Tokyo go, go for storming Lexus supercar

V10-engined LFA will be star of Japanese expo.

It's the news every supercar fan was desperate to hear: the Lexus LFA is going into production! Although Honda has canned plans for a new NSX, the wrap,s will be taken off the LFA at October’s Tokyo Motor Show.

The two-seater flagship will feature a 600bhp V10, giving 0-60mph in less than four seconds and a 200mph-plus top speed. Expect a light carbon fibre body with a pop-up wing, rear-wheel drive and an F1-style paddleshift box.

A replacement for the Celica will also be revealed at Tokyo. This rear-driven coupé is the result of a joint project by Toyota and Subaru, and features an Impreza platform and drivetrain. But the show could be short on launches from other makers. Ford, GM, Chrysler, Mercedes, Renault, Volkswagen and Lamborghini have all pulled out of the expo, blaming the economic downturn. This follows news that the British Motor Show has been cancelled for similar reasons.

MR2 set to return as Prius coupé?

Production of MR2 stopped in 2007; new car will be a coupé instead of roadster

The MR2 is making a comeback, Auto Express can reveal. Toyota is developing an exciting performance hybrid which would revive the much loved sports car and rival Honda’s upcoming CR-Z.

It’s set to swap its predecessor’s roadster shape for that of a compact coupé. Under the skin will be a rear-wheel-drive chassis, a paddleshift gearbox and a specially developed version of the Prius’s hybrid powertrain.

The new model will boast an amazing blend of performance, economy and low emissions, all wrapped up in a stunning body. It would be a fitting successor to the MR2, which ceased production in 2007.

Speaking exclusively to Auto Express at the Geneva Motor Show, Toyota executive vice president Masatami Takimoto said: “We are aware of the fondness with which the MR2 is held in the UK and Europe, and are developing a small hybrid sports car.

“We have set a tough price point (expected to be around £20,000), as it will be easier to sell if it is affordable. It has to be fun to drive, too, which means the hybrid set-up must be different to the Prius’s, with greater responsiveness.”

These artist’s impressions give you an idea of how it will look. At the front it mixes cues from Toyota’s FT-HS sports car concept with a deep lower air intake, while the side has a kick up on the door towards the roof. At the rear are lights from the FT-HS and a neat diffuser-style lower bumper.

The key challenge for Toyota will be developing a powertrain that’s sporty to drive. It will have to improve the rate at which the batteries charge and discharge, for razor-sharp responses.

If the company gets it right, the car could do 0-60mph in seven seconds, yet return 60mpg and emit less than 100g/km of CO2. A new MR2 would be a desirable addition to the range, but Toyota is concentrating more on family hybrids at the moment, with 10 being launched over the next 12 months.

Aston Martin DBS Volante

Making its debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month, the new drop-top will line up alongside the V12 Vantage and new Lagonda luxury saloon, giving show goers a triple treat of fresh metal.

Described by Aston Martin as the “the ultimate open air motoring experience”, the DBS Volante gets the same mighty 6.0-litre V12 as the coupe and stunning looks with a fabric hood that closely follows the silhouette of the coupe.

Capable of dropping at the touch of a button in just 14 seconds and at up to speeds of 30mph, the roof automatically stows under a re–sculpted tonneau cover, which maintains the slick look of the coupe. And as you can see, all the styling cues from the storming DBS coupe are carried across.

The front end gets sleek air intakes, a low splitter and bonnet air vents, the side skirts are lower while at the rear are clear lens covers for the taillights, a subtle boot-lid spoiler and a diffuser. While the bonnet, front wings and boot lid are made from carbon fibre, the DBS Volante is quite a bit heavier than the coupe.

To cope with the loss in stiffness associated with the removal of the hard-top, extra strengthening – including a rigidly mounted rear subframe – has gone into the bonded aluminium chassis chassis. As a result the Volante tips the scales at 1810kg – some 115kg more than the coupe.

Despite this extra weight, performance isn’t really affected. Under the bonnet lies the same 6.0-litre V12 as the DBS coupe. Based on the same unit that powers the DB9, it gets an uprated airbox, which takes peak power to 510bhp and torque to 570Nm. Standard transmission is a six-speed manual gearbox with the option of Aston Martin’s semi-automatic Touchtronic ‘box.

The Volante posts almost identical performance figures to the coupe, accelerating from 0-62mph in just 4.2seconds (0.1seconds down) and hitting the same top speed of 191mph. Carbon ceramic brakes do the stopping while adaptive dampers and double wishbone suspension with 20-inch alloy wheels and sticky Pirelli P-Zero rubber should mean the Volante is prodigious around corners. Inside the luxurious 2+2 cabin gets a bespoke Bang and Olufsen sound system as standard.

On sale this autumn, the DBS Volante is expected to cost around £170,000 – some £11,000 more than the coupe.

New Volvo S60

Concept car previewing 2010 S60 saloon replacement

Volvo has revealed pictures of its S60 saloon concept. The car which will appear at the January 2009 Detroit motor show and give major hints as to what to expect from the 2010 S60, which is only the second version of the saloon - the outgoing car will be a decade old by the time it is superceded.

It has remained on sale virtually unchanged thanks to its well proportioned looks but also due to Volvo pushing funds towards developing a more expansive range - including a new S40, V70, the C30 hatchback/coupe and the all-new XC60 SUV. The bigger XC90 will also be over ten years old by the time it is replaced as the brand concentrates on developing the new S60.

If it looks anything like this concept, Volvo will be onto a winner. Although the suicide rear doors are destined to be lost, the four-door coupe looks, in the same vein as the VW Passat CC, would be sure to stand out alongside more traditional saloon rivals such as the BMW 3-series and Audi A4.

The lines that sweep from the headlights to the back of the car are inspired by Swedish coastlines, apparently, while Volvo says the car will deliver a sporty drive like no other Volvo before. Fingers crossed...

Mid-engined Jaguar flagship on the way

Big Cat reveals shock plans for a stunning rival to Audi's R8 – and Auto Express has the low-down!

Auto Express has learnt that Jaguar is working on an all-new, mid-engined coupe which is set to make its public debut in just 12 months time.

Aimed at the likes of the Audi R8, the top-secret machine has apparently beaten the long awaited F-Type in the race to be the first new sportscar launched by the company since its acquisition by Indian conglomerate, Tata. It revives plans for a flagship sports car, which were first revealead way back in 2001 with the R-Coupe (pictured).

Based on the current XK, the newcomer will also be the first mid-engined model from the Coventry car builder since the XJ220…launched 18 years ago in 1991.

Tipped to be called the XE, it will first appear as a concept, possibly at the Geneva Motor Show in 2010. Set to combine a dramatic silouhette with an imposing nose, the model is expected to be the most forward looking model the firm has yet produced.

Under the bonnet, the car is likely to use a tuned version of the XF-R's 503bhp 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine. Jaguar’s managing director Mike O’Driscoll said: “XK is the car that began a revolution for us, but it’s not the end of the story. I firmly believe the best car we could build to compliment this is a flagship coupé.”

For the full story, make sure you buy next week's issue of Auto Express, out January 21st.