Steve Davies

It counts as a 'good day' in our book whenever Audi launches a new RS-model, it used to be a rare occurrence because Audi only made 1 RS model at a time, but that's all changed and we've now got 3 RS Audi's to choose from, or at least we will when in spring next year the RS 3 Sportback goes on sale.

The timing of this new RS 3 model is nothing if not convenient, with BMW's 1 Series M Coupe due on sale just 3 months later. In fact there's plenty more these natural competitors have in common - both are powered by turbocharged engines producing nearly 340 bhp, both are to be priced just under £40k (or maybe slightly over in the BMW's case), but they're as near as dammit rivals in the usual apples-and-pears way that Audi's RS models square off with BMW's M Cars.

We seem to be writing a lot about Lotus this year, but then they've been making the headlines - usually for all the right reasons. Up until recently we were praising Lotus for the incredible albeit pricey Evora, their collaboration with 1 Malaysia Racing Team in F1 (licensed under the name 'Lotus Racing') and then the nostalgic return of the Lotus-brand to Indy Car Racing, run by KV Racing and driven by ex-F1 pilot Takuma Sato. 2010 looked like being a pretty good year for Lotus fans.

And then it all went horribly wrong.

If high-tailing it over to Los Angeles for the Need for Speed Launch Party was a trifle inconvenient, then fear not, there is another way you can get involved.

Amidst all the glitzy sports car and hybrid-vehicle premieres at the LA Auto Show this week, you'd be forgiven for overlooking Subaru's latest 'concept' model which broke cover yesterday. Subaru have experienced more than their fair share of difficulties trying to evolve their most popular model, and from our experience of Subaru's recent concept vehicles we know there's a strong likelihood of this Impreza Design Concept becoming the fully-fledged production model.

After more than a decade of Elise-based production it’s easy to forget that Lotus was once known as a supercar maker, rather than purveyors of light-weight track-ready sports cars. Whilst many of us hold reservations about Lotus' New Era strategy, one point that cannot be argued against is that they needed a change of strategy.

The BMW 6 Series Concept first appeared back in September, but of course everyone already knew this was as near as dammit the actual production 6 Series Coupé due to go on sale in 2011.

Rather than launch it as a Coupé, BMW have chosen to initially launch the new 6 Series design as convertible - a somewhat unusual decision given that most of us are heading into winter, but the car won't go on sale here in the UK until 26 March 2011, which should give enough time for the snow and ice to depart although it's still unlikely to be the most encouraging weather for top-down motoring.

No spotlights. No evocative music. No video walls playing carefully crafted videos. Unlike its world premiere on the stage at the Paris Motor Show, the first time Jaguar’s celebratory (75 years of heritage) and celebrated C-X75 set foot on the open road was a more gritty and real experience.

It might be Hollywood, but its edgy North Hollywood, not the Walk of Fame or the Sunset Strip, where Tinseltown’s favourite petrolhead Jay Leno became the first person outside Jaguar to drive the C-X75 on a public highway.

Today a novel step was taken to bring the car and bike industries just that little bit closer - AMG and Ducati have agreed to work together closely in future to develop common marketing activities and sponsorship propositions. The cooperation agreement was signed during a press conference at the Los Angeles Motor Show by Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH and Gabriele del Torchio, President and CEO of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.