-new- Cummins Onan 185-7016, V Belt, Remf-6400, Oem on 2040-parts.com

The hidden cost of fuel-efficient cars

Yesterday’s drive of the new Fiesta ECOnetic got me thinking. It’s astonishing what car makers can get out of a car these days. The new ECOnetic manages a combined figure of 76mpg.

Aston Martin Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S race car revealed

The new Aston Martin Rapide S was revealed in January, and now Aston Martin are taking the Rapide S racing, but with a twist – it’s going to be able to run on hydrogen. Aston Martin has been working with hydrogen experts Alset Global and have developed a twin turbo version of their 6.0 litre V12 that can run on petrol, gaseous hydrogen or a blend of both and the plan is to run the Rapide S at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring next month with at least one lap run on hydrogen alone. The hydrogen system in the Rapide S (which AM are calling a hybrid, but it’s only a hybrid in the sense it uses two fuels, not that it uses electric motors) has a hydrogen fuel rail, storage tanks and its won engine management system to control combustion.

Bertone Jaguar B99 GT concept (2011) at the Geneva motor show

Bertone B99 GT – the racing version Next to the fully-trimmed B99 show car on Bertone's stand is an exterior mock-up of a GT2-class racing B99.  Two additional electric motors up front mean the GT has 972bhp all wheel drive capability.  A carbonfibre splitter, diffuser and flat undertray are matched with a massive bootlid wing.  There's enormous side-exit exhausts for the range-extender generator, a 100mm lowering job and a lurid green paintjob.  It’s an extreme way for Bertone to highlight the dual images of luxury and performance that Jaguar has in its heritage – particularly since there aren’t currently any saloons in the FIA GT2 series.  Perhaps they should have painted it in a '70s Broadspeed XJC touring car livery to get the full effect. More details on the Bertone B99 exterior design Bertone claims that it has modernized classic Jaguar three-box saloon design with the B99, with Bertone’s design chief Mike Robinson and his team drawing inspiration not just from past Jaguars, but the stealthy big cat that lends its name and image to the brand.  They coined the slogan "Cunning Glamour with Race-Bred Innovation” to embody the B99’s design… but from the two cars on the stand it looks like reconciling those disparate aims in the one vehicle may have been a bit beyond them. The roofline has been shortened and lowered in proportion to a conventional three-box body, inspired by a Jaguar cat stalking its prey.