1959 Plymouth "sport" Emblem Nos 1866625 on 2040-parts.com

BMW i3 EV WILL get BMW motorcycle engine as range extender

BMW’s head of R&D, Herbert Diess, has confirmed the BMW i3 EV will come with the option of a range extender engine. BMW’s head of R&D, Herbert Diess, has confirmed to Automotive News that when the i3 arrives in BMW showrooms at the end of 2013 it will be offered with a range extending engine as well as a pure EV. The range extender engine will be housed in the boot and is derived from a BMW motorcycle engine, and will turn the i3 from a small EV, useful only in confined city environs with a range of around 40 miles, in to a small runaround that has a range of 250 miles.

Abarth 695 biposto is the quickest Fiat 500: Geneva Motor Show

The Abarth 695 biposto (pictured) is the the most extreme Fiat 500 The revised Fiat 500 range for 2014 is on show at the Geneva Motor Show this week with some nice revisions to take Fiat’s iconic little 500 forward. But if you want a Fiat 500 with decent get up and go you need to look at the Abarth 500s and now – also debuting at Geneva – you’ll also have the option of the quickest Abarth to date – the new Abarth 695 biposto. The 695 biposto comes with a 1.4 litre turbocharged engine delivering 187bhp, enough for a power to weight ratio of an impressive 5.2kg/hp thanks to weight savings cutting the 695 biposto’s weight to just 997kg.

Volkswagen wants Alfa Romeo, but Fiat doesn't want to sell

Fiat S.p.A. is refusing a new round of Volkswagen AG overtures to buy its troubled sporty Alfa Romeo brand, company sources told Automotive News Europe. VW is on an acquisition spree to help its bid to topple Toyota Motor Corp.