Hyundai i20 WRC car, ix35 Fuel Cell and i30 3dr (2012)

Hyundai sprung a trio of surprises at the 2012 Paris motor show - by launching the i20 WRC rally car, a three-door version of the i30 hatchback and an ix35 fuel-cell car ready for sale in just a few months' time. Three world debuts for Hyundai at Paris motor show 2012: the i20 WRC rally car The headline-grabbing launch on the Hyundai stand was this rally-ready i20. The Koreans have form here, with an Accent racer, but it last competed in WRC in 2003; now, a decade later, Hyundai plans to re-enter the new WRC with its own in-house team.

Renault Zoe EV gets cheaper – but only if you hardly use it

Renault Zoe EV (pictured) battery lease dropes to £45 a month The Renault ZOE eEV is one of the most affordable electric cars in the UK, with prices from £13,345 (after tax-payer bribe) plus a monthly cost for leasing the batteries from Renault. A bit like buying an ICE car and paying a monthly lease for the engine. But despite the Zoe’s ‘affordable EV’ tag, Renault has not had overwhelming success with the Zoe in the UK since it arrived last year, so they’ve come up with some new incentives to get car buyers to opt for their electric supermini.

Hot Wheels cars inventor Elliot Handler dies

Elliot Handler,the inventor of Hot Wheels die-cast toy cars, died July 21 at his home in Southern California. He was 95 years old. Handler and his wife, Ruth, and family friend Matt Matson founded the Mattel toy company in 1945.