Mini Superleggera Roadster

The Mini Superleggera Concept was arguably one of the most successful design exercises of the brand when it debuted back in 2014 but since then we didn't have a clear answer on when and if the concept will reach production. Speaking to Autocar, Mini boss Peter Schwarzenbauer said: "The interest was tremendous when we showed this concept car. We are now working hard to get it on the street. It's an economically challenging project and there is no firm decision, but we have a lot of people here that are fighting for it. I think it would be extremely good for the brand."

Not quite 100% per cent then, but the story goes on saying that they have decided to use the same platform with the three-door Mini due to its versatility, low weight and rigidity which makes it suitable for use on an open-top model.

That means that the Superleggera will be FWD with the possibility of an all-wheel drive setup for the more punchy versions. Schwarzenbauer sees it as a clean start and not as the successor of the Coupe and Roadster models. "They don't compare. The Superleggera is a serious sports car," he said.

The production version of the Superleggera will use the same engine range with the Mini hatchback, meaning a lineup between 1.5 to 2.0 litres and perhaps a new hybrid system which will debut in the BMW 2-Series Active Tourer, combining a three-cylinder 134hp 1.5-litre turbocharged and a rear-mounted 87hp electric motor, producing a total of 216hp.

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Lotus Evora 400 Roadster Version

Lotus boss Jean-Marc Gales told Autocar that a roadster Evora 400 is almost ready for production as "the chassis is a tub, so there's no impact with the roof off." This allowed Lotus for a faster development process, with the removable roof to be made up out of two pieces weighing 3kg each, and the ability to be stored behind the front seats. The new model is very important for the brand's commercial success in the US market, as Gales says that half of the Evora's competition there already offers an open-top version.

The new model will use the same 400hp supercharged V6 engine, which allows the hard-top model to accelerate from zero to 60mph in 4.1 seconds and onto a top speed of 186mph (300km/h). Performance of the roadster version is expected close to these figures as the weight penalty of the roof loss will be minimal. Jean-Marc Gales also confirmed the development of new Elise and Exige versions, promising that the new models will also be lighter and faster from their predecessors and also more practical for everyday use.

The Lotus boss who has confirmed that the brand's first-ever SUV model is already underway, also said that the British firm will be cash-flow profitable in this financial year and profitable in the financial year beginning April 1st, 2016 for the first time in 60 years.

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Mazda MX-5 Autoexe Tuning Pack

Autoexe – a Japanese tuning house - is more than happy to improve the MX-5 with decent upgrades to make it more dynamic. Nothing over the top, just a performance-oriented pack aimed to respect and follow the car's core characteristics and philosophy: lightweight and fun to drive. As it comes with JDM aftermarket bundles, the tuning pack offers lots and lots of simple (yet effective) goodies to make the MX-5 a better performer and a more sophisticated choice – even on the track.

The result is a straight to the point, beautifully engineered automobile, which has a variety of performance upgrades, including a Kajima-SPEC street sport suspension – developed after the "dynamic engineering" philosophy of Kajima Takao (one of the core engineers responsible for the of the NC generation). Strut bar, floor cross bar, and a member brace frame are just some of the elements capable of stiffening and reinforcing the car's chassis (making the Mazda more stable).

Engine-wise, an air-filter designed to reduce between 13% and 15% of air flow can be ordered, as well as a sports oil filter and a low-exhaust pressure, center dual muffler. The car is bound to get a small power gain after all the tweaks and tricks and the exhaust upgrade, but an accurate output isn't provided yet.

It doesn't look bad, either. With restyled front and rear aprons, a font under-spoiler, LED lights, a trunk spoiler and a diffuser, the thing is a stunner. Mind you, the Volk forged wheels do help with the car's attitude and stance.

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Porsche Boxster S Exclusive

This latest generation Boxster is actually a very sporty and aggressive roadster in terms of its design. In fact, it kind of looks like a little 918 Spyder which is as high a praise as you can get in the automotive industry. This bright red model right here from Porsche Exclusive is actually the Boxster S, and the color is called "Guards Red" - covering not just the entire body but also the rear diffuser and the rollover hoops.

The car is truly stunning to look at, and those wheels are just perfect for it, which is to say that we wouldn't change a single thing.The interior is covered in leather (as it should be) while the red speedometer and rev counter stand out in a very good way.

In terms of performance, the Boxster S is a seriously capable sports car with a 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) time of just 5.1 seconds if you choose to change gears manually. It will also top out at 279 km/h (173 mph) which is actually sufficient for this type of car. But if you really want to squeeze every last drop of performance from those 315 PS, go for the PDK version and you'll hit the 100 km/h mark in 5 seconds flat. Or just go for the Sport Chrono Pack and you'll be able to do it in 4.8 seconds.

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The Mitsuoka Roadster

The car will be distributed exclusively by T W White & Sons and will be on display in showrooms located across Surrey, South London and Kent. UK customers will probably have a feeling of déjà vu looking at the Mazda MX-5-based Mitsuoka Roadster, which has a design inspired by classic British sports cars.

The design of the Mitsuoka Roadster draws inspiration from the classic Roadster heritage and combines timeless styling with the latest state of the art technology. Elegant lines, advanced engineering and spirited soul fuse together to create the perfect harmony between car and driver. Created by hand in the small Japanese factory in Toyama City, each Mitsuoka Roadster is brought to life by the passion and devotion transferred from the master craftsmen.

Fitted with “the world’s fastest power-retractable hard top” that opens and closes in 12 seconds, the Mitsuoka Roadster is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine available with either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed automatic Powershift transmission with paddle shift controls.

The rear-wheel drive car will come to the UK with a comprehensive standard specification including heated leather seats, automatic climate control, air conditioning, ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Traction Control System (TCS), as well as front and side airbags.

The Mitsuoka Roadster starts from £53,800 ($81,865) in the UK (on the road, including VAT). The only optional extras are metallic or pearlescent paints (£620).

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2016 Porsche Boxster Spyder Review

2016 Porsche Boxster Spyder

According to the manufacturer, the Boxster Spyder features two prominent streamlined bulges that extend down along the rear lid behind the headrests, which are a tribute to the 718 Spyder from the 1960s.

The partially manually operated top is also a tribute to the roadsters from the past, while the fins that stretch back to the rear lend the vehicle’s characteristic design. Front and rear ends are taken from the Cayman GT4. The interior was designed to offer pure driving pleasure and the light sports bucket seats feature large side supports, while the steering wheel with a diameter of 360 mm ensures that the roadster can be driven with great agility.

Just like its predecessor, the new Boxster Spyder doesn’t offer radio or air conditioner as standard equipment in order to reduce weight, but if you really want them Porsche will offer these as an option at no extra cost.

Porsche says that the entire range of Boxster audio system is available but only as an option, just like the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system. Pricing starts at 79,945 euros in Germany including sales tax and country-specific equipment features, while in the United States the vehicle costs $82,100, not including the $995 destination charge.

2016 Porsche Boxster Spyder

2016 Porsche Boxster Spyder

2016 Porsche Boxster Spyder

2016 Porsche Boxster Spyder

2016 Porsche Boxster Spyder

2016 Porsche Boxster Spyder

2016 Porsche Boxster Spyder

2016 Porsche Boxster Spyder

2016 Porsche Boxster Spyder

2016 Porsche Boxster Spyder

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