A vintage Bugatti has become the world’s most expensive car after fetching over $30 million (£20.4 million) at auction.

The vintage 1936 Type 57SC Atlantic is one of only three ever built and was purchased by the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California.

Although the exact amount of the bid has not been revealed, it is known to have smashed the previous record $12.2 million paid for a Ferrari Testa Rossa last year.

Family of late car collector Dr Peter D Williamson submitted the car to be auctioned but did not expect it to sell for such a high price.

According to Top Gear, the car was first bought by Lord Philippe de Rothschild in 1938 and fitted with a supercharger three year later, giving its 3.3-litre engine 210bhp. When in peak condition, the Atlantic could hit speeds of 123mph.

It is hoped it will be put on display for visitors to see in the near future.

Hyundai is readying itself for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa after its UK branch launched the official Hyundai Goodwill Ball.

The South Korean manufacturer is the official automotive partner of the tournament, and with just five weeks to go until it kicks off, it has created 32 four-metre balls for each of the qualifying nations.

Once each giant ball is delivered to its respective country, the manufacturers hope fans, officials and players will sign them with their good luck messages.

England’s Goodwill Ball will be taken on a nationwide tour, including visits to West Ham’s Upton Park, before being flown over to Johannesburg for the tournament’s opening ceremony.

Tony Whitehorn, managing director of Hyundai Motor UK said: "We’re delighted to be part of this great global even and hope that our friends at West Ham will bring good luck in South Africa."

The World Cup begins June 11th, and England first group game against the USA is scheduled for the following day.

A vintage Bugatti has become the world’s most expensive car after fetching over $30 million (£20.4 million) at auction.

The vintage 1936 Type 57SC Atlantic is one of only three ever built and was purchased by the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California.

Although the exact amount of the bid has not been revealed, it is known to have smashed the previous record $12.2 million paid for a Ferrari Testa Rossa last year.

Family of late car collector Dr Peter D Williamson submitted the car to be auctioned but did not expect it to sell for such a high price.

According to Top Gear, the car was first bought by Lord Philippe de Rothschild in 1938 and fitted with a supercharger three year later, giving its 3.3-litre engine 210bhp. When in peak condition, the Atlantic could hit speeds of 123mph.

It is hoped it will be put on display for visitors to see in the near future.

Volvo had a little mishap when its new S60 model collided with a lorry during a demonstration of its new collision warning system, Wired.co.uk reports.

The car, not due for release until later this year, was propelled from the Swedish manufacturer’s testing tunnel towards a truck at about 30mph, but instead of the warning system bringing it to a stop, the vehicle smashed into the truck.

Press who had assembled to see the device in action did get a preview of its effectiveness earlier in the day, and Volvo claimed the crash was down to human error.

Initially launched in 2000, the S60 is a compact executive sedan, the upgraded version of which will range in price from £23,295 to £36,745.

The three engine choices include the standard 203bhp D5 diesel, or the improved T6 petrol engine, which offers 300bhp and takes the S60 from a standstill to 60mph in just 6.5 seconds.

Volvo recently announced in its Sustainability Report that it would increase its focus on producing an eco-friendly range of cars.

Hyundai is readying itself for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa after its UK branch launched the official Hyundai Goodwill Ball.

The South Korean manufacturer is the official automotive partner of the tournament, and with just five weeks to go until it kicks off, it has created 32 four-metre balls for each of the qualifying nations.

Once each giant ball is delivered to its respective country, the manufacturers hope fans, officials and players will sign them with their good luck messages.

England’s Goodwill Ball will be taken on a nationwide tour, including visits to West Ham’s Upton Park, before being flown over to Johannesburg for the tournament’s opening ceremony.

Tony Whitehorn, managing director of Hyundai Motor UK said: "We’re delighted to be part of this great global even and hope that our friends at West Ham will bring good luck in South Africa."

The World Cup begins June 11th, and England first group game against the USA is scheduled for the following day.

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber dominated today’s second practice session for Sunday’s (May 9th) Spanish Grand Prix.

Vettel, fifth in the championship standings, recorded the fastest lap and was the only driver to go below one minute 20 seconds, while teammate Webber was nearly a full second ahead of third-placed Michael Schumacher.

Home favourite Fernando Alonso came fourth, just a whisker behind Schumacher, while Brit Lewis Hamilton came in sixth, ahead of Nico Rosberg’s Mercedes.

Championship leader Jenson Button was a disappointing ninth on an ultra-dry track which seemed to suit the two Red Bull drivers.

The results of qualifying sessions can often differ wildly from the results of practice sessions, but the other teams will need to seriously consider their strategies if they are to compete with Vettel and Webber’s speed.

Schumacher, who has endured a tough start to the season since his return to the sport, was recently told by racing legend Stirling Moss that he was "past it".

Volvo had a little mishap when its new S60 model collided with a lorry during a demonstration of its new collision warning system, Wired.co.uk reports.

The car, not due for release until later this year, was propelled from the Swedish manufacturer’s testing tunnel towards a truck at about 30mph, but instead of the warning system bringing it to a stop, the vehicle smashed into the truck.

Press who had assembled to see the device in action did get a preview of its effectiveness earlier in the day, and Volvo claimed the crash was down to human error.

Initially launched in 2000, the S60 is a compact executive sedan, the upgraded version of which will range in price from £23,295 to £36,745.

The three engine choices include the standard 203bhp D5 diesel, or the improved T6 petrol engine, which offers 300bhp and takes the S60 from a standstill to 60mph in just 6.5 seconds.

Volvo recently announced in its Sustainability Report that it would increase its focus on producing an eco-friendly range of cars.

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber dominated today’s second practice session for Sunday’s (May 9th) Spanish Grand Prix.

Vettel, fifth in the championship standings, recorded the fastest lap and was the only driver to go below one minute 20 seconds, while teammate Webber was nearly a full second ahead of third-placed Michael Schumacher.

Home favourite Fernando Alonso came fourth, just a whisker behind Schumacher, while Brit Lewis Hamilton came in sixth, ahead of Nico Rosberg’s Mercedes.

Championship leader Jenson Button was a disappointing ninth on an ultra-dry track which seemed to suit the two Red Bull drivers.

The results of qualifying sessions can often differ wildly from the results of practice sessions, but the other teams will need to seriously consider their strategies if they are to compete with Vettel and Webber’s speed.

Schumacher, who has endured a tough start to the season since his return to the sport, was recently told by racing legend Stirling Moss that he was "past it".

Electric car manufacturers may install a feature on their vehicles to make them more audible.

The practically noiseless cars could be hazardous to pedestrians, who could unwittingly step out in front of one, so regulators in the European Union are considering allowing producers to use different sounds to negate the problem.

It is thought that the sounds will be different from the standard noise an engine tends to make, and there have even been suggestions that Star Wars-style sound effects might be used.

According to the Daily Mail, research by the University of California found that electric cars got 40 per cent closer to pedestrians compared to petrol and diesel cars before they could be detected by sound.

The Toyota Prius, a hybrid car launched in 1997, saw record UK sales in February, with 538 units sold, and since then the total number of sales for the eco-friendly vehicle have exceeded 1.6 million.

Mazda has brought the release date of its upgraded Mazda6 model forward to meet popular demand.

The models are now in Mazda showrooms across the country and feature refreshed exterior and interior styling, additional equipment and a host of technical enhancements.

Fuel economy has been improved by up to 6.4 per cent, with CO2 emissions cut by 6.1 per cent. Prices for the upgraded Mazda6 range from £16,995 to £23,445.

There are two body styles on display (hatchback and estate), and six engines types, split evenly between petrol and diesel, while there are four equipment levels.

Mark Cameron, sales director for Mazda UK, said the amendments to the car were "more than just a cosmetic exercise" and it remained among the best-in-class for CO2 emissions.

"The car has more aggressive front styling, while the engines, suspension and steering have been fine-tuned, enhancing refinement," he added.

In the 2009 to 2010 fiscal year, Mazda UK broke the 50,000 sales figure for the second time in history.