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“We believe the time is over to think about ‘hot hatchbacks’.” Those are the sentiments of project leading engineer Norio Tomobe, one of the key men responsible for the development of the Honda CRZ. “The world is changing, and we should take care to make cars that are both fun to drive and low on emissions.”

That’s the philosophy behind this compact, enthusiast-targeted hybrid: it’s an eco-car, but not such a worthy one.

Aston Martin's new Cygnet was met with slightly uncertain applause at it was unveiled in Geneva this morning.

It's fair to say Aston design director Marek Reichmann has changed everything about the car he easily could - grille, airscoops, lights, badges, colours, body trim and so on - but the car's unmistakable proportions and window graphics still advertise its £10K Toyota roots, too loudly for some.

So what’s the new Cayenne like in the metal?

Well if you didn’t like the bluff and aggressive look of the old one there’s little hope that you’re going to think that this one is a beauty either.

Earlier today, the Autocar inbox received a very interesting e-mail from a chap who only identified himself as ‘Chris’.

My guess is that ‘Chris’ is a car designer, because he’s noticed something very intriguing about Mercedes’ latest concept car, pointing out a remarkable resemblance between it’s rear and the rear of the cancelled BMW CS limo

On the site today you'll notice a story on the Toyota FT-86 Concept. Since I wrote it various rumours have been doing the rounds on the internet about the validity of the car’s design. According to these rumours “an unofficial source in Japan” has claimed that the final design hasn’t been signed off yet, the insinuation being that the car we photographed bears little true resemblance to the one that will go on sale in 2012.

I was, I admit, a bit shocked by these rumours, having recently spent a day with the car and some of the people responsible for its design. So I started to do some digging, and it now seems that the situation is a wee bit more complicated than it first appeared.

With my background in design, I know I really shouldn’t be saying this. But ever since I saw the Audi A1 metroproject concept at the Tokyo show in autumn 2007 I have had a niggling thought in the back of my mind.

There was something about the car’s rather plump, potato-esque, shape that reminded me strongly of another car.