The 2012 Model Year: Buick Regal

The 2012 Buick Regal's base engine is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that produces 182 hp and 172 pound-feet of torque.

The optional eAssist light hybrid powertrain uses the same 2.4-liter engine in conjunction with an 11-kilowatt electric motor/generator and lithium-ion battery system. A six-speed automatic with manual shift control is the only available transmission on these models.

The Regal Turbo receives a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that makes 220 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. It, too, comes with a standard six-speed automatic transmission, but a six-speed manual is offered as an option.

The Regal GS uses the same turbo engine, but benefits from added turbo boost and a free-flowing exhaust to kick power output up to 270 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The six-speed manual transmission is standard, with the automatic available as an option (late availability).

In recent Edmunds testing, a Regal with the base 2.4-liter required 9.9 seconds to accelerate from zero to 60 mph, which is considerably slower than competing sedans. The Turbo improves that time to 8.4 seconds, but it's still off the mark for the class. In order to achieve a competitive time, you'd have to spring for the top-of-the-line GS, which turned in a quick 6.2-second run with the automatic transmission. Curiously, the manual was slower at 6.9 seconds due to the difficulty of launching it smoothly.

The Legend 1984 Toyota Sprinter Trueno Gt-Apex

The Toyota Sprinter Trueno / Toyota Corolla Levin is a compact sports car produced in Japan from 1983 – 1987. They are commonly referred to as the AE86, or by the Japanese pronunciation hatchi-roku (86). Many people consider this car to be a large influence in developing a market for sport compact cars in America and Canada. The car was powered by a state of the art twincam engine developed by Yamaha and Toyota. This vehicle has since become an icon of the JDM community, and is famous for drifting thanks to Keiichi Tsuchiya (Drift King). Tsuchiya and his AE86 invented the organized drift competitions in both Japan and America. Credit for the immense interest in the AE86 also goes to the drifting manga / anime Initial D by Shuichi Shigeno, a story of a boy who drifts his AE86 in the mountains of Japan.

The engine in the Trueno and Levin is the famous 4a-ge. It is famous because of its willingness to rev, and it’s refinement for the time. Twincam engines were still in their infancy when this car was produced and it was instrumental in convincing people of this new technology. The engine went on to power the MR2 in NA and supercharges forms, then in Japan it was refined with ITB and variable valve timing to produce up to 165hp. The engine is a popular base for many kit cars because of its low weight and ease of tuning.

2012 Tushek Renovatio T500

Slovenian luxury vehicle maker Tushek has confirmed plans to show off its Renovatio T500 supercar in the UK for the first time at the Salon Privé show next month.

Never before seen in the UK, the Renovatio T500 super sports car is a road- and track-ready design based around an Audi-sourced 4.2-litre 444bhp V8 engine and a hand-built body. The result, Tushek claims, is a vehicle capable of hitting 62mph from a standing start in just 3.7 seconds and with a top speed of an impressive 193mph.

The mid-engine design, built from claimed race-specification components, is the first vehicle to come out of the Slovenian company's factory, and represents the brainchild of company founder and racing driver Aljosa Tushek - a man who, it is claimed, founded the company on a philosophy of a desire for a pure and direct driving experience with user-friendly performance and handling.

"We are honoured to be chosen as the platform to launch the Renovatio T500 in the UK", claimed Salon Privé's David Bagley at the announcement. "Its groundbreaking aerodynamics, blistering performance to a near 200mph and back to zero again and race-specification materials construction is a sight to behold. This car has to be seen to be believed – and there’s only one place in the world to do that this summer: Salon Privé 2012."

Visitors to the show, which opens on the 5th of September with the Tour d’Elégance departing from the Royal Automobile Club at Woodcote Park, will be given the chance to see the vehicle - but only a select few will likely be able to consider placing a deposit: each Renovatio T500 is made to order at a cost of €300,000 (around £236,000).