It's the End of the Working Week: A Recap of This Week's Big Motoring Stories

As we approach the weekend, it's time to take a look back at all the exciting news from the world of motoring. Starting with motor shows, this week has seen some big names come out on top. One of the highlights was Autosport International at the NEC in Birmingham, which featured an excellent Fifth Gear Live Action Arena. The biggest story to emerge from the event was the release of a brand new Caterham, called the SP 300R. This car is set to go on sale in 2012, initially as a race car only, and costs £60,000. It's also worth noting that it can accelerate from standstill to 60mph in just two and a half seconds.

However, the real showstopper of the Autosport International event was the Detroit Motor Show, which is running until Sunday, January 23rd. The start of the show marked the reveal of the Porsche 918 RSR, a coupe version of the 918 Spyder super hybrid that was first revealed last March at Geneva. What's exciting about this car is that it's set to go on sale in 2012, right at the top of the Porsche range, and is essentially their next hypercar. There are also plenty of other cars with batteries in them, including the Chevrolet Volt, which won North America Car of the Year, and Ford's new electric version of the Focus, which boasts a 100-mile range, an 84mph top speed, and a price tag that's sure to be music to many ears.

Among the many exciting announcements coming out of Detroit was the Mini Paceman Concept, which is essentially a three-door coupe version of the Mini Countryman. Many have described it as a sports activity coupe with muscle car design cues, and while it's officially a concept, there's no doubt that it's going to go on sale in the next couple of years. Not only that, but it's likely to be the most luxurious and expensive Mini yet. On the other side of the world, Ferrari has been making headlines with its latest addition: the FF.

Designed by Pininfarina, the FF is essentially Ferrari's first ever four-wheel drive car, featuring four proper seats and a brand new V12 engine that produces 650 brake horsepower. And what's even more exciting about this car is that it's set to go on sale at the end of this year, after making its first public appearance at the Geneva Motor Show in March. It's clear that Ferrari is pushing the boundaries with this latest creation, and we can't wait to get our hands on it.

Meanwhile, back in Britain, Gordon Murray's electric city car, the T27, has reached a major milestone in its development. Not only did it pass its EU crash test, but it also marked a significant step forward for the company's whole ice stream production process. According to companies involved, this is the biggest development in car production since the Model T, and it's clear that Gordon Murray is a name to watch when it comes to innovative automotive design.

Finally, a glance into the future of motoring courtesy of Volvo has revealed its new platooning technology. This involves a train of cars following a lead car autonomously while keeping a safe set distance. It's part of a wider research project, and according to Volvo, this technology could be used on motorways as soon as 10 years time. While it may seem like science fiction right now, one thing is for sure: the future of motoring is looking exciting indeed.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enit's the end of the working week which means it's time to have a recap of all of this week's big motoring stories we'll start with motor shows it's been quite a big week for them first one autosport international at the nec in birmingham last weekend which featured the quite excellent fifth gear live action arena biggest story to come out there was the release of a brand new caterham it's called the sp 300r it's due to go on sale in 2012 initially as a race car only it costs 60 000 pounds and it does not 60 in two and a half seconds but the big e has to be the detroit motor show which is running all the way until this sunday the 23rd january start of the show is the porsche 918 rsr that fella there it's basically a coupe version of the 918 spyder super hybrid that they first revealed in march last year at geneva you can expect something very similar to that to go on sale in 2012 right at the top of the porsche range it's their next hyper car basically and there are plenty of other cars with batteries in them as well the chevrolet volts won north america car of the year and ford revealed a brand new electric version of the focus 100 mile range 84 mile now top speed and sugar on sale in 2012 and now to the marmite car of the detroit's motor show the mini paceman concept it's essentially a three-door coupe version of the mini countryman which many describe as a sports activity coupe with muscle car design cues officially it is a concept but we're pretty sure it's going to go on sale in the next couple of years and it's likely to be the most luxurious most expensive mini yet and now away from motor show news to rare exciting news about a brand new ferrari how the butchers at this it's called the ff it's designed by pinafarina it's ferrari's first ever four-wheel drive car it's got four proper seats and a brand new v12 engine with 650 brake horsepower it's set to go on sale at the end of this year after making its first public appearance at the geneva motor show in march that's the first thing i'm going to go and look at when i'm in geneva now back to britain and gordon murray's electric city car the t27 has reached a milestone in its development and not just had a crush it has passed its eu crash test the car was sent at high speed into a deformable barrier and came away with no cabin intrusion it's not only a landmark in the development of the car but also in gordon murray's whole ice stream production process which companies say is the biggest development in car production since the model t finally a glance into the future of motoring courtesy of volvo and their new platooning technology this is where a train of cars can follow a lead car autonomously whilst keeping a safe set distance it's part of a wider research project and the train of cars can even follow the lead car when it moves to overtake or avoid obstacles volvo say that such technology could be used on motorways in as little as 10 years time so go out there and drive for yourself while you still got the chance so that's it for this week's motoring news we'll be back with another roundup next fridayit's the end of the working week which means it's time to have a recap of all of this week's big motoring stories we'll start with motor shows it's been quite a big week for them first one autosport international at the nec in birmingham last weekend which featured the quite excellent fifth gear live action arena biggest story to come out there was the release of a brand new caterham it's called the sp 300r it's due to go on sale in 2012 initially as a race car only it costs 60 000 pounds and it does not 60 in two and a half seconds but the big e has to be the detroit motor show which is running all the way until this sunday the 23rd january start of the show is the porsche 918 rsr that fella there it's basically a coupe version of the 918 spyder super hybrid that they first revealed in march last year at geneva you can expect something very similar to that to go on sale in 2012 right at the top of the porsche range it's their next hyper car basically and there are plenty of other cars with batteries in them as well the chevrolet volts won north america car of the year and ford revealed a brand new electric version of the focus 100 mile range 84 mile now top speed and sugar on sale in 2012 and now to the marmite car of the detroit's motor show the mini paceman concept it's essentially a three-door coupe version of the mini countryman which many describe as a sports activity coupe with muscle car design cues officially it is a concept but we're pretty sure it's going to go on sale in the next couple of years and it's likely to be the most luxurious most expensive mini yet and now away from motor show news to rare exciting news about a brand new ferrari how the butchers at this it's called the ff it's designed by pinafarina it's ferrari's first ever four-wheel drive car it's got four proper seats and a brand new v12 engine with 650 brake horsepower it's set to go on sale at the end of this year after making its first public appearance at the geneva motor show in march that's the first thing i'm going to go and look at when i'm in geneva now back to britain and gordon murray's electric city car the t27 has reached a milestone in its development and not just had a crush it has passed its eu crash test the car was sent at high speed into a deformable barrier and came away with no cabin intrusion it's not only a landmark in the development of the car but also in gordon murray's whole ice stream production process which companies say is the biggest development in car production since the model t finally a glance into the future of motoring courtesy of volvo and their new platooning technology this is where a train of cars can follow a lead car autonomously whilst keeping a safe set distance it's part of a wider research project and the train of cars can even follow the lead car when it moves to overtake or avoid obstacles volvo say that such technology could be used on motorways in as little as 10 years time so go out there and drive for yourself while you still got the chance so that's it for this week's motoring news we'll be back with another roundup next friday\n"