Elia Preparing Tuning Program for New Renault Twizy EV

Even in factory trim, the new Twizy is by far the quirkiest production model in Renault's range - and how could it not be with its electric powertrain, diminutive dimensions, a tandem seat layout and Lamborghini-style scissor doors. Read more »

Audi R8 e-tron Quietly Sets a New Nürburgring Record for Production EVs at 8:09 [w/Video]

For the time being, Toyota may hold the overall world record for electric vehicles at the Nürburgring Nordschleife with the road-legal EV P001 prototype at 7:47.794, but Audi claims to have earned the bragging rights for the fastest lap in a series production model with the R8 e-tron.

The soon-to-be launched electric-powered R8 completed the 20.8-kilometer (12.92-mile) long Nürburgring circuit in the hands of racing driver Markus Winkelhock in 8:09.099 minutes.

By comparison, German magazine Sport Auto has recorded a time of 7:44 with the R8 V10 in 2009 and 8:04 with the R8 V8 in 2007.

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Nissan Leaf EV Spun into a Luxurious Stretch Limousine

When even Ferraris and Maseratis have fallen victims to the limousine industry, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Nissan Leaf has also undergone the intrusive procedure of stretching its body to an extreme length.

The stretched version of Nissan's pure-electric model was manufactured by Imperial Coach Builders of Springfield, Missouri. The custom shop added an extra seat bench at the rear end of the car and re-trimmed the interior with leather upholstery and wooden décor.

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Nissan to Repeat Goodwood Hill Climb Attempt in Reverse

Professional stunt driver Terry Grant will try to reprise last year's attempt to complete the famous 1.16-mile Goodwood hillclimb course in reverse in a Nissan Leaf and in the process, set a new Guinness World Record for the fastest time over a distance of one mile in reverse.

While going in reverse doesn’t sound like much fun, keep in mind that unlike conventional powered models, the Leaf's electric powertrain enables it to be driven backwards as fast as it does forwards simply by disabling the regular model's electronic speed limiter.

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So You Think You Can Drift? The Renault Twizy Edition

Some will buy the new Renault Twizy for its eco-friendly nature and some for its futuristic almost conceptual looks, while others for its ultra-compact size, but we seriously doubt if anyone will choose the French 1+1 tandem-seat electric city car with its 17hp motor for its ability to go sideways.

Still, given the Twizy's rear-wheel drive layout and the fact that the very capable Renaultsport division designed its chassis, it's a reasonable question for any gearhead: Will it drift?

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Mitsubishi to Unveil New Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV in Paris

Following the world premiere of the gasoline- and diesel-powered versions of the all-new Outlander at the Geneva Motor Show this past March, Mitsubishi today announced that it will roll out a Plug-in Hybrid EV model of its crossover at the forthcoming 2012 Paris Motor Show this September.

The new Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV (or PHEV) will share its architecture with the soon-to-be-launched Outlander’s Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) versions.

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Saab Auto's New Owner to Launch an EV based on the 9-3 by Early 2014, will Initially Focus in China

Saab, the Swedish car brand that just refuses to die, will have a new pure-electric model based on the underpinnings of the 9-3 on the market by the end of 2013 or early 2014, according to the company's new owner, National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB (NEVS).

NEVS was specifically established by a consortium formed by Japanese, Swedish and Chinese stakeholders to acquire Saab assets including Saab Property AB, which owns the company's production facility in Trollhattan and Saab Powertrain AB.

It also owns some rights to the 9-3 and the company's incomplete Phoenix platform architecture but not the 9-5 sedan/station wagon and the 9-4x crossover that remain the intellectual property of General Motors.

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BMW Says i8 Plug-in Hybrid Coupe to Cost 'More than €100,000'

We're still a good two years away from the market launch of the most anticipated model of BMW's new i sub-brand, the i8 Coupe, but the Bavarian automaker has already outlined a pricing strategy for the plug-in hybrid.

Speaking to reporters at the grand opening of the i sub-brand’s first sales outlet worldwide on London’s Park Lane, BMW global sales chief Ian Robertson said that the hybrid sports car will sell for "more than €100,000 (about US$125,400 or £80,600)" - apparently in Europe, according to a report from Bloomberg News.

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BMW i Pedelec is a Foldable Electric Bicycle for the i3

There were plenty of things to see at the grand opening of the first dealership dedicated to the BMW i sub-brand on London’s Park Lane today including a new foldable electric bicycle named the i Pedelec (from the words Pedal Electric Cycle).

The compact bicycle with the lightweight frame made from aluminium and carbon fibre was designed to complement the upcoming i3 hatchback with BMW claiming that once folded, two of them can fit in the boot of the electric supermini.

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BMW Opens its First Dedicated i Store Worldwide in London

The introduction of the new "i" sub-brand for BMW's upcoming pure electric, plug-in hybrid and other alternative fuel vehicles was only the beginning as the Bavarian carmaker is taking the project to a whole new level with the opening of the first dedicated i Store worldwide in London's Park Lane. Read more »

Saab Bought by Chinese-Japanese Consortium to Build Electric Cars

Never say it's over with Saab as the Swedish automaker seems to have more lives than the proverbial cat…

Bloomberg News reported today a consortium named National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB, which is led by Japanese investment firm Sun Investment and Hong Kong-based renewable-energy power-plant builder National Modern Energy Holdings Ltd., has agreed to buy Saab and turn the company into an electric carmaker.

The National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB consortium was recently formed with the sole purpose of acquiring Saab.

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2013 Chevrolet Volt get Slightly Improved Pure Electric Driving Range

The introduction of the 2013 model year Chevrolet Volt brings an increase in the car's pure-electric driving range by three miles (4.8 km) for a total of 38 miles (61.1 km), compared to the 2012 model's 35 mile EV range.

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2013 Honda Fit EV Receives Highest Ever EPA Rating for Electric Cars at 118 MPGe

Good news for Honda as its 2013 Fit EV has scored a combined adjusted Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mile-per-gallon-equivalency rating of 118 MPGe, which the company says is the "highest fuel-efficiency rating ever given by the EPA".

But wait, doesn't the EV part of the new Fit's name stand for 'Electric Vehicle'? Yes, it does, so saying it has the "highest fuel-efficiency" is not entirely true. What Honda has achieved is to create a vehicle with a low consumption rating of 29 kilowatt hours (kWh) per 100 miles.

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Fisker Expands Previous 2012 Karma Recall Over Battery Fire Risk

As it turns out, Fisker's existing voluntary recall of 239 Karma sedans in December 2011 did not cover all the affected models.

Today, the California-based automaker issued a supplementary recall that adds to the list a further 19 cars manufactured from September 22, 2011, through January 20, 2012, ten of which have already been delivered to customers, according to Fisker.

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SCOOP: 2013 Audi R8 Shows its Face, will Gain More Power and a 7-Speed Dual Clutch Transmission

Some six years after Audi wowed the world with its R8 supercar in 2006, Ingolstadt is getting ready to spruce up its flagship model with very mild styling updates on the outside but important changes under the skin.

Our spies sent us two sets of photos today, both of the R8 V10 model, with and without the swirly camouflage.

On the styling front, Audi's designers made a few tweaks here and there such as the new LED headlamp and tail light fixtures, the reshaped, six-point front grille with horizontal chrome slats and the circular instead of oval-shaped twin tail pipes on the V10 model.

Some may also notice that instead of two plastic slats on the front and rear side vents, the updated V10 model gets three plastic slats on both ends and corners.

Read more »

SCOOP: 2013 Audi R8 Shows its Face, will Gain More Power and a 7-Speed Dual Clutch Transmission

Some six years after Audi wowed the world with its R8 supercar in 2006, Ingolstadt is getting ready to spruce up its flagship model with very mild styling updates on the outside but important changes under the skin.

Our spies sent us two sets of photos today, both of the R8 V10 model, with and without the swirly camouflage.

On the styling front, Audi's designers made a few tweaks here and there such as the new LED headlamp and tail light fixtures, the reshaped, six-point front grille with horizontal chrome slats and the circular instead of oval-shaped twin tail pipes on the V10 model.

Some may also notice that instead of two plastic slats on the front and rear side vents, the updated V10 model gets three plastic slats on both ends and corners.

Read more »

Spy Shots: Porsche 918 Spyder Snagged Topless, Plus Full-Specs, Turns the 'Ring in Under 7:22

Only a few days after Porsche released an official set of images of the pre-production 918 Spyder, our spies sent in new photos of the plug-in hybrid supercar, this time testing with its top down.

The new crown jewel of the Porsche lineup features a targa top solution with a pair of detachable carbon fiber roof panels that can be stored in the front luggage compartment and a small windowpane located between the flying buttresses.

The pre-production prototype is finished in a matte black color with white stripes that harks back to historical Porsche 917 racing cars.

Surprisingly, Porsche is not keeping a lot of secrets from us having revealed initial specifications on the 918 Spyder. The spiritual successor of the 959 from the 1980s, of which only a little over 330 units were produced, and the Carrera GT from the mid-2000s (1,270 built), sports a full carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) body bolted to a carbon-fiber tub.

Read more »

Spy Shots: Porsche 918 Spyder Snagged Topless, Plus Full-Specs, Turns the 'Ring in Under 7:22

Only a few days after Porsche released an official set of images of the pre-production 918 Spyder, our spies sent in new photos of the plug-in hybrid supercar, this time testing with its top down.

The new crown jewel of the Porsche lineup features a targa top solution with a pair of detachable carbon fiber roof panels that can be stored in the front luggage compartment and a small windowpane located between the flying buttresses.

The pre-production prototype is finished in a matte black color with white stripes that harks back to historical Porsche 917 racing cars.

Surprisingly, Porsche is not keeping a lot of secrets from us having revealed initial specifications on the 918 Spyder. The spiritual successor of the 959 from the 1980s, of which only a little over 330 units were produced, and the Carrera GT from the mid-2000s (1,270 built), sports a full carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) body bolted to a carbon-fiber tub.

Read more »

MINI Norris, Approved by Chuck, Designed by Milos

With all the far-fetched videos we have posted in our Chuck Norris Approved section, it was just a matter of time before one of you, our readers, sent in a Chuck Norris Approved vehicle.

From the creator of the mirthful Zastava ZUGO with its groundbreaking hand warmers comes the one and only Mini Norris, the only car in the world that passed all crash tests with a single roundhouse kick.

Designed by Milos Paripovic, a graduate of the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, Austria, the MINI Norris not only looks the part, but the part actually looks like it.

Read more »

MINI Norris, Approved by Chuck, Designed by Milos

With all the far-fetched videos we have posted in our Chuck Norris Approved section, it was just a matter of time before one of you, our readers, sent in a Chuck Norris Approved vehicle.

From the creator of the mirthful Zastava ZUGO with its groundbreaking hand warmers comes the one and only Mini Norris, the only car in the world that passed all crash tests with a single roundhouse kick.

Designed by Milos Paripovic, a graduate of the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, Austria, the MINI Norris not only looks the part, but the part actually looks like it.

Read more »