New 542bhp Porsche Panamera Turbo S

This new Turbo S model is the fastest, most powerful variant of the Porsche Panamera yet.

The twin-turbo 4.8-litre V8 super-saloon has had a power hike over the Turbo model on which it is based, from 493bhp to 542bhp, taking it beyond its Mercedes S63 AMG (518bhp) and BMW 760Li (537bhp) rivals. The Turbo S’s top speed is 191mph, 3mph higher than the standard Turbo, while its 3.8sec 0-62mph time makes it quicker than a 911 GT3 RS (4.0sec).

See the official pics of the Porsche Panamera Turbo S

Porsche engineers have fitted titanium-aluminium turbine wheels to the turbochargers and revised the engine control management of the Turbo S to boost power and performance. Torque is also up in the S over the standard Turbo, from 510lb ft to 553lb ft when driven in Sport and Sport Plus modes, and up to 590lb ft is available with an overboost function.

These increases have been made without sacrificing economy, which stays at 24.6mpg combined, due to the lighter weight and lower inertia of the turbine and compressor wheel in the turbochargers.

Full road test of the Porsche Panamera Turbo

Several dynamic systems are offered as standard on the Turbo S. Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control boosts cornering stability, while Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus works with an electronically controlled limited-slip differential to apply a variable torque split to the rear wheels for greater traction and agility. A Sport Chrono Package Turbo revises suspension and engine controls for a more “sporting” drive in Sport Plus mode.

Styling changes include new 20-inch Turbo II wheels, a sports exhaust and a two-tone leather interior. The Turbo S goes in sale in June, priced from £122,623, a near £20k hike over the standard Turbo.

Ferrari FF 6.3 V12

The FF is a car you’d happily drive serious distances in

Next to the 599 GTB perhaps it doesn’t feel quite so insanely ballistic in the lower gears

The 450-litre boot easily swallowed all of our camera and video equipment

The 651bhp 6.3-litre V12 engine is a development of the one used in the Enzo and 599 GTB

Like the 458, much of the FF's controls are contained on its steering wheel

The interior is comfortable and spacious and the packaging is very successful

On our seven-hour test drive, three people remained in comfort throughout

Ferrari FF 6.3 V12

Price: £227,026; 0-62mph: 3.7sec; Top Speed: 208mph; Engine: V12, 6262cc, petrol; Power: 651bhp at 8000rpm; Torque: 504lb ft at 6000rpm; Economy: 18.3mpg; CO2: 360g/km; Transmission: 7-spd dual clutch transmission (rear axle) + 2spd (front axle)

Mercedes-Benz SLK 200 CGI BlueEfficiency

Enthusiast drivers would be forgiven for having mentally docked the Mercedes SLK under ‘humdrum boulevard special’. And it’s true that the first SLK (back in 1996) was known more for its revolutionary folding hard top than for its abilities on winding roads.

This, third generation, model is again more of a tourer than a sports car, but Mercedes is promising a much greater emphasis on agility. Described as being ‘70 per cent all-new’ the SLK uses the same base platform as before, adding slightly increased width and claimed improved rigidity, partly thanks to a fibre-reinforced rear bulkhead.

The more aggressive SL-style exterior gets an aluminium bonnet and aluminium wings. The SLS-style interior is relatively plain, but clear and well screwed together. Although there’s a raft of sophisticated extras available (including a Reactolite-style glass roof panel option, adaptive damping, a variable rate steering rack and Torque Vectoring Brakes), there’s a strong argument that this base model could be the best SLK of the new line-up.

See pics of the Mercedes-Benz SLK 200 CGI BlueEfficiency

What’s it like?
Most impressive is the new 1.8-litre turbocharged engine. Equipped with a very sophisticated high pressure injection system and twin balancer shafts, it gives a remarkably tractable and diesel-like response, delivering its significant maximum torque from just 1800rpm to 4600rpm. Indeed, this flat torque delivery means that changing up as the engine approaches the redline can result in a most unexpected surge of acceleration as the motor spins back down into the very punchy mid-range.

It’s seems pretty frugal, too. According to the trip computer, this manual SLK200 was about twice as economical as the V6-engined, autobox, SLK350 I drove on the same demanding mountain roads. And, in truth, it didn’t feel significantly slower.

The new SLK now has quicker steering and this model, rolling on standard-issue steel springs and dampers, was decently agile in that typically restrained Mercedes way. The driver needs to put some effort in to extract the best from it, pushing the car hard into bends. But it’s pretty easy to place and resists understeer well.

Should I buy one?
This is a very pleasant machine. It’s an enthusiastic, compact, neat handling and brisk all-weather roadster with a particularly impressive and punchy four-cylinder engine. It’s also well-made and as capable of tackling a mountain road as it is happy to bowl down to the shops. It’s not for serious enthusiasts, but it’s easy to see the attraction.

Mercedes-Benz SLK 200 BlueEfficiency
Price: £29,970; Top speed: 149mph; 0-62mph: 7.3sec; Economy: 44mpg; Co2: 149g/kml; Kerbweight: 1435kg; Engine type: 4cyls turbopetrol, 1796cc; Power: 181bhp; Torque: 200lb ft at 1800-4600rpm; Gearbox: 7-speed manual

BMW's new car-sharing scheme

BMW has launched a new car-sharing scheme in Germany that it hopes will create one million new customers for the brand by 2020.

The new scheme, called DriveNow, is a 50-50 joint venture between BMW and Germany’s biggest car rental firm Sixt. DriveNow will launch in Munich on 1 April with 300 Minis and BMW 1-series available to rent and a launch will follow shortly after in Berlin, which will have 500 cars.

Drivers will be able to book cars parked around the cities using the internet or a smartphone app, and will then access them using a chip embedded in their driving licenses.

Read more on BMW's new i range of cars

BMW sales and marketing boss Ian Robertson said the firm was always looking at launching new businesses and adding new customers to the brand. The scheme will extend to other European cities and potentially other continents. New cars will also be added to the scheme according to demand, including BMW’s i range of electric cars from 2013.

Robertson said the scheme would offer people living in cities an alternative to car ownership that allowed people to use a car “on the spur of the moment” without many of usually associated costs.

Similar schemes are offered in cities around the world by Peugeot, Citroen and Mercedes.

Every C-class will be hybrid

The next-generation Mercedes C-class will have hybrid technology on virtually every model in an attempt to drive average fuel consumption down to supermini levels, say company sources.

Expected to be launched in late 2013, the new C-class family is being developed to demanding CO2 targets. According to one insider, the most frugal diesel-engined model in the range is targeting average emissions of just 100g/km, while the most economic petrol version will come in between 110g/km and 120g/km.

Early prototypes are now being tested, but Autocar understands there is still some debate as to whether three-cylinder engines will be fitted. Another possibility is that the new cars will use four-pot engines equipped with cylinder deactivation technology, allowing the motors to occasionally run on just two cylinders.

As well as these downsized engines and electrical assistance from hybrid transmissions, the new C-class cars will benefit from greatly reduced friction in the engine, gearbox and wheel bearings. The cars’ overall weight, despite the addition of a small battery pack, electric motor and power electronics, will be reduced by around 10 per cent.

Land Rover Range_e review

Accurately controlled supply of torque means it can actually benefit off road use

This car is one of only five examples, with a production version yet to be confirmed

In theory it can hit 70mph without troubling its diesel motor

Only when accelerating on to a faster road through an uphill slip road did the diesel motor fire

Come 2013 you will be able to buy a conventional hybrid Range Rover

Rang_e produces 322bhp and 561lb ft of torque

Land Rover Rang_e
Price: na; 0-60mph: 8.0sec (est); Top speed: 124mph; Economy: na; CO2 emissions: 89g/km; Kerb weight: 2745kg (est); Engine layout: V6, 2993cc, turbodiesel, plus electric motor; Installation: Front, longitudinal, 4-wheel drive; Power: 322bhp; Torque: 561lb ft at 1350-3000rpm; Gearbox: 8-spd automatic

See also Super Sport Car

Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi

The mid-range 138bhp 2.0 CDTi Ford Focus. We have already found out that the new Ford Focus remains one of the best family hatches out there, but in the guises we’ve so far tested it has lost some of the precision and energy that its predecessors specialised in. Predictably the same can be said of this model, which that we’re testing here for the first time.

See pics of the Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi in action

What’s it like?
Expected to account for less than 10 per cent of sales in the UK this motor does have some very worthwhile strengths over the 114bhp oil burner that will be the volume seller.

Peak torque of 236 lb ft arrives from 1750rpm through to 2750rpm, which allows it to sit in high gears around town with relative ease and respond well without requiring much stirring of the well-judged and solid-shifting six-speed manual (the Powershift ‘box is an extra £1250).

It avoids the inertia that the smaller, lower powered diesel engine suffers from, spinning freely and responding quickly enough to the throttle. Work it hard and it can become vocal, but in general use it’s tyre noise that is the more intrusive background hum, with the engine settling to an impressively subdued hush when in its lower rev range.

The result is that this is one of the more pleasant Focus models to drive, particularly for long motorway miles. Yes, the artificial-feeling steering and merely composed rather than engaging dynamics are a disappointment but in most ways the Focus is exactly what it needs to be. Stable, refined and calming.

Should I buy one?
This 2.0 TDCi engine is available in Zetec trim or above, and is priced competitively against the obvious rivals – noticeably cheaper than the Golf. In terms of how it drives this is one of the best engines in the Focus range and one of the best cars in the class. The equivalent Golf’s marginally better economy in GT trim (or vastly superior in 2.0 TDi Bluemotion form) could swing many in VW’s favour, but the Focus still has the ability to make extremely ordinary travel thoroughly enjoyable.

See also Super Sport Car

Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Titanium
Price: £20,745; Top speed: 129mph; 0-62mph: 8.9sec; Economy: 56.5mpg; Co2: 129g/km; Kerbweight: 1421kg; Engine type: 4cyl, 1997cc, turbodiesel; Power: 138bhp at 3750rpm; Torque: 236lb ft at 1750-2750rpm; Gearbox: 6spd manual