As teasers go, it’s distinctly underwhelming, but it got me thinking about the location of the film shoot and what this tells us about Jaguar’s new 911 rival.

The twisty, challenging roads deep within the Graian Alps, Italy.

The route, in case you’d like to retrace the C-X16′s steps for yourself, is around the north west part of the Graian Alps at the border between Switzerland, France and Italy. From what we can see, those exquisitely twisty roads are around Lago Agnel, Gran Paradiso in Piedmont, just 50 or so kilometres south of Chamonix Mont Blanc.

Lago Agnel, Gran Paradiso, Piedmont, Italy.

Having driven these roads many times, I remember there being plenty of tight un-sighted corners that suit an agile chassis and a car with strong brakes. Undeniably the kind of roads that fit Porsche’s 911 like a glove.

Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar Cars recently commented: “Great Jaguars have always been beautiful, innovative and have looked firmly to the future. The finished C-X16 concept has the potential to do these things while retaining the ability to surprise, to excite and invigorate.”

Filming for the Jaguar C-X16 teaser video.

Rumour has it that the C-X16 will be powered by two front-engined rear-wheel drive V6 variants – 275 bhp and 350 bhp with supercharger – fitted within a lightweight aluminium platform. It’s likely that hotter models will follow, but for the time being Jaguar are focusing on performance through lightness and agility.

The Graian Alps, Italy.

Exact details of the oily bits will be revealed in just a few days from now – on Wednesday (7 September) – together with that all-important body design which (surprisingly) has remained a total secret until now.

A sketch drawing of the Jaguar C-X16.

And with such immaculate timing, Aston Martin have reminded us that they’ve got a few places going spare at their annual “Aston Martin On Ice” driving event at the world renowned resort of St Moritz, Switzerland. Handy eh?

This is the third year Aston have run the event and on-hand are the full range of cars including Rapide, DBS, DB9, V12 and V8 Vantage.

This specially developed driving programme, which features individual training by professional instructors, ensures the driving skills required for such an environment are achieved quickly whilst experiencing the maximum of fun (another important requirement leading up to a leap-year).

Available dates (as of this morning) include

• 4/5 February available
• 6/7 February available
• 7/8 February available

To register your interest, please click here and a member of Aston Martin’s Performance Driving Team will contact you to discuss your requirements. Alternatively if you would prefer to speak to a member of the Team, then you can call them on: +49 (0) 69 770 752 002.

Have fun and send us a postcard..

Photo Gallery

The system will not only alert the driver of the need to stop for food but will also navigate the car to the nearest restaurant that suit’s the driver’s taste and pocket. To be called Gastronomi, it could become an option on the all new Infiniti M performance luxury saloon which goes on sale across Europe from September.

Gastronomi employs three of Infiniti’s current technologies: Connectiviti, Active Noise Control and Forest Air climate control. Active Noise Control donates one of its sensors mounted in the interior headlining and otherwise employed in monitoring road noise to detect the sounds of borborygmi –tummy rumbles. If a pre-determined volume of rumbling is heard, a knife and fork symbol flashes up on the Connectiviti information screen and the driver is asked whether they wish to divert for a pit-stop.

A selection of nearby restaurants can then be accessed from the Michelin Red Guide, already an integral part of Infiniti’s Connectiviti infotainment system. Once a choice is selected, the HDD navigation system selects the quickest route and if a reservation is required, a telephone number is also given for the driver to connect to via Infiniti’s standard Bluetooth telephone integration.

At this point, the Forest Air climate control system changes mode. The tropical borneol scent that is usually gently wafted throughout the cabin is replaced with the fragrance of truffle oil to ready the palette as the driver is navigated to their meal.

Gastronomi can be tailored further. There is a Fitness option which if selected first calculates the driver’s ideal weight based on the memorised driving position. The driver is then asked to input their real weight and if it is higher than the theoretical weight, Gastronomi allows for louder tummy rumbles before suggesting a pit-stop. It also works in reverse if it considers the driver needs feeding up.

Another, ahem, menu asks the driver to input their favoured cuisine and amount they want to pay for a meal and suggests restaurants accordingly from the Michelin Red Guide. Categories include Bistro, Gastropub, Flushed and On Expenses.

Infiniti’s engineers have developed the technology after several years of research, and periods of starvation, in conjunction with the Narita Office for Subsistence and Health (NOSH) in Japan. The research showed the dangers of driving while hungry included reduced concentration brought on by daydreams about noodles as well as the risk of neck-strain, not to mention a frontal impact, while the driver looks into passing restaurants.

The director of NOSH, I. Likecake-san, stopped between mouthfuls to say: “Gastronomi could be the most important development in [pauses to swallow] motoring since the cup holder [burps]. Is there any more rice?”

Infiniti’s programme director for Gastronomi, Yumi Teppenyaki, was unfortunately out to lunch when asked for a comment.

So what has skiing got to do with Bentley?

Well, Bentley has partnered with the Swiss company Zai to produce the ‘one-of-a-kind’ zai for Bentley Supersport skis. The skis are handmade in Switzerland with collaboration from the Bentley Styling Studio in Crewe.

The handmade skis, poles and ski bag have been designed exclusively for Bentley, with design input from Bentley’s own team. Most excitingly, unique and patented technology confirms the product range is truly ‘one-of-a-kind’. New materials deployed in the skis will be a world first.

The skis will be a limited edition of 250 numbered pairs. Zaiìra® is a novel composite material containing carbon fibres specially developed by zai in co-operation with a partner. Zaiìra® is used on the skis’ top layer in combination with natural rubber in the central part as well as carbon fabric in composition with chrome steel in the torsion part. Additionally, long carbon fibre Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites (LFRTP) are being used in the zai for Bentley Supersport skis.

Bentley Zai Supersport Skis – made from carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic and titan

The ski poles also demonstrate a new technology, ExoGrid®, used solely for the first time in the Bentley skis. A unique combination of the materials titan and carbon fibre reduces weight and guarantees high stability – this is the same material that is currently used for golf shafts. The ski bag is also custom-designed and custom-manufactured by zai.

Zai was formed in 2004, based in the Swiss village of Disentis. The high-end manufacturer of ski products, helmets and goggles, with a focus on hand built craftsmanship and the use of unique materials and patented technology.

Zai launched the world’s first and only skis containing a stone core, “zai Spada”, followed by ‘Hublot All Black by zai’ skis featuring a natural rubber top layer.

In 2008-9, the company sold 900 pairs of skis (’09 season) and this year is expecting to sell 1,000 pairs. About 20 per cent of all sales are direct from the factory with a focus on offering a factory tour, after sales service and insight into the production process.

You’ve probably gathered by now that these are unlikely to be the sort of skis that you can hire from SkiSet or Intersport – if you have to ask how much they cost… then you probably can’t afford them.

Well ok, get your credit cards ready because you’ll need to make same room for these bad boys; you) can pick a pair up for yourself for the princely sum of £5,900 (6,800 EUR).

Nice though aren’t they.

But for Infiniti, M doesn’t stand for Motorsport – although some might argue the same could be said for BMW these days.

Infiniti is a relatively new brand in Europe, although it has competed successfully against the likes of BMW, Mercedes and Lexus in the US for many years. 2009 was scheduled to be a big year for the brand, with new dedicated centres being opened in Paris, Rome, Zurich and…. Reading in Berkshire, but the economic downturn forced Infiniti management to curtail some of their plans as they prepare for an upturn in the market during 2010.

They’ve been busy though, with new variants of the G37 entry-level model released, plus their sports-oriented crossovers, the EX and FX.

Those of us who attended Infiniti’s stand at the Geneva show this year will have felt mixed emotions – elation at seeing the Essence Concept followed swiftly by disappointment as we heard that Infiniti had no plans to produce it. We were told that it represented the design language of future Infiniti models, which was little solace to those of us who saw the Essence as one of the most gorgeous looking Japanese cars yet to be conceived.

We’ll leave you to judge whether Infiniti are living up their promise of reflecting the Essence’s style in their mainstream models, but it’s a tough act to follow and therefore perhaps we should not judge them too harshly.

So the Infiniti M joins the range above the G37, competing against the likes of BMW’s new 5-series, Mercedes fresh new E-Class and Audi’s A6.

The M37 is powered by the same 3.7-litre VVEL V6 petrol engine found in other Infiniti models producing 316 bhp (320 PS) and 266 lb ft (360 Nm) of torque. A V6 diesel will be launched in 2010 with a petrol/electric V6 hybrid model sometime later.

On first acquaintance the M37 appears to offer nothing particularly new in this sector, however there are several technical innovations that Infiniti are hoping will tempt buyers away from their German competitors.

Blind Sport Intervention (BSI)
Infiniti describes this as a ‘world-first safety feature’, as well as giving the driver both visual and audible warnings of another vehicle in the blind-spot area which is detected using radar, BSI intervenes if the driver ignores the warnings and attempts to steer into the other vehicle’s path. The intervention is in the form of a directional adjustment, executed automatically. This is achieved by selective braking on one side of the car to create a “yaw” effect that eases the vehicle back into its original lane.

Active Noise Control (ANC)
By identifying undesirable sounds in the cabin and then playing back through the speakers sound waves of an opposite phase, the original noises are cancelled out, making the M’s interior a quieter, more restful place to be. The system is aimed at reducing undesirable low-frequency engine sounds only. M models with the 16-speaker Bose Studio Surround sound system are equipped with Bose Engine Harmonic Cancellation (EHC) which is claimed to be even more effective at controlling unwanted noises.

Infiniti Drive
The M’s throttle sensitivity and transmission mapping are fine tuned according to which of four driver-selectable modes is engaged via a switch positioned behind the gear lever: Standard, Eco, Sport and Snow. The Eco mode utilises green and yellow lights on the instrument panel to provide feedback on fuel efficiency. Eco mode also introduces a new Infiniti concept known as the Eco Pedal. If driving too aggressively, the driver will feel the accelerator pedal “push back” to indicate fuel is being wasted. Sport mode changes the automatic shift points and enhances throttle response for increased performance. It will also adjust the 4WAS for a nimbler feel and raise the ESP intervention level.

Forest Air
Infiniti believes the quality of the air within a car’s cabin has a direct bearing on the well-being of driver and passengers. Which is why it developed Forest Air – Infiniti’s most advanced climate control system that makes its debut in the M37. The system offers temperature, humidity and pollution control while re-creating the gentle breezes and subtle scents of an environment known to promote alertness and relieve stress: the forest.

The M uses a Front Mid-ship platform that positions the engine behind the front axle resulting in an optimised front-to-rear weight balance for naturally stable and rewarding handling. Suspension is double-wishbone in front and multi-link at the rear, along with front and rear anti-roll bars. The standard wheel size is 18-inches however for the sportiest models, 20-inch wheels, new double-piston shock absorbers, special suspension settings, 4-piston brakes and 4-Wheel Active Steering are all available.

Prices are still to be confirmed, but will be announced prior to the beginning of European sales in September 2010.