Panamania

PITSTOP

A new Porsche is always good news. Weeks after the first reports of the Cayman broke out in effusive praise, Porsche has announced the Panamera four-door for 2009.

The name is derived from the classic Carrera Pan-Americana race. The four-door will take the battle to the Mercedes CLS and will be developed at an estimated 1 billion Euros.

The new four-seater premium sports coupe will be front-engined, with a bunch of powertrain options. To be built at Leipzig starting 2006-2007, Porsche are looking at sales of 20,000 units a year come 2009.

Coupe class

The replacement for the gorgeous, Pininfarina-designed Peugeot 406 is ready. The new Peugeot 407 coupe will be unveiled officially at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month.

It will be available with two V6 petrol engines "" 160 bhp 2200cc and 211 bhp 3000cc, as well as a 205 bhp 2700cc V6 HDI diesel engine. Fitted with six-speed automatic or manual transmissions, the 407 will come with ABS, ESP, traction control and seven airbags with active front head restraints.

The right-hand drive version of the 407 will be available in UK come 2006. Is it as good looking as the one it replaces? We'll let you take the call.

Version 2.0

After the release of the third generation Clio, Renaultsport (the sports division of Renault) has gone flat out to build a concept version of the Clio Renaultsport 2.0 slated for release next year.

The low-slung sporty Clio has enlarged front and rear wings, profiled side skirts and seven spoke 18" alloys. Under the hood is a 2000cc 16-valve naturally-aspirated engine with a six-speed gearbox.

Four-piston callipers and cross-drilled Brembo discs complete the package. All you Alonso wannabes, this is the machine for you.