58 1958 Packard 58l Hawk, Hardtop, Sedan, Sw - Wheel Cylinder Kits X4 (2fr+2rr) on 2040-parts.com

When car design meets Art Nouveau

Gray Design has revealed a new concept car called the Nouvair, inspired by the Art Nouveau design movement. The Nouvair, a retro-looking coupé complete with a long hood and trailing rear end, takes inspiration from the techniques and flowing lines favored by one of the pioneers of the movement, Czech painter and decorative artist Alphonse Mucha. Despite the release of five pictures, Gray Design didn't reveal any technical details, just confirmation of its name and its inspiration.

Bentley Hybrid setup works across Bentley’s range of engines

You’ll be able to have a hybrid powertrain across Bentley’s range of engines With car makers increasingly hidebound by ever more stringent economy targets, even makers of the world’s most expensive, luxury cars are having to play ball. Which explains why Bentley has decided to go the hybrid route for their cars, with the debut of the Bentley Hybrid, a Mulsanne with the 6¾ litre V8 under the bonnet aided by an electric motor and a bank of batteries, at the Beijing Motor Show. It seems the Bentley hybrid solution – which is claimed to increase power by 25 per cent and improve emissions and economy by 70 per cent – is very similar to that used across the VW Group range, with an electric motor between the engine and transmission fed by a bank of batteries.

2012 Mazda3 Facelift arrives in the UK. Price from £13,495

The 2012 Mazda3 arrives in the UK The 2012 Mazda3 Facelift arrives in the UK this month with minor tweaks and a starting price of £13,495. The Mazda3 is a car you can easily overlook when scouring the market for a compact family car, which is a shame. It’s a good car and, with the facelift for 2012 chucking in a few tweaks, is more appealing than before.