1. Bugatti EB 16.4 Veyron 253mph+, 0-62mph 2.5 secs

Officially the fastest car in the world. Ever. In a straight line the Bugatti Veyron simply owns the opposition. Electronically limited to 253mph, the Veyron's top-end superiority is underlined by simply staggering acceleration. Remember the 243mph McLaren F1? Even given a 100mph head start, the Veyron would still beat one to the double ton. More fun stats include emptying the 100-litre fuel tank in 11 minutes at maximum velocity - a situation engineers have described as a 'safety feature'. Travel that fast for a whole half hour and even the special high-speed tyres would apparently start to melt.
With four turbochargers, the 8.0-litre W16 engine makes a minimum 1000bhp, so it's no surprise to discover the car contains 17 different cooling devices. Four-wheel drive and sophisticated aerodynamics mean the Veyron isn't just a hyper-performance dragster, either, cornering incredibly for something weighing 1888kg. A super-fast shifting seven-speed DSG gearbox and mega price-tag completes this ultimate high-speed package.


2. Koenigsegg CCX 245mph+, 0-62mph 3.2 secs

Poor Koenigsegg. Having spent the entire century so far trying to capture the McLaren F1's top speed record, the Swedish supercar maker finally achieves it with the 242mph CCR when Bugatti comes along and rearranges the rulebook. That's got to hurt. Still, what better way to bury the pain than to develop a new version - the CCX. A bespoke 4.7-litre V8 with twin superchargers sits just behind the passenger compartment, developing 806bhp and 678lb ft of torque - enough to propel the car from 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds despite only having rear wheel drive.
245mph is achievable if you can find, well, a runway long enough, though the low drag shape that allows this does mean the Koenigsegg can be a handful in the corners. Extra bonus points for having carbon-fibre wheels on the options list and doors that are cooler than a penguin's feet.

3. Bristol Fighter T 225mph+, 0-62mph 3.5 secs

Eccentric is an overused word, but as a description of Bristol, the reclusive British carmaker, it seems perfectly apt. Imagine a sideboard on wheels, add a whacking great American V8 and you've got a Blenheim. Bristol got by building variations of these for years (and years) until suddenly it decided a supercar was desperately needed to complete the line-up. Thus, the 200mph Fighter was born, and having gotten hip to the new millennium, Bristol can't stop improving the specification of the thing. Apparently due to customer demand - no seriously, Bristol customers do attend trackdays - the new Fighter T has an utterly bonkers 1012bhp and immense 1036lb ft of torque.
That's more power than the Veyron, thanks to a twin-turbocharged version of the 8.0-litre V10 more often found under the bonnet of a Dodge SRT-10. Electronically limited to 225mph, Bristol claims a frankly ludicrous potential maximum of 270mph. They neglect to mention the price, but if you have to ask%u2026


4. Gumpert Apollo 224mph, 0-62mph 3.0 secs

Yikes. Well, you're not exactly going to miss this, uh, beauty appearing suddenly in the rear-view mirror. And seriously, move over, because although you've probably never heard of it, being fourth on this list means there aren't many cars capable of outrunning a Gumpert Apollo. 224mph is impressive, but it's the 0-62mph time that really grabs our attention. Three seconds flat is seriously quick - you'll be needing a Veyron if you want to go faster. Such high levels of poke hint at an exotic under-bonnet experience, but don't be too disappointed when we tell you the Apollo is powered by a 4.2-litre Audi V8.

5. Pagani Zonda C12 F 214mph, 0-62mph 3.5 secs

The Pagani Zonda has never been about outright top speed. When you've got such extravagant design and exquisite detailing, not to mention epic acceleration, sublime handling and a pair of shoes made by the Pope's cobbler included in the asking price, becoming part of the supercar elite was almost a given. And Pagani's done it in record time - going from obscurity to revered supercar status in the blink of an eye. Still, it's nice to know you can back up all that flash with a bit of firepower if you need to, and the introduction of the 214mph Zonda F nicely boosts a range that otherwise barely cracks the magic 200.
7.3-litres of bespoke Mercedes-Benz AMG V12 does the business very nicely, providing upwards of 602bhp (650bhp in Clubsport guise), and 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds. We'll take ours in bare carbon-fibre, please. And if you want real exclusivity, there's a Roadster version available, too.


6. Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 211mph, 0-62 3.4 seconds

Lamborghini is synonymous with flamboyance. So when it unveiled this car at the 2006 Geneva motorshow, the world gasped. Who on earth had decided to paint a Murciélago in gloss primer grey? But the LP640 isn't any ordinary Murciélago , and we rather suspect the utilitarian hue wasn't just about making the car look harder than a Stealthbomber on a night out. Toning down the paint helps emphasize that this Lamborghini is all about performance, an impression enhanced by the optional transparent engine cover that keeps the LP640's wailing V12 hard permanently on display.
211mph is six more than the standard version, which doesn't sound much until you realise it's taken 61 more horses to achieve, and the going gets pretty tough over 200mph. The total bhp count now stands at 631, helping drop the 0-62mph time by an impressive 0.4 seconds to only 3.4. Oh, and you still get the scissor doors - which should keep the traditional clientele happy.

7. Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren "722 Edition" 209mph, 0-62mph 3.6 secs

What kind of supercar really needs a special edition? Well pretty much everyone is at it these days so that's something of a moot point. But if anything does, it's the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren - which has the unfortunate double problem of the McLaren F1 as a forefather and various AMG Mercedes as siblings. Ceramic brakes and an unrestricted top speed are all very well, but you don't really expect them to be combined with an automatic gearbox and the interior from an executive saloon.
So, in order to up the interest a bit, only 150 "722 Edition" SLRs will ever be made, featuring a 650bhp version of the 5.5-litre V8, specially tuned suspension, a quicker 0-62mph dash and a top speed of 209mph - that's a whole 1 mph faster than the 'ordinary' car. Hmmm. Tough to pick when an SL65 with the limiter removed will lose you your licence just as comprehensively for about £200,000 less.


8. Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano 205mph+, 0-62mph 3.7 secs

The Ferrari Enzo was such a technical tour de force that it's easy to imagine the engineers at Maranello scratching their heads over what to do next. No such luck for the competition as it turns out, since in developing a replacement for the 575M Maranello, Ferrari have completely re-written the script for front-engined GT supercars. Other cars on this list may be faster - in some cases very much so - but the 599 GTB Fiorano is just fantastically accomplished to drive.
Technical highlights include Magnetorheological Suspension Control, Formula 1 derived traction and stability control, and the not insignificant achievement of being 40kg lighter than the outgoing 575M despite being considerably larger. Don't care about the techy stuff? Then simple glory in this 6.0-litre V12's 8,400rpm redline, soulful interior, and the fact you're driving a car with a prancing horse on the bonnet. Shame it doesn't look a little bit prettier, but then the world never has been perfect.

9. Aston Martin Vanquish S 200mph+, 0-62mph 4.8 secs

The original Vanquish could never really be accused of being short of power, but such is the pace of development these days its cheaper DB9 relative was snapping at its heels in the performance department. Costing some £60,000 more than the DB9 that simply wouldn't do. So the Vanquish S was born, raising power from its front-mounted V12 to 520bhp, a hike of 60bhp. That also pushes the top speed of this British bruiser up beyond the 200mph barrier.
As well as the engine modifications the S has a tweaked chassis to provide a more focussed, rawer driving experience, marking it out from the still available regular Vanquish and the DB9. Still largely hand built, in tiny numbers, the Vanquish S is a perfect British riposte to the thoroughbred Italians here; sophisticated, yet brutally fast, Aston Martin's flagship is a very desirable and useable 200mph+ machine. KF


10. And the runners-up are...

Rather than stick a single car into the number 10 slot, we thought it'd be more fun to round up the list with several%u2026 let's say 'unverified' alternatives. No official showing from Porsche since the demise of the Carerra GT could easily be countered with a number of tuner 911 from specialists so deep into modification they actually count as independent manufacturers in some countries. Ruf and 9ff, for example, will happily sell you a professionally fettled 911 turbo capable of well over 200mph. Similarly, Brabus and others make a business out of making Mercedes go very quickly indeed, and the CLS based Rocket has 730bhp and is supposedly electronically limited to 217mph.

America is another notable absentee, but the most likely candidate, Saleen's S7 Twin Turbo makes no greater claim than 200mph+, even if previous talk had suggested 260mph might be possible. The UK's very own Ultima also claims 200mph+ for certain versions of the GTR, but specifications are quite individual. What we can say for certain is that Ultima does hold the 0-100mph-0 world record, with its GTR720 performing the feat in 9.4 seconds - half a second faster than even the Veyron can manage. Another UK wild card is the Barabus TKR, which was a surprise showing at this year's British motorshow, and is theoretically good for 270mph.


But then they also claim 0-62 in less than two seconds, and we're really not sure if that's possible. But for totally off-the-wall (and totally unverifiable) try Project 1221, an Italian concern apparently building a turbine powered supercar with the equivalent of 1500bhp and a 270mph+ top speed%u2026

SOURCE: MSN CARS

1. Toyota Prius - CO2 104 g/km, 65mpg

It's a hybrid, which mates a small 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor. This unusual combination allows the Prius to get along as efficiently as possible, the electric motor taking over at slow town speeds, the petrol engine assisting when more urge is required. It all works eerily well, though the savings would be even more impressive if the electric motor were mated to a super efficient turbodiesel. Unlike the majority of the cars here, the Prius is a family hatchback rather than a supermini, but you do pay for that technology as at £18,345 it's not cheap, but if low CO2 emissions are your primary concern - nothing beats it.


2. Citroen C2 1.4 HDi - CO2 108g/km, 69mpg

The first of a number of showings from French manufacturers the C2 takes second place here with CO2 emissions of just 108g/km. Being significantly smaller and lighter than the Prius the C2 manages to squeeze a potential 69mpg out of a gallon of diesel, impressive indeed, though there's not much space inside if there's more than two of you. Equipment levels are decent enough and treat that price as a guide, as Citroen dealers regularly chop huge amounts off their range and offer attractive insurance and finance deals too. A peppy performer that's got some credibility with younger buyers the C2 is the ideal runabout that'll you'll rarely have to fill up.


3. Citroen C3 1.4 HDi - CO2 110g/km, 67mpg

The C2's bigger relative uses the same engine and offers a similar economy and CO2 output as a result. Being bigger, and hence weightier economy does take a slight hit but it's a small price to pay for the increased practicality. Quirky looks give it instant appeal, it's certainly more interesting to look at than the majority of the current crop of superminis, but you do pay for it in build quality - which is pretty patchy with flimsy plastics throughout. Ignore this and you'll have an enjoyable drive, the 1.4 HDi producing a respectable 70bhp, its mid range flexibility making it feel quicker than its 13.4 second 0-60mph figure suggests.

4. Renault Clio 1.5 dCi 80 - CO2 110g/km, 66mpg

If you want more power you can upgrade from the 80bhp version here for the 100bhp model with little difference in your emissions and economy for a small premium. All are comprehensively specified, meaning even entry level trims have equipment that in rivals you'd have to pay for. It's an enjoyable drive too, with entertaining yet surefooted handling. It may be due for replacement in the next year, but that only means there will be bigger bargains on offer. Well worth a look.


5. Smart Fortwo - CO2 113g/km, 60mpg

The first entirely petrol car to feature here shows that it's not just all about diesels when it comes to emissions and economy. The Smart Fortwo was designed to be an efficient town runabout, and it was done so well that even five years after it was launched it's still able to cut it among the modern turbodiesels. It undoubtedly has its critics, primarily because of the ponderous semi-automatic transmission, but it remains a clever solution to urban transportation. It carries two comfortably, and can manage 60mpg on the official combined cycle and has a hugely loyal following of owners. Not so much a car as a lifestyle statement, with the Fortwo you can keep emissions to a minimum without sacrificing style.

6. Peugeot 206 HDi - CO2 113g/km, 65mpg

Yet another, and not quite the last showing for the excellent 1.4 HDi turbodiesel in this top ten. As sister company to Citroen it's hardly surprising that the 206 gets the same frugal, low emissions engine. A hugely popular choice, the 206 isn't quite as spacious inside as its Citroen C3 relative, but it does feel much better built, even if the driving position is often criticised. Like all the cars here with this engine, its on paper performance doesn't look too impressive with a 0-60mph time of 15 seconds, but it feels feistier on the move.


7. Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCi - CO2 114g/km, 65mpg

The Ford Fiesta might not be able to offer some of the personality of its European rivals here, but ignore this as it's currently one of the best superminis about. What it does share with its Peugeot and Citroen competition is, you've guessed it, that economical and low CO2 emitting 1.4-litre turbodiesel engine. Here, it's arguably in its best installation, the Fiesta not only feeling sharper to drive than rivals, but also better built inside too. Easy to drive, and enjoyable, too, the Ford might reek of the mainstream but it remains one of our favourites.


8. Daihatsu Charade 1.0 - CO2 114g/km, 59mpg

The second of our non-hybrid petrol contenders here isn't likely to be very high on the most people's shopping lists, but that doesn't mean it should be ignored. Daihatsu excels at making small cars for its native Japan and they work just as well on our congested streets, too. Boxy looks are the result of the need for the Charade to offer as much interior space as possible, and you'll be surprised just how much they've managed to cram into those dinky proportions. Characterful and frugal 3-cylinder petrol engine actually make it quite a tempting buy, and it's quicker off the line than the majority of the supermini diesels here too.

9. Audi A2 1.4 TDi - CO2 116g/km, 64mpg

This one surprised even surprised us when we were researching this feature. Audi's A2 combined with the punchy VW group 1.4-litre turbodiesel makes for a frugal and low emissions machine, and one that's got the badge that betters all here. Clever aluminium construction means it weighs very little and the interior is typically classy and well built in a way that only Audi seems to be able to manage. Neat touches like the double boot floor make it practical, too. Only a crashy ride and poor visibility due to thick A-pillars and the odd rear screen count against it, as, obviously, does the cost, but otherwise there's a lot to like about the A2. Get one soon though, as Audi will stop building it later this year.


10. Honda Civic IMA - CO2 116g/km, 57mpg

The Honda Civic IMA is a hybrid like the Toyota Prius that tops this top ten. Like it, it uses a petrol engine combined with an electric motor to provide economical motoring. Unlike the Prius though the results aren't quite as impressive, the IMA Civic only managing a lowly tenth position here, being bettered by the numerous diesels, and even regular petrol cars for economy and emissions.

It counters by being one of the biggest cars here, a proper saloon with good seating front and rear, though being based on the American model Civic it's not the best car to drive, but you might consider this a small sacrifice to make for your environmental principles. We'd have a Prius over it every time, or indeed something like the Audi A2, which shockingly, is cheaper.

SOURCE: MSN CARS

Thanks to a weird marriage between the National Renderers Association, the people who turn animal fat into useful products, and the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards , there is a possibility that your car could be burning chicken or other animal fat in the next few years.

That's because these two agencies have been working together to advance the development of petroleum-based fuel alternatives known as "biofuels". According to a jointly issued report, yellow grease, lard, recycled cooking fat, and other animal-derived products have been shown in tests to perform as an acceptable alternative to fossil fuels.

So far the fatty fuels have been tested in boilers, trucks, busses, and some automobiles. The results have been pretty impressive. In fact, the EPA has issued guidelines for companies who want to convert to biofuel to run their factories, power generating plants, and diesel engines. The guidelines spell out what fuels can be replaced by biofuels and what incentives the government is offering to those who take the leap. You can read the guidelines here at the EPA site.

None of this alternative fuel talk has escaped the attention of the automobile manufacturers, big oil companies, or environmental groups. Everyone is looking at the possibilities in order to find a way to make some money when all is said and done.

Some people are doing more than looking, however. One school district in Georgia is running their school busses on chicken fat, and some trucking companies are converting their diesel engine to burn vegetable oil. It all seems to be working out quite well. Of course, there will probably be a vegetable shortage next, and we'll see Crisco hitting $5.00 per tub!

Although it's not likely that your next off-the-lot car will have "finger licking good" exhaust fumes, there is a great need to develop fossil fuel alternatives. Researchers aren't just working with animal renderings and vegetable oil either. Experimental research is being conducted with hay and agricultural wastes as well. Even chicken "droppings" are getting burned.

The use of the fuel known as biodiesel is growing in America--quite literally. Biodiesel is produced by combining organic oils, from any of a number of sources, with alcohol or petroleum diesel fuel. The organic oil is most often obtained from soybeans, but many other plants have shown potential, including canola and rapeseed.

Biodiesel can even be made at home. In fact, Biodiesel America tells its members that they can make biodiesel for as little as 50 cents a gallon using recycled cooking oil, assuming the oil if free. That may seem unrealistic, but there are many vehicles on the road today that use biodiesel fuel based on free oil from restaurants. Since restaurants generally have to pay to dispose of their used grease, they're often willing to give it to a vehicle owner who wants to take it off their hands. Otherwise, they often have to pay as much as $150 per 50-gallon drum to have used grease hauled away.

Biodiesel America has a lofty goal of converting 100,000 school buses to run on biodiesel by the year 2010. The purpose of their project is not only to significantly lessen America's fuel dependence on foreign countries, but they also are determined to lessen greenhouse gas emission, as well. According to the National Biodiesel Board, the amount of carbon monoxide emitted from a biodiesel engine averages 48 percent less than a similar engine running of "regular" diesel. Therefore, converting 100,000 school buses would represent a significant reduction in pollution.

Click Here To Read More

BMW 5 Series receives styling updates for the 2008 model year. They're very subtle, so much so that we almost had to take BMW's word for it that things actually had changed. The same holds true for the updated interior, which features further refinements to BMW's iDrive system. What isn't so subtle is what's under the hood. Both six cylinder engines in the 5 Series are updated with more power and refinement, with the most potential for fun the addition of the twin-turbo 535i, featuring the same engine as the excellent 335i coupe.

MORE ABOUT BMW

At 7,800 rpm the 4.2-litre engine delivers 309 kW(420 bhp) of power output. Peak torque is 430 Newton-metres from 4.500 to 6,000 rpm. And no less than 90% of this max torque is maintained consistently throughout a wide engine speed range from 3,500 to 7,600 rpm. As a result of these qualities, the eight-cylinder power unit provides maximum thrust in virtually any driving situation. The engine is a high-revving unit. The max engine speed is 8,250 rpm. The advantages of this principle are superior power output at high engine speeds and a smooth, eager responsiveness all across the revs range.

MORE ABOUT AUDI

The entry-level 'Vette gets a new 6.2L LS3 engine for the 2008 model year, offering 36 more horsepower than the 2005-2007 LS2 version. The 2008 Corvette will deliver 430 horsepower and 424 lb-ft of torque on the most basic model, or 436 hp and 428 lb-ft with new, optional dual-mode exhaust system. The engine's displacement has increased from 6.0 liters to 6.2L, or 376-cubic-inches.

MORE ABOUT CHEVROLET

Called the 612 P4/5, the two-seater has the Enzo's V12 engine and is based on a modified version of that car's carbon chassis. It will debut on 20 August at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elégance. The car is a one-off commissioned by James Glickenhaus, the American collector with a yen for the legendary racing cars of the Sixties.

MORE ABOUT FERRARI

Not content with its previous 636hp twin-supercharged F430, German tuner and Ferrari specialist Novitec has now upgraded the car to "Evoluzione" spec. Power is up by an additional 20hp, giving it an Enzo rivalling 656hp and decimating the standard F430 which makes do with 490hp.

MORE ABOUT FERRARI

Lamborghini today unveiled the new Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 Roadster. Calimed to be the world's fastest roadster (watch out Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster) the Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 Roadster has a 6.5 liter V12 engine that pushes 640 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 487 lb-ft of torque. The Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 Roadster does 0-60 in just 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 205 mph. The transmission is a Lamborghini's E-gear six-speed sequential manual transmission with the "thrust" mode for acceleration boost to all four wheels through the Murciélago's VT system.

MORE ABOUT LAMBORGHINI

The SRT model gains an additional 90 horsepower from the new 8.4-liter powerplant, for a total of 600 hp and 560 lb.-ft. of torque. Zero to 60 mph takes under four seconds, and 0-100-0 mph is completed in just over 12 seconds. The Viper SRT10's 8.4-liter engine breathes through new cylinder heads equipped with CNC-machhined combustion chambers, larger valves and Variable Valve Timing (VVT).

MORE ABOUT DODGE

There's really only one way to describe Porsche's Limited Edition Boxster and Boxster S: Orange. The Boxster Special Edition will be available in both regular and "S" models, with just 250 examples of each model expected to be produced. To ensure this Boxster is special, the package adds a dual-tip sport exhaust to add a handful of extra ponies to the already powerful car.

MORE ABOUT PORSCHE

It rides on Aston's all-aluminum VH platform and uses a German-built 380-horsepower 4.3-liter V8 under the hood. According to Aston Martin, the V8 Vantage Roadster will be heavier than the coupe, but will also be as fast with a 0-to-60-mph time of 5 seconds and a top speed of 175 mph.

MORE ABOUT ASTON MARTIN

The 2008 Honda Accord will also reprise front-wheel drive and offer four- and six-cylinder engines. The four-cylinder will stay at around 170 horsepower. The V-6 likely will grow to 3.2 liters from 3.0 and probably will add to the 2007 version's 244 horsepower, if only to stay abreast of V-6s in newer competitors such as the Nissan Altma (270 horsepower) and Toyota Camry (268). Expect fuel economy with either engine to improve slightly.

MORE ABOUT HONDA

Power for the 2008 Cadillac CTS comes from a pair of 3.6-liter V-6 engines. Standard output is 258 horsepower. The optional version of this engine uses high-pressure direct injection and is good for 300 horsepower, says Cadillac. Both engines team with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

MORE ABOUT CADILLAC

The Shelby GT500KR is the most powerful production Mustang yet, a fact not unnoticed by would-be owners and fast-flip "collectors." The next four Mustangs in descending order of factory-rated horsepower: the current GT500; the 2003 SVT Cobra (390-horsepower 4.6-liter supercharged V-8); the 2000 SVT Cobra R (385-horsepower non-supercharged 5.4 V-8); and 1969-70 Mustang Boss 429 (a muscle car with a 429-cubic-inch V-8 cagily underrated at 375 horsepower).

MORE ABOUT FORD

With Nissan insiders under a strict, mafia-like code of omerta (silence), the Tokyo grapevine reports that the 2008 production car will have a twin-turbo V-6 engine displacing about 3.8 liters and producing somewhere between 400 and 500 hp. We hope it will be closer to the latter figure. It also will feature an updated version of Nissan's ATTESA all-wheel-drive system.

MORE ABOUT NISSAN

Unlike the modern Camaro that bowed out in 2002, the concept Camaro is a car that is clearly inspired by the Camaros of the late 1960s. But the retro look is only skin-deep, as the Camaro has a fully independent suspension, a six-speed manual, and a 400-hp, 6.0-liter V-8 with cylinder deactivation-now known as active fuel management in GM-speak. Speculation about a possible platform centers on GM's rear-drive Zeta architecture that was shelved last year after being deemed too expensive.

MORE ABOUT CHEVROLET

The Pontiac Solstice is a great-looking, two-door, two-seater, drop-top sports car for less than 20 big ones.

The Solstice comes in two trims: Convertible and GXP Convertible. The Convertible is powered by a 177 hp 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder engine. The GXP Convertible is powered by a 260 hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine. Both models are controlled by a 5-speed manual or an optional 5-speed automatic transmission. The GXP also includes an electronic stability system, stainless steel exhaust outlets, sporty seats and changes in exterior styling.

MORE ABOUT PONTIAC