New Bentley coupe

Bentley is drip-feeding details of its GT coupe, the company's first all-wheel-drive model and the first to be built under Volkswagen's ownership. The two-door four-seater (below) will be launched late next year and will be the platform for a family of new Bentleys to be built at its British headquarters at Crewe.

Bentley says the GT coupe will be powered by a twin-turbocharged 6-litre W12 engine, a reworked version of the W12 in VW's new Phaeton saloon. The Bentley unit will produce more than 372kW (500bhp) and upwards of 850Nm of torque, a zero to 100 km/h time of under five seconds and a top speed of 290km/h (180mph). Power will go to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox. The suspension consists of a multi-link rear axle, double wishbones at the front and the latest in electronic damping. Interior details are not available, but Bentley says the "cabin fully reflects the marque's values".

Toyota tops sales

Toyota New Zealand blitzed its new-vehicle competitors last month, selling nearly 25 per cent more than its nearest rival, Ford, and overtaking Holden for the outright lead after five months.

Figures released by the Land Transport Safety Authority show that Toyota sold 1424 new vehicles in May, 276 more than Ford in second spot and 327 more than third-placed Holden.

Bespoke Maybachs

Mercedes-Benz said from the start of its luxurious Maybach limousine programme that every buyer would be assigned a personal consultant to oversee tailormade requests. One it may not have expected was from a customer who wants the interior of his car trimmed with wood from a tree in his garden.

The two Maybach models, the 57 and 62, will go on sale in Europe in October. Each car will contain 750 hand-assembled parts. In Germany, the Maybach 57 will cost €310,000 ($600,000) and the Maybach 62 €360,000 ($695,000).

Cuban car museum

The Cuban Government has set up a museum dedicated to the American automobile - ironically a potent symbol of the capitalist country it has had an ideological battle with over 40-plus years.

The collection is housed in an old ship-repair shed in Havana, reports the New York Times. Old American cars are a signature of the city, up there with salsa music and cigars. Occupying pride of place in the collection is the mint-green 1960 Chevrolet Bel Air used by legendary guerrilla leader Che Guevara.

We are the world

* A British celebrity chauffeur who has written a book about his experiences says Madonna was the rudest person he ever drove. "I didn't like her," said Keith Badgery, 53. "She was very cold." He said the friendliest clients were singer Gloria Estefan and her husband Emilio. "Whenever I drove them to a restaurant, they'd say, 'Come on, Keith, park the car, come in and eat."'