2006 Ford Fusion Airbag Driver Side on 2040-parts.com

Citroën DS Numéro 9 set to woo new Chinese bourgeoisie [w/video]

The Citroën DS Numéro 9, which will make its debut at the Beijing auto show, marks a return of luxury French motoring – a segment the nation has shied away from in recent years. This follows the poor sales of cars such as the Renault Vel Satis, Peugeot 607 and Citroën's own C6 beyond the handful of examples commandeered to whisk French politicians between Parisian Arrondissements. However while the desire for Gallic limos has all but died in their traditional heartlands, the demand for European luxe amongst the growing Chinese bourgeoisie – be it fashion, wine or cars – offers a new lifeline to the French curios we all love other people to own.

Single-seat Colibri electric vehicle set for 2015 launch

If the 2014 Geneva Motor Show heralded the dawn of a new age of small cars, then the tiny Innovative Mobility Automobile (IMA) Colibri is well placed to take advantage of this new era. The Colibri – which means hummingbird – is a small, single-seat, three-door electric vehicle that’s set to go on sale later this year. Prices for the entry-level Colibri are set to fall well below €10,000 (£8,340) plus battery rental charges, meaning it could go head-to-head with the likes of the new Citroen C1, Peugeot 108 and Toyota Aygo.

BMW: Carbon fiber goes high volume in 2013

BMW AG plans to begin high-volume production of carbon fiber parts in two years, making it a strong contender to be the first automaker to move beyond limited-edition use of the exotic material. But Daimler AG, which has taken steps aimed at making carbon fiber parts in 2012, is among the automakers racing toward the same goal. In 2013, BMW will start building the i3 electric car, a vehicle that features a passenger cell--the protective shell around the passenger compartment that ensures the integrity of the vehicle in a crash--made of plastic reinforced with carbon fiber.