1992 Yamaha Waverunner 650 Vxr Intake Manifold on 2040-parts.com

Better Place EV Battery Swap business goes bust

It seemed like a good idea: take the cost of batteries out of the cost of buying an electric car and instead charge EV owners to use ‘Battery Swap’ stations where depleted batteries could be swapped for fully charged ones in the time it takes to fill an ICE car with petrol. But it’s all gone a bit Pete Tong. Better Place – which partnered with Renault in 2009 to make the battery swap technology viable – has failed to find anyone to add to the $750 million already involved in the project and has filed for bankruptcy.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray: 2013 Detroit Auto Show

Chevrolet has debuted the 2014 Corvette Stingray at the Detroit Motor Show, the most powerful – and fuel efficient – Corvette to date. Revealed at the Detroit Auto Show, the new Corvette – which gets the fabled ‘Stingray’ moniker – comes as standard with a 6.2 litre V8 delivering 450 horses and 450lb/ft of torque which translates in to a properly swift 0-60mph of under four seconds, and yet conspires to offer official economy of 26mpg – just not at the same time. But it looks like the new Corvette may be able to go round corners as well as it goes in a straight line, with a new seven-speed manual ‘box with rev matching driving the power to the rear wheels, and a five position Drive Mode Selector that’s said to tailor 12 vehicle attributes to suit intent and environment.

Kia teases Chicago-bound Cross GT concept

Kia has revealed a sneek peek of its Cross GT Concept ahead of its unveiling at the Chicago auto show. The carmaker has said that the Cross GT Concept "hints at the future of Kia's design language in the form of a premium Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) that is larger than the new 2014 Sorento." Although the render provides only a limited view, the front end features slim, swept back lamps that flank Kia's signature grille. A jutting chin and coupe-esque roofline add the requisite crossover mashup elements.