1941 Ford Stimsonite 18 Glass Tailight Lens Pair on 2040-parts.com

New Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive goes in to production

The first Mercedes B-Class ED (pictured) rolls off the production line in Rastatt With the BMW i3 grabbing headlines – and flying out of showrooms – as BMW’s first electric car, Mercedes need to play catch-up with a convincing EV of their own, and that’s the new B-Class Electric Drive – an EV version of the regular B-Class – which has now gone in to production in Germany. Built alongside regular ICE versions of the B-Class at Mercedes’ Rastatt Plant, the B-Class ED (Electric Drive) looks practically the same as its more conventionally powered siblings – although the front bumper does look a bit different – and has an electric motor good for 177 bhp and 250 lb/ft of torque, can manage a scoot to 62 mph in 7.9 seconds and has a range of up to 124 miles. The range – at least the quoted range – is a chunk better than the BMW i3′s and on a par with the latest Nissan LEAF, thanks to EV technology provided by Tesla, and the wrapping of an EV drivetrain in a conventional series production car could appeal to more buyers than the ‘statement’ design of the BMW i3.

World’s oldest unrestored Austin Mini up for grabs

1959 Austin Mini Seven De Luxe - up for grabs A 1959 Austin Mini Seven De Luxe – thought to be the oldest surviving un-restored Mini – goes under the hammer this month. When you look at these photos of the 1959 Austin Mini Seven De Luxe it’s hard to believe it has anything in common with the BMW MINI, but it has. Without the BMC Mini , the BMW MINI wouldn’t exist.

Hyundai unveils sketch of next Sonata

Drawings show that Hyundai's approach to the Sonata design has been completely rethought. Based on the drawings, the 2011 Sonata will have a fluid look, accented with a sharp crease in the side sheetmetal that flows upward, stretching from the front door to the rear of the car, ending on the trunk lid. The thin C-pillar creates a coupelike appearance.