Steve Davies

It seems ironic that on the same day that Vauxhall announces its revolutionary Ampera Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV) will cost under £30k when it hits UK showrooms in early 2012, that they also choose to re-introduce the 6.2-litre V8-engined VXR8.

SkiddMark reader Andrew Mulholland was one of the first customers to view BMW's new 1 Series M Coupe when he joined us at our photoshoot last Thursday. He got the chance after responding to one of my tweets a few weeks ago (you can follow us at @DriversRepublic), offering a reader the chance to meet BMW's new M car, and it took him all of about 3 seconds to accept the invitation when asked!

It feels like we've been waiting an eternity to see BMW's newest M-car set free of its body mask and released on the road. We'll have to wait a little longer before it can be driven, so today is all about drinking in its muscular lines, discovering all of its unique M-features and describing what it's really like to see for the first time.

In less than 48 hours from now we'll be sitting in a production 1 Series M Coupé, getting to know it's unique features and learning just how special M Division's new entry-level model really is. Despite initial reservations when the M Coupé was first revealed, I'm really looking forward to seeing and touching it for myself.

Deliveries of the One-77 are expected to commence in early 2011, but as we count down to D-Day a solitary One-77 will soon be setting off on a tour of Asia.

It was due to be launched in January 2011, but a video of the new 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK leaked onto YouTube last night before being taken down shortly after. The lengthy promotional film shows the folding-hardtop SLK in detail, highlighting some of its new features including the NECK-PRO head restraint, adaptive lighting and ECO stop/start system.

Group Lotus have announced this afternoon that Karl-Heinz Kalbfell, formerly of BMW, Chairman and CEO Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and CEO of Maserati will be joining the senior management team. Due to be based at the Lotus headquarters in Hethel, Kalbfell, will provide operational support and advise Group Lotus Chief Executive Officer Dany Bahar on the most efficient delivery of the business plan.

It took me a while to get this, but to save you having to scratch your head for too long it's an old optical illusion that plays on our brain's tendency to see what we want to see. Look at the image...