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Electric cars get a £500 million government cash boost – but will it get spent?

The new BMW i3 EV (pictured) will be subsidised until 2017. The subsidy of up to £5000 paid to buyers of electric cars has been with us for three years, but it hasn’t had much impact on EV sales and it did look like the government had decided to scrap it all together. But it looks like the coalition has allowed Nick Clegg to have his way with EV subsides in a move that will see £500 million injected in to promoting and supporting electric cars in the UK in the next few years.

Hyundai puts Michel Nandan in charge of WRC effort

Hyundai has appointed former Peugeot WRC technical director Michel Nandan to head up their assault on WRC. As Hyundai matures in to a credible mainstream force, improving brand perception is crucial to its long-term goals and 2012 is all about improving Hyundai’s brand experience and perceptions of the brand. A part of that focus is to take Hyundai back in to WRC rallying with a much modified i20, where Hyundai are hoping for a better experience than they had when they went rallying a decade ago – which should be a given considering the big strides Hyundai has made in its cars in the last few years.

SEAT reveals new X-Perience crossover

SEAT SEAT has revealed the new Leon X-Perience, the latest addition to the expanding Leon range and a foray into a new niche for VW's Spanish subsidiary. Following a method proven by the likes of Audi, Subaru and Volvo, SEAT has taken its new Leon estate, the ST, and added 4WD and plastic bumpers to create a new model. The basic shape of the Leon ST has remained unchanged, with a 15mm rise in ride-height and new anodised black roof rails completing the transformation.