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Porsche will reveal a hybrid version of its 911 GT3 R racing car at the Geneva motor show in March.

The technology has been developed for racing application, so two electric motors supplement the 480bhp 4.0-litre engine.

However, instead of the batteries you’d find in a hybrid road car, a generator powered by the car’s flywheel delivers energy to the two electric motors.

Generating power
The generator is charged whenever the driver applies the brakes, at which point the electric motors stop delivering power in order to act as generators themselves.

Rather than braking energy being lost as heat, it is converted into power that can be used at a later time by the car’s driver.

The extra power that’s generated in during each charge process is available to the driver for around 6-8 seconds – ideal for accelerating out of a bend or overtaking.

Saving fuel
As well as creating extra power, the hybrid system helps reduce fuel consumption. Performance is also improved because the car will need a lighter fuel tank and fewer pitstops.

Car on test
After the Geneva motor show debut, Porsche will be testing the 911 GT3 R hybrid in long-distance races at the Nurburgring in Germany.

Porsche hopes that the car will act as a ‘racing laboratory’ to help develop future hybrid technology in road-going applications.

First Porshce hybrid for 110 years
Ferdinand Porsche first developed a vehicle with hybrid drive 110 years ago; the Lohner-Porsche. This had two combustion engines and an electric hub motor, and could store energy in a battery.

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The M4 motorway is to become Britain’s first ‘hydrogen highway’, with refuelling points along the route, Welsh Secretary Peter Hain announced today.

It’s hoped this will help overcome the main obstacle in the way of hydrogen cars – the lack of a fuelling infrastructure – by creating a low-carbon fuel corridor along the South Wales section of the M4. There are also plans to extend the ‘corridor’ east as far as London.

‘Hydrogen presents exciting opportunities for low-carbon energy and I want South Wales to become a UK centre of excellence and expertise in hydrogen fuel technologies – both in development and manufacturing,’ said Peter Hain.

Wales is the latest region to be designated a Low Carbon Economic Area (LCEA) with emphasis on the development of hydrogen and low-carbon fuel technologies. The West Midlands has also been designated as such.

• The University of Glamorgan is to receive funding worth £6.3 million for a project called CymruH2Wales for research into hydrogen production and usage, it was announced today.

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The Government has pledged £19m towards the development of low-carbon vehicles in the Midlands, which is being designated a new Low Carbon Economic Area (LCEA).

Business Secretary Peter Mandelson said the money would help to secure 10,000 jobs by transforming them into the ‘green car jobs of the future’.

He said: ‘I want to see the Midlands help the UK to lead the global automotive industry in the transition from conventional to low-carbon vehicle technologies.

‘The LCEA will send a clear signal to the global market about the Midlands’ strengths in advanced automotive engineering.’

The money – £9.5 million from Advantage West Midlands and £9.5 million from European funding -
will be invested in the Low Carbon Vehicles Technology (LCVT) programme, which will champion the development of green technologies from batteries to aerodynamics.

Mick Laverty, chief executive at Advantage West Midlands, the regional development agency, said: ‘Becoming a LCEA will reinforce our growing reputation as a globally competitive region, which continues to develop cutting-edge green technologies and high-technology industries upon which the future prosperity of all UK regions will depend.’

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This is the all-new Touareg that will break new ground for Volkswagen in the UK this August as the brand’s first hybrid.

The 4×4′s 3.3-litre petrol engine is boosted by a 46bhp electric motor, which can power the Touareg Hybrid by itself up to speeds 30mph, for up to a mile.

Average fuel consumption of 34.4mpg and emissions of 193g/km aren’t as impressive as the 148g/km and 44.8mpg of the Lexus RX450h hybrid. The has a 0-62mph time of just 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 149mph.

Conventional undercuts hybrid power
The Touareg Hybrid model is likely to cost from around £57,000 – 20k more than an entry-level 3.0-litre V6 diesel, which does 38.1mpg and emits 195g/km of CO2.

This 237bhp entry-level engine is likely to be the best-seller in the range and will be available in SE, Altitude and Escape trim. Escape models get a five-stage off-road 4XMotion drivetrain that includes reduction gearing and locking differentials for more demanding conditions.

The final engine in the range is a 335bhp 4.2-litre V8 diesel that does 31mpg and emits 239g/km of CO2. Most cars in the range will come with engine stop-start technology as standard.

Touareg reaches new dimensions
The new car is longer than before, but it’s 20mm lower overall and 200kg lighter. However, the hybrid version adds 175kg back into that equation.

The rear seats now slide backwards and forwards by 160mm, and also recline. Boot space ranges from a minimum of 580 litres up to 1632 litres.

Exterior design follows the new family path, set by models such as the latest Golf and Polo, while inside it feels as if quality has taken a stride forward, too.

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Buying a bargain doesn’t have to mean picking up last season’s leftovers: we’ve got the hottest deals on some of the most desirable cars around.

If you’re after something different, visit our New Cars For Sale page to search all our great deals, whatever size car you’re after.

Alfa Romeo Spider
Don’t miss a moment of the spring weather by snapping up a sexy convertible now. The Alfa Romeo Spider is stunning to look at, if not quite so dazzling to drive, and looks even better with £2500 off the price. Coast2coastcars.co.uk has discounted the 3.2-litre JTS Q4 model to £30,573.
Find the Alfa Romeo Spider deal here

Audi A5 Coupe
This stylish coupe is all about class and comfort: perfect for those impromptu trips to the south of France. You’ll have more to spend on croissants thanks to the £3371 discount available at Drivethedeal.com, which is offering the 2.0 TFSI S/S 211 S Line model for £28,149.
Find the Audi A5 Coupe deal here

Ford Focus
Ford’s Focus is one of the most entertaining small family cars to drive and in Zetec S trim comes with plenty of kit. Find the 1.8-litre Zetec S three-door with a whopping £5963 discount at Drivethedeal.com, where it’s just £13,592.
Find the Ford Focus deal here

Jaguar XF
For the perfect mix of sporty driving and luxurious comfort, look no further than the stylish Jaguar XF – and for a £4573 discount, look no further than Drivethedeal.com, which is offering the 3.0D Premium Luxury model for £33,902.
Find the Jaguar XF deal here

Land Rover Freelander
The Freelander ticks lots of boxes: it’s a proper off-roader that’s great to drive on the road, it’s got a desirable image and comes well equipped. It looks even more attractive with nearly £5000 off. Drivethedeal.com is offering the 2.2 TD4e XS model for £23,750.
Find the Land Rover Freelander deal here

Mercedes-Benz E-Class
If the Jaguar XF’s style is too radical for you, try a Mercedes-Benz E-Class. You can save £2349 on the list price of the E220 CDI Blue Efficiency Avantgarde, which is on sale at Dealdrivers.co.uk for £28,791.
Find the Mercedes-Benz E-Class deal here

Peugeot 3008
Our Car of the Year 2010 is a brilliant choice for families, combining masses of space, practicality and comfort. It won’t break the household budget, either, thanks to a £1471 discount on offer at Motorlogix.com, which is offering the 1.6 VTi 120 Active for £15,124.
Find the Peugeot 3008 deal here

Renault Grand Espace
The Grand Espace is a comfortable, quiet way to transport passengers, and the maximum five-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating is reassuring, too. It’s not the most versatile, but with £6500 off, we’d be willing to overlook that. Find the Grand Espace 2.0 dCi 175 Dynamique S at Coast2coastcars.co.uk for £24,164.
Find the Renault Grand Espace deal here

Vauxhall Insignia estate
Vauxhall’s stylish Insignia Sports Tourer feels classy inside and is a comfortable motorway cruiser. It’s not the biggest or most practical estate, so how about £5500 off the list price to sweeten the deal? Find the 2.0-litre CDTi 130 SE model at Dealdrivers.co.uk for £19,348.
Find the Vauxhall Insignia estate deal here

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The What Car? Reader Test Team takes on the all-new Aston Martin Rapide – watch the video here.

The Rapide is more than just another luxury supercar, it’s a first: a four-door Aston.

Will the £139,950 Rapide open doors to new markets?
Watch our video to see how the What Car? Reader Test Team rated it.

The Aston Martin Rapide Reader Test Team

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Lexus will call its new premium small car the CT200h.

The concept version of the car was revealed last year at the Frankfurt motor show, where it was called the LF-Ch.

The production version will be unveiled at the Geneva motor show next month.

A rival to the likes of the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series, the CT200h will be powered by a petrol-electric hybrid set-up – making it the first hybrid in its class.

The LF-Ch concept car is a full hybrid, capable of running for short distances on electric power only, so it’s likely that the production version have the same system. Expect the hybrid system in the CT 200h to deliver similar power to the 2.0-litre petrol engines in rivals.

Lexus says the CT200h will ‘offer new levels of refinement, sophistication and attention to detail, without compromising style or driving pleasure’.

Further details will be announced at the Geneva motor show on March 3. The car is due to go on sale in the UK next year.

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Nissan will unveil its all-new Micra at the Geneva motor show next month.

First from Nissan’s V platform
The Micra will be the first car to use Nissan’s new V platform, which has been designed specifically so that the company can produce high-volume, low-cost cars primarily for emerging markets.

However, Nissan will continue to make the Note, Cube and its new small crossover, the Juke, using its current B platform.

The next Micra will be made at the Indian city of Chennai as part of the new strategy. The outgoing model was built at the company’s factory at Sunderland.

Three more cars ‘at least’ for the V platform
Nissan plans to develop ‘at least three’ cars using the new V platform, with production also taking place in Thailand and Mexico.

‘The big advantages of our new platform are cost and weight. This makes it ideal for high volume production for emerging markets,’ said a Nissan spokesman. ‘The V platform allows us to do things that aren’t possible with the B platform, and vice-versa.’

The new platform is also available to Nissan’s Alliance partner, Renault, although the French company and its Dacia offshoot have no current plans to use it.

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Volkswagen is about to enter the hybrid market with its all-new Touareg, but don’t expect it to end there.

VW’s hybrid boss, Eike Feldhusen, predicts a long line of successors are sure to follow: ‘We have ideas for hybrids from the smallest car to the biggest, but this Touareg is the best way to showcase the possibilities.’

No timetable of launches has been revealed, but it’s possible the forthcoming Jetta coupe could be next in line for the hybrid treatment.

Whether or not the Jetta is VW’s next alternative fuel project, Feldhusen says the modular hybrid system can easily be adapted for use in a wide range of other products, including diesels.

Touareg Hybrid details
Feldhusen told What Car?: ‘Overall the Touareg Hybrid is 17% more efficient, but in town you can increase that figure to 25%.’

Without the hybrid system, the 3.3-litre petrol engine would do an average 28.5mpg at best, instead of 34.4mpg, while emissions would jump from 193g/km to 226g/km in the non-hybrid vehicle.

Company car tax would rise from the 26% to the 33% and vehicle excise duty would increase from £235 to £425 a year. Buyers would also have to pay £135 more in first-year showroom registration taxes at £325, while they’d also miss out on exemption from the London Congestion Charge.

With savings such as these, hybrids make an attractive proposition for buyers, although diesel still holds the upper hand in many situations and will limit the Touareg Hybrid’s sales to 10% of the range’s total.

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