Brian Carless, Gleaner Writer

Mitsubishi rival Subaru tackles the mainstream market with its Impreza sedan and hatchback variants, it is Mitsubishi who are to evolve their 4-door Lancer concept with the addition of a 5-door sportback model. Judging by its styling, expect specification to be close to that of the Evolution Ralliart, featuring a 2.0-litre turbocharged MIVEC engine producing 235 hp and 253 ft-lb of torque, which is routed through Mitsubishi's Twin Clutch SST transmission and sent to all four wheels via a full-time 4WD system using the automaker's Active Center Differential.

The Lancer Prototype S will be powered by the same engines as the Lancer sedan: 1.5 and 2.4 gas engines, but also a few turbo and turbo-diesel. The car is expected to the shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Little is now known about the concept, including whether or not it could ever make its way to US sale. Mitsubishi hints in its press release that the 5-door hatchback Lancer is destined for the European market.

Audi to run its first biodiesel race car

This year's edition of the Audi R10 Le Mans car will be powered not only by diesel, but by the most interesting kind of this fuel so far: the BTL, or biomass-to-liquid, a second-generation fuel that is produced from straw, useless pieces of wood, compost and other things you would call garbage, but scientists call biomass.

The previous fuel used in the Audi R10 was also a (synthetic fuel), the GTL (gas-to-liquid) diesel but, since it does not come from a renewable source, but from natural gas, carbon dioxide emissions where still a problem.

The idea is simple: petroleum was a way Mother Nature found to get rid of carbon and to balance its presence in the atmosphere. When we burn it, we send that carbon back to the air and increase the green-house effect. When we burn fuels made from plants, we only use the carbon that was already there, the same one the plants took from the atmosphere to feed themselves and build their bodies.

Nissan 350Z will be at Paris Motor Show

The revised Nissan 350Z will appear at the Paris Motor Show this year, but the car will be powered by the 3.7-litre engine found in the Infiniti G37 and is to become a 370Z. The G and the Z share a platform and have historically run the same displacement engine.

2009 Hummer H3T revealed

The Hummer H3T is building on the Chevrolet Colorado /H3 architecture. The crew cab can carry up to five passengers. Engine options range from a Vortec 3.7L I-5 with dual overhead cams and variable valve timing that generates 245 bhp at 5,600 rpm and 328 Nm at 4,600 rpm, mated to a five-speed manual transmission or an optional four-speed automatic gearbox, to the Hummer H3 Alpha's engine, a 5.3-litre small block V8 that delivers 304 bhp and 433 Nm.

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue to drop April 17

April 17, 2008, is the confirmed date that Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will go on sale for the PS3. The Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will have 60 cars and five full tracks on which to race in high-definition. The GT 5 Prologue will be available on April 17 either as a downloadable game from the PlayStation Network on your console, or on disc at any games retailer, both for USD $40. GT 5 Prologue, unfortunately, is just a preview of what we'll get when the full version of this fifth instalment is released some time in the future.