Red alert for turbo Yaris

Unveiled at recnt Tokyo Auto Salon - a motor show that gives Jap­anese makers the chance to let their hair down - the Turbo Modellista is set to go on sale in its home market in the next few months, and previews a European version. Based on the Japan-only Yaris RS, it uses a 1.5-litre engine turbocharged by Toyota's in-house tuner, Modellista, and Toyota Racing Development (TRD).

Power is increased by 40bhp to 150bhp at 6,000rpm, and with 196Nm of torque, the newcomer should cover 0-60mph in less than eight seconds on its way to a 135mph top speed.

To ensure all the power reaches the road, TRD has equipped the car with a limited slip differential, and further improved the handling by lowering the ride height 20mm and fitting spe­cially tuned sports suspension.

The looks are enhanced by a muscular bodykit, with large intakes at the front to feed air into the intercooler, plus 17-inch OZ Racing alloys. Inside, the Turbo Concept gets specially des­igned instrumentation, which includes a turbo boost gauge, plus a leatherbound steering wheel and gearknob.

Apocalypse Preparation: Geiger Ford F650

When the fit hits the shan, we've got two phone calls to make: our Cayman Islands-based banker and Geiger cars. For 99,000 euro we can protect our loved ones while punching through some of the most wicked terrain this side of Dakar in the robust luxury of the German tuner's interpretation of the Ford F-650. Weighing in at 5.2-tons and stretching over 21-feet long, the Geigerfied uber-truck finds motivation from a tweaked 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel putting out 320 hp and 738 lb.-ft. of torque. Grunt is shoveled to a six-speed Allison 3000 automatic gearbox and on down to a biggie-sized driveshaft that powers the four, 22-inch rear wheels. Both the suspension and brakes are air-powered, and if we're willing to shell out a bit more cash, we can get chrome fuel tanks, leather, navigation and, surprisingly, gull-wing doors. We think this would compliment our imaginary post-apocalyptic stable that also includes our all-time favorite RV, the Wothahellizat.

Design students envision a modern Model-T

Recently, Ford Motor Company sponsored a contest with the goal of modernizing the iconic Model T, a car which revolutionized motorized transportation the world over. The winner of the competition, a 24-year-old junior at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit named Dong Trang, came up with an electric crossover of sorts. That's fitting, according to Peter Horbury, head of design for Ford in the Americas, because Henry Ford's original Model T sat high off the ground and had a modular design, capable of hauling people and their stuff at the same time.

What the modern-day designs don't share with their forebear is retro looks. Each of the modern T adaptations features fairly sleek styling and alternative power that goes along with our modern-day energy and emissions problems.

Trang's design is rather unique, featuring solar panels on the vehicle along with an energy-capturing suspension design that would help recharge the on-board batteries. Those batteries are also removable to provide power outside the vehicle. The seating arrangement is modular, allowing for up to four occupants or offering increased storage capacity. The rear hatch is also capable of folding away to offer a small pickup bed. Click past the break for some videos of Trang talking about his design.

Toyota Yaris

• Rating:
• On the road price: £8,925 - £14,095
• For : Nippy around town, sliding rear seats, excellent economy, cheap to run
• Against : Corporate nose, underpowered 1.0-litre, ride lacks maturity

Driving Toyota opens the Yaris range with a three cylinder 1.0-litre engine from the Aygo. This struggles on the open road; it's clean and quiet, but is outgunned - the four-cylinder 1.3-litre is better. The 1.4-litre diesel is strong but clattery at times. However, good brakes, a neat gearchange and generally low noise levels make the Yaris a pleasant companion. It's particularly good in town, thanks to its light controls, but at higher speeds it feels more like a city car than a supermini, and is thrown off course more easily than rivals; the ride is firm. While the Yaris is fun to drive, it lacks smoothness. Marketplace The Yaris, while all new in 2006 and larger than the model it replaced, remains one of the smallest superminis you can buy. And we're not convinced by the design. With its corporate nose, the second-generation model doesn't have the same cute appeal as the original. The range is inclusive and follows Toyota's usual logic, in three- and five-door bodyshells; that means T2, T3, T Spirit and SR trims, plus various special editions. It competes with rivals including the Nissan Micra, Ford Fiesta and Mazda 2; models such as the Renault Clio III and Vauxhall Corsa are all that bit larger. At the top of the line-up sits a semi-sporty 1.8-litre variant, but this isn’t a Vauxhall Corsa VXR or RenaultSport Clio 197 competitor. Owning The Yaris has a top-quality cabin. It’s modern, stylish and boast soft-touch plastics plus tactile switchgear. Storage is good, particularly the Yaris’ characteristic twin dashtop cubbies. A split-level floor boosts luggage space in the boot, while the rear seats slide independently in a 60:40 split; the already-large 272-litre capacity can be boosted to 363 litres. In the rear, legroom isn’t vast but headroom is, and the Yaris can realistically carry three. But up front, the driving position is very high, and the seats lack side support. As for prices, certain models have a few equipment omissions but they're still competitive; in addition, most variants get a knee airbag, supporting a five-star Euro NCAP crash test score. What’s more, the quality and finish defy the price tag. It also retains a high proportion of this list price on the used market, while proving both cheap to service and fuel.

Brit magazine tries out the new Audi TT TDI

We've written here previously about Audi's new TDI version of the TT sports car and having sampled numerous other diesels recently. It's a shame this one isn't being offered in the U.S. What Car? has had a chance to to drive the TT TDI and it sounds like they really liked the 44mpg sportster. Diesel engines have a reputation for being low revving and while this one certainly won't reach the lofty heights of most gas engined sports cars it easily revs past 5,000rpm and has almost constant torque everywhere. The refined nature of the VW/Audi 2.0L diesel means that most observers will never realize what kind of fuel it consumes. This same engine in a slightly lower power tune is the one that will propel the Jetta TDI starting this summer. Please, Audi, bring the TT TDI to the U.S. market.

Methane version of Fiat Grande Punto coming later this year

Fiat was recently named the lowest CO2-producing automaker in Europe. One reason if the brand's collection of small cars, some with alternative powertrains. Buried in an article about Fiat's low-CO2 win, reader Justin C. noticed that Fiat is readying a new version of its Grande Punto, one that can use methane for clean forward motion. Carpages says that the methane-petrol dual fuel system Grande Punto is supposed to be on sale by the end of this year. Other Fiat models that have this system include the Doblò, Doblò Cargo, Multipla, Panda and the Panda Van. Fiat says the Natural Power system is excellent for many Fiat users, especially trade customers. Fiat also offers a T-Jet version of the Grande Punto that gets 35 mpg on the combined EU cycle and emits 155 grams of CO2 per km. Thanks to Justin C. for the tip!

Apocalypse Preparation, Part Deux: Mega Track on the attack

We stand corrected. There's one more vehicle we want in our underground bunker when the Rapture hits: the Mega Track. Built in 1995 by the French Axiam Group, it's the answer to a question that only a few of us were daft enough to ask. With a Mercedes-sourced 394-hp V12 mounted amidships sending power to all four wheels, the Mega Track had the ability to ford streams by day and hit up Monte Carlo at night. The stock ride height was set at eight-inches, but flick a switch and the Mega Track would rise to 13 inches, ensuring that no curb, planter or small shrub could stand in its way. Unfortunately, only five were made, so finding one could be tricky. We're searching Craigslist now and hope to be Mega-equipped before things get really messy.