Honda's All New Jazz

Honda has announced details of its all-new Jazz supermini. The new five-door hatchback continues to offer class-leading space and versatility but with a sleeker look and greater fuel efficiency. As with the old model, the fuel tank is located under the front seats allowing the rear seat base to lift up giving owners an easily accessed area in which to transport taller items, while the boot as a double floor to keep wet or dirty items separated from the rest of the luggage.The driver benefits from an all-new dashboard and greater visibility, higher refinement levels, new seats and better materials, while all occupants have increased leg and shoulder room too. Honda claims the revised suspension, larger wheels, longer wheelbase and wider track have all combined to improved ride and handling, while its new engines boost performance and efficiency, too. The 1.2-litre normally aspirated engine produces an astonishing 90hp, just 10hp shy of the 1.4-litre engine's output, although both return amazing fuel economy figures of 5.1 and 5.3L/100km. The 1.2-litre has a Band A CO2 figure of just 120g, as does the 1.4-litre engine when fitted with the new six-speed i-Shift transmission. Final specification has yet to be announced but six airbags and traction control should help it score well in the Euro NCAP tests.

Chevrolet Unleashes New Camaro

It's been more than 40 years since the first Chevrolet Camaro rolled off the production line to do battle with the mighty Ford Mustang but over the years the Camaro name lost its appeal and was shelved by GM in 2002. Ford's Mustang hadn't fared any better in the intervening years but the all-new, deeply retro Ford Mustang introduced in 2005 was fast, fun and stunning to look at, making American muscle cars cool once again. Arch-rivals GM were caught napping and it's taken them until now to get an all-new Chevrolet Camaro to market but judging by the pictures I think you'll agree it was worth the wait! Like the Ford, the Chevy draws heavily on the style of the original model, with its aggressive detailing and muscular shape, while the interior is also awash with 60's-inspired features like square auxiliary dials and a deep-dish steering wheel. Thankfully, the Camaro doesn't use an ancient live rear axle and pushrod engines, like the built-to-a-price Ford. Instead it's based on GM's sophisticated rear-wheel drive Zeta platform, which was developed by Holden and boasts a multi-link rear suspension for superior handling and stability. Standard chassis goodies include ESC, four-piston Brembo brakes and 20-inch alloy wheels and it has been extensively developed on Germany's famous Nürburgring, something that can't be said of the unruly Ford. Two engines will be offered in the U.S.; a 300hp 3.6-litre V6 (as much power as the Mustang's 5.0-litre V8) and the Corvette's 420hp, 6.2-litre V8, both available with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions. Manual versions can hit 100km/h in around 5 seconds. The all-new Camaro goes on sale in the U.S. early next year while Europe gets its yet-to-be-finalised version in 2009 and Ireland gets the right-hand drive Camaro in early 2010. It's likely it will be badged simply "Camaro" and shed the Chevrolet badge, like the Corvette.

Lotus Reveals Evora

This is the first all-new Lotus since the Elise made its debut thirteen years ago. It's called the Evora (although it is also known by its internal name 'Project Eagle') and apparently it's the only mid-engined 2+2 sports car in the world. It's powered by a Lotus-tweaked, Toyota-supplied, 3.5-litre V6 which produces 280hp and can propel the Evora to 100km/h in around five seconds, while still managing to be environmentally friendly enough to dip into VRT Band F. Top speed should be around 280km/h, although performance junkies will be glad to hear that a supercharged Evora is expected to be launched in 2010 with a top speed well beyond 300km/h. Posers can also rejoice at the news that a two-seater convertible version will arrive around the same time. Unlike Lotus' other featherweight, hardcore models, the Evora is packed with luxury features like touch-screen sat nav; power-folding door mirrors; Bluetooth; leather; multiple airbags and ESC, which explains why it tips the scales at an uncharacteristically chunky 1350kg. The chassis comprises an aluminium tub with aluminium subframes bolted on front and rear, which should help reduce repair costs while also ensuring the Evora is two-and-a-half times stiffer than the Elise. This bodes extremely well for the Evora's highly anticipated handling. Only 2,000 Evoras per year will be built with a starting price, we reckon, of around €100,000.