2.2 / 2.4 Chevy Ecotec Engine Oil Pan, Casting Gm 12601245 on 2040-parts.com

Electric cars to be powered by AA-style batteries

A NEW COMPANY is claiming its new design of battery could see future electric cars powered by batteries no bigger than the current AA size. LipraLoof Techologies Ltd, a new start-up, has teamed up with City Car Club to trial the new technology in its fleet of vehicles. The new batteries use a complex mix of metal hydrates to create a quad, or 4A battery, which produces far more power than a standard battery.

Renault Alpine A110-50 to be developed with Caterham

It seems the impressive Renault Alpine A110-50 is heading for production with Caterham, not Lotus, as development partner. Which is part of the reason Renault want a partner on-board to help with development and production of the Renault Alpine A110-50 – a new Alpine based on a Megane platform with a DeZir body – and turn it, hopefully, from a track concept to the first Alpine for the road in twenty years. It had been mooted that Renault were eyeing up Lotus to partner on the Alpine A110-50, but according to a report from Autocar they are instead working with Caterham to bring the A110-50 to life.

BMW 9-series concept expected to debut in Beijing

BMW will be previewing the upcoming 9-series sedan at the 2014 China Auto Show, according to German magazine Auto Motor und Sport. The extra-long-wheelbase 9-series will take on the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S600 Maybach, which itself is production ready and is set to debut in a matter of months. The 9-series will be positioned alongside the Rolls-Royce Ghost in BMW's global lineup, and is expected to feature packaging and interior appointments similar to that of the S600 Maybach while building upon the design language recently seen in the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe.