While retaining the traditional “four-eyed” look of older E-Classes, the headlamps have been redesigned and comprise all functional elements with a single headlamp lens. Both low-beam lights and the daytime running lamps feature LED technology as standard, with an option to go full LED.

For the first time, the new E-Class is available with two different front ends: the standard specification and the Elegance equipment line come as standard with the classic, three-dimensional saloon radiator with three-louvre look and Mercedes-Benz star on the bonnet. The Avantgarde equipment line, on the other hand, incorporates the sporty front end with central star, and as such boasts an independent, front-end look with a sporty emphasis.

The interior of the E-Class has also been given an once-over. A new feature is the two-part trim which stretches across the entire dashboard. It can be selected in a wood or aluminium look, irrespective of the equipment line. Also new is the design of the air vents as well as an analogue clock between the two central vents.

The redesigned centre console does away the gear selector lever. Mercedes-Benz has fitted the new E-Class with a new multifunction steering wheel with Direct Select levers and shift paddles in conjunction with automatic transmission.

In addition to the basic appointments, there is also a choice of Elegance and Avantgarde equipment lines, with a variety of unique individualisation options available. The radar-based Collision Prevention Assist, Pre-Safe, Attention Assist and Active Parking Assist systems come as standard, but one can opt for options that claim to make every journey a safer one.

Some of the systems are: Distronic Plus with Steer Control that can keep the vehicle in its lane and also track traffic in tailbacks semi-automatically, Brake Assist system with Junction Assist that is able to detect crossing traffic and pedestrians and boost the braking power applied by the driver accordingly, Pre-Safe Plus that can recognise an imminent rear-end collision, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist and Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus.

At launch, the Saloon is available in E 200 and E 250 models, both featuring a turbocharged 2-litre petrol engine, E250 CDI with a 2.2-litre turbo diesel and E350 BlueTec which has a V6 3.0-litre turbo diesel. The Estate is offered as a E 250 with a turbocharged 2-litre petrol engine only.

All models are equipped with start/stop functions and a 7G-Tronic Plus automatic transmission with Direct Select lever and Direct Select shift paddles. The gearbox now offers a short-term M mode. The benefit of this: if the driver has shifted up or down manually, the transmission independently switches back to automatic, fuel-efficient shift mode after a set period of time.

The standard model and Elegance line are fitted with the Direct Control suspension with selective damping system, configured for comfort. A sportier suspension with selective damping system is positioned 15 mm lower comes with the Avantgarde package. The Direct Control lowered sports suspension is available in conjunction with the Exterior Sports package and AMG Sports package, with the Airmatic suspension as an option.

All of the models of the E-Class family are fitted with an electromechanical Direct-Steer system as standard. This combines the speed-dependent power assistance of speed-sensitive steering with a variable ratio across the steering angle range. The steering assistance provided by the rack and pinion steering gear is controlled on-demand and therefore contributes towards efficiency.

For more information, visit the Mercedes-Benz Singapore website.

Take a moment to just look at it. It’s been built because of course, this year marks Aston’s 100th anniversary, and there’s no way the company was going to simply get a Tesco’s cake and blow up a few balloons. No, this was designed and constructed in less than six months at Aston’s Gaydon headquarters under special projects and motorsport director David King’s discerning supervision.

Design director Marek Reichmann and exterior stylist Miles Nurnberger crafted the radical two-seater’s shape, looking back to the glorious DBR1 from 1959 that took the Le Mans crown with Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori behind the wheel. “The brief was simple,” said Miles, “yet enormously testing: create something that reflects the 100 years of AM heritage and signals the future of the brand.”

Future, you say? While this concept is a one-off showpiece designed to wave the British flag high and proud, there’s more than a few design cues tucked away in the sleek body that, we’re told, teases ‘potential future design direction’. Yes please.

Underneath sits the company’s latest generation ‘AM11′ 6.0-litre V12, which produces a lovely 555bhp, mated to a six-speed hydraulically actuated automated sequential manual transmission driving the rear wheels. It’s based on Aston’s VH platform – which underpins production AMs – and measures in at 4.5m long and two metres wide.

It’s quick, too. Aston tells us it’ll go from 0-62mph in just four seconds, and is limited to a top speed of 180mph. Why so quick? Well for a start, just look at the sleekness of the silhouette. Also, that exterior (and interior, for that matter) was built entirely from carbon fibre by ‘low volume specialists’ Multimatic, which no doubt keeps the weight nice and low (no precise figure, mind).

Says Dr Bez: “I have nicknamed it DBR100 because of its affinity to the great 1959 race-winning cars, and of course, our anniversary. But this car shows that the soul of Aston Martin is as powerful as ever.”

For the parade lap, Aston drafted in Sir Stirling Moss to pilot the classic DBR1 on the ‘Ring, right behind Aston chief Dr Bez in the CC100, and a brace of drool-worthy AMs including the One-77 and the DB5. Oh, and seeing as we’ve mentioned Sir Stirling, anybody else notice the CC100′s resemblance to the SLR Stirling Moss? No, us neither…

Have a click through the pics and let us know what you think: should Aston throw caution to the wind and produce a limited run of these CC100s? In related news, the one-off Aston DB4GT – the ‘Jet’ – styled by Bertone sold for a massive S$6.1m (£3.2m), making it the most expensive Aston Martin sold at auction.

Vijay Pattni

On the inside, head restraints are decorated with R-Line logos and the multifunction steering wheel receives aluminium accents and R-Line badge.  The R-treatment also includes a ‘Titan black’ roofliner and pedals with stainless steel caps.

The Tiguan R-Line is powered by a 2.0 litre TSI engine that makes 210 bhp and 280 Nm of torque. A DQ500 7-speed DSG transmission helps this SUV to achieve a 7.3 second 0-100 km/h dash.

Volkswagen is now dedicating a new special model to mark the success of the Touareg with an Edition X, which with numerous exclusive features.

The new Touareg Edition X runs as standard on 19-inch ‘Moab’ alloy wheels and, combined with the Moonlight Blue Pearl Effect option paint. A large panoramic slide/tilt sunroof, silver anodised roof rails, bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights and darkened rear LED light clusters complete the look of this striking off-roader. In addition, the ‘Chrome & Style’ designer pack, tinted side and rear windows and ‘Touareg X’ logos on the wings are also included in the package.

Inside, prospective buyers will find Nappa leather trim in amber brown with a new style of braid embossed finish. On top of this come decorative inlays in real ebony for doors and instrument panel, plus illuminated front door sills with ‘Touareg X’ lettering. The package is rounded off with colour-coordinated decorative stitching on the leather steering wheel, gear lever gaiter and fabric floor mats.

Engine options include a 3.6 litre V6 petrol with 280 bhp and 360 Nm of torque, as well as a 3.0 litre V6 diesel with 245 bhp and 550 Nm of torque.

The Touareg Edition X will go one sale on 18 May 2013, while the Tiguan R-Line will be launched on 1 June 2013. We will update the prices as soon as we get them!

The first cars Peugeot decided were posh were the not bad 208 hatch and 2008 crossover, and now there’s this – the Focus and Golf-sized 308. It’s slightly shorter and lower than the outgoing car, because underneath that bourgeoisie sheet metal it’s based on the new EMP2 platform, developed by parent company, PSA.

Normally we don’t prattle on about stuff like platform codes, but this is actually quite an important step forward for Lord Peugeotington-Symthe. It set PSA back £532m to develop, and as well as all the normal claimed improvements in ride and handling, the engine mounts are really low so the bonnet can look sharper and more sleek. And that dials out the chubby bonnet of Peugeot’s yore, as you can see in the pics.

The company claims it’s also as much as 140kg lighter than its predecessor (depending on engine and trim levels), and that’s seen an improvement in emissions – as low as 85g/km for the cleanest models.

Inside, there’s barely a button in sight. The cabin borrows from the manufacturer’s ‘i-cockpit’ design philosophy, which we first saw in the 208. That means there’ll be a miniscule, Hob Nob-sized steering wheel, heads-up instrument binnacle, tall centre console and glaringly stark everything else – no need for buttons here, because most of the major controls are taken car of via the 9-inch touchscreen.

We’ll get more info when it arrives officially at the Frankfurt motor show in September. Reckon its posh enough for the brand’s upmarket aspirations?

The measly power output of its predecessor’s been increased by 28hp to 585hp, there’s been a 59lb ft boost to 590 torques, and it now comes with an AMG limited-slip differential as standard. So, what does that translate as on the road? Surprisingly little, it turns out – the 0-62mph dash has been whittled down by 0.1 seconds to 4.1 seconds, or 4.2 seconds for the Estate.

Outside, it’s been given (arguably a little too much) extra muscle – there’s a high-gloss black front apron with silver-shadow splitter, side sill panels and rear trim strip with silver-shadow inserts, an AMG spoiler in body colour, 19 inch AMG alloy wheels painted in titanium matte grey, red brake calipers, and ‘S’ labelling on the boot lid.

Inside, there’s black nappa leather chairs with grey contrast stitching, silver seat belts, an AMG emblem in the headrests, an electric rear roller blind for the Saloon, AMG door sills with vodka bar-spec LED illumination, and an AMG instrument cluster.

Think you could make do with the 557hp model, or do you need the new 585hp S?

That’s not Seb driving, though – the video, which was shot on the 24th of last month, shows 30-year-old GT3 driver, Grégory Guilvert, on piloting duties. Which actually sounds like quite a terrifying task when you remember, this car weighs 875kg and has 875bhp…

So, what d’you think, TopGear.commers? Reckon it sounds any good?

The Red Bull driver took his highly modified and combustible 750bhp Mazda RX-7 – a veritable heavyweight champion in the drifting fraternity – and proceeded to tackle this 10.4km road with considerable aplomb. You’re talking 47 corners, 1,076m elevation, and lots and lots of sideways action.

We’re told the road – which runs between Queenstown and Wanaka – first dates back to the early gold rush days, and is “one of the most demanding technical drives of the country”. It certainly carries with it the propensity for a slidey accident, especially when Mad Mike hits 144mph along the Crown Terrace.

“I think drifters have an innate ability to slip from reality when driving up a road like the Crown Range in normal circumstances,” says Mad Mike. “For me, having the opportunity to get behind the wheel of my machine, push it to the limit and conquer the Crown is a dream turned into a reality.”

Have a watch below. Anyone in the TopGear.commosphere driven this road?

So it’s fitting that Walker’s next film following the Fast & Furious franchise is… another car film. What else would you expect from a man who owns his own performance tuning shop, rents out racetracks on the weekends, races BMW M3s and owns a warehouse of dreamy exotica?It’s called Vehicle 19, and follows Paul’s character Michael Woods as he picks up the wrong rental car with a silenced gun and hostage hidden in the back. Woods soon finds out many people want to put lots of little holes in him.

TG.com has managed to exclusively grab the opening two minutes of the film, with Walker’s character doing what Walker does best – driving fast. In the clip below, he’s being chased by an E36 BMW 3-Series police car – complete with the obligatory tail-happy slide out of a corner – while even a helicopter occurs at one point.

Have a watch and let us know what you think – reckon you’ll be seeing this one?

As are SBS, come to think of it. This video is 100 per cent hand-crafted stop-motion animation, and shot 99 per cent in camera. Camera! The boys even made teeny little rigs (watch till the end – s’worth it).

Now watch. But be warned: scenes of clay violence may disturb some viewers.

Gwyneth Paltrow also arrived in an Audi A8L TDI and hit the red carpet dawning a sheer Antonio Berardi dress. Additional attendees at the premiere included Iron Man 3 director Shane Black, cast members Sir Ben Kinglsey, Rebecca Hall, Guy Pearce, Jon Favreau, Don Cheadle, Stephanie Szostak as well as Chris Hemsworth, Elsa Pataky, Tom Hiddleston, Jaimie Alexander, Peter Facinelli, Cobie Smulders and Emily VanCamp amongst others. At the star-studded event, select celebrities arrived in stunning Audi clean diesel vehicles including the A8L TDI and Q7 TDI.

Fans went crazy over Robert Downey, Jr. who made a grand entrance at the Iron Man 3 premiere in a flashy, red Audi R8 Spyder, later rushing over to open the door for his wife Susan.

Film spoiler: In Iron Man 3, Robert Downey Jr.’s character, Tony Stark, can be seen behind the wheel of the all-electric R8 e-tron sports car prototype, and Gwyneth Paltrow, who revives her role of Pepper Potts, CEO of Stark Industries and girlfriend of Tony Stark, can be seen driving the Audi S7 Sportback. Additional vehicles featured in the film include the Audi A8L and A6. Audi vehicles also have received prominent placement in the first two installments with main character Tony Stark’s vehicle of choice being the Audi R8 Coupe in Iron Man and the R8 Spyder in Iron Man 2.

Audi has a long history of placing cars as starts in several movies, notably I, Robot with the RSQ (which influenced the design of the R8), the Iron Man series as well as Transporter. Other examples include Skyfall, Ronin and Transformers. What do you think? Does the car make the movie or does the movie make the car?