1090 Barry Grant King Demon. Brand New. on 2040-parts.com

Could Coffee Kick Start Your Car?

NEXT time you’re reaching for the coffee in a bid to kick start your day, in the future the popular beverage could also power your drive to work. In a new development, scientists have made biofuel from ground coffee produced in 20 different geographic regions - including caffeinated and decaffeinated forms. New research from the University of Bath suggests waste coffee grounds could be a "sustainable fuel source" for powering vehicles.

Kia Sorento

Kia has released pictures of the exterior of its new Sorento, ahead of the car's debut at the Paris Motor Show in October. It's the third generation of the Korean firm's mid-size SUV, and first impressions are that it conforms to the inexorable trend towards crossover aesthetics shown by both the Sorento itself - which has transitioned from utility-focused body-on-frame SUV to its latest car-like form - and its rivals. The Sorento gains 95mm in length, taking it to 4,780mm, with 80mm of that increase being the wheelbase, which now measures 2,780mm.

Crunch watch Dec 09: the auto industry in crisis

Welcome to CAR's news aggregator as we round up the seismic change in the auto industry. Top tip: news summaries are added from the top hour-by-hour Wednesday 30 December 2009• Saab's PR chief told AN that GM is extending the deadline for a sale to 7 January – and the Trollhattan factory will resume limited manufacturing in early January to build the new 9-5 and some 9-3 cabrios (Automotive News, subscription required)• Last night Bloomberg reported a Saab board member claiming that the 31 December deadline for a Saab sale or closure 'is not holy'. If GM receives a bid that is 'sufficiently interesting', it'll extend the deadline, said the Saab suit (Automotive News, subscription required)• GM is offering massive discounts on Pontiac and Saturn cars, as it seeks to get rid of the remaining stock from these terminated brands.