but budget cuts have left car companies unable to put the concepts into reality. Convertible cars do sell at a premium but the projected sales figures may not be easy to justify by a debt-laden mass manufacturer who is being forced to cut overheads. Current speculation is that the Dodge Challenger Convertible project was cancelled and the Camero Convertible may make it to production by the summer of 2011.

This seems to leave buyers with few options. Some buyers have taken things into their own hands and resorted to having the convertibles custom built by a coach builder. Companies such as Florida's Convertible Builders and California's Newport Convertible Engineering will convert a standard coupe to a convertible and finish it to your own specific requirements. This results in getting an ultra-rare hand-crafted car that is unavailable for the mass market.

Both cars make attractive convertibles and technically there aren't too many hurdles - there are only two doors and the modern structures are already strong. The chassis and windscreen frame will still need to be reinforced but nothing that will show. By the time the car is finished it won't be far from the concepts (as pictured here) produced by the big manufacturers.

The final car will be practical to use and maintain while being an eye catching, super-rare sight that is sure to get some double takes.

Rare Mercedes CLK GTR Roadster to be auctioned

Number 2 of only 5 Mercedes Benz CLK GTR Roadsters made is due to go on sale at RM Auction's Automobiles of London event.

The CLK GTR was built as a world beating racing car that would win the FIA GT Championship. This it did so successfully in 1997 and 1998 that in 1999 there where no other entries and the series was cancelled. It's hard to imagine a more devastatingly racing car but the road going version saw didn't manage to match this success.

In order to qualify for the GT Championship the GTR had to be sold as a road legal car. Mercedes and AMG stretched the rules as much as they could so that the racing car wasn't compromised. This resulted in a hugely expensive and brutal supercar which was unforgiving for road use. The Guinness Book of World Records recorded the CLK GTR as the most expensive production car ever built at the time, at $1,547,620(USD). 25 cars were built of which just 5 were Roadsters. The Roadster on sale is particularly rare being right hand drive which suggests that it is one of the cars recorded to be ordered by the Brunei Royal Family. It was completed as late as 2006, has accumulated just 34 delivery kms from new and has never been road registered.

All this would suggest that this is a collectors car that will only increase in value but within a months of this car going on sale there was a glut of limited edition supercars from Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche and Bugatti. It was also not a car that could be realistically used on the roads and so most of the cars (including this one) have been buried away in collections. It seams the lucky buyer of this car may only part with less than half of the money that the previous owner did.

Miss England collects her Coupe-Cabriolet

There was extra glamour at Renault London West recently when the newly-crowned Miss England visited the dealership to collect a stylish convertible which she will drive for the coming year. It was an extra surprise for Rachel Christie, aged 21, from Kensington, as she thought she was collecting a Renault Clio!

Rachel is an aspiring Olympic athlete, competing in the heptathlon and training with her uncle, Great Britain gold medallist Linford Christie. Crowned Miss England in July, Rachel saw off competition from more than 50 other entrants, thanks to her winning combination of looks, charm and success as a heptathlete. She will now drive the Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet for a year while she carries out her duties as Miss England.

Renault Retail Group Managing Director Ian Plummer, said: “It gives us great pleasure to support Rachel who has proved herself to be a worthy winner of the Miss England competition with her dedication, commitment and determination to succeed. We wish her the very best of luck for the year ahead, particularly for the forthcoming Miss World competition in Johannesburg, and also for her Olympic ambitions and wish her many miles of happy motoring. We are also delighted to make her honorary ‘Miss RRG’ and reflect this in her personalised registration number! “

Rachel said, “I am really grateful that Renault Retail have put so much faith and trust in me by sponsoring me with a Mégane. When Renault told me that they would also sponsor me for my training towards the 2012 Olympics, I was overwhelmed with excitement, and I am truly grateful for their support.”