California rules give push to 'green' vehicles in the near future

California regulators on Friday approved a plan that would require 15.4 percent of new vehicles sold in the state be electric, fuel-cell or plug-in hybrid vehicles by 2025. The rule--supported by major automakers--is part of a broader package of regulations called the Advanced Clean Car program designed to cut vehicle greenhouse gas and smog-forming emissions. The sweeping new auto emission standards could mean 1.4 million electric, fuel cell and plug-in hybrid vehicles on California roads by 2025.

Top Gear Tonight: Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series & SLS Electric, Hovercraft Car & Hugh Jackman is SIARPC

Top Gear tests the Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series (pictured) against the SLS Electric Drive We’re already halfway through the latest series of Top Gear – Series 20 – with tonight’s episode 4 leaving just two more show to go before the end of the season. Tonight we get Messrs Clarkson, May and Hammond looking for a solution for negotiating flooded regions (which just happens to be running in the longest dry spell in the UK for years) and it seems the solution is to build a car that turns in to a hovercraft. That will be the cue for the boys to appear in wetsuits as they take their creation for a trolley down the River Avon, a trip that will no doubt be more than a little eventful and wayward – hovercraft are not exactly point and steer.

McLaren MP4-12C by Mansory heading for Geneva 2012

The Mansory take on the McLaren MP4-12C German tuners Mansory are heading to the Geneva Motor Show with their take on the MP4-12C – the Mansory McLaren MP4-12C. When we heard that German tuners Mansory were taking a Mansory McLaren MP4-12C to the Geneva Motor Show this year, we did wonder what we were in for. After all, Mansory are as capable of destroying a car (like the Mansory Rolls Royce Ghost) as they are of enhancing it (like the Mansory Aston Martin DB9).