First Sight: Toyota Me.We concept

Hot on the fluorescent heels of Renault's recent Twin'Z reveal in Milan, Toyota revealed its own industrial design collaboration, the ME.WE, at a private event at the its upscale showroom Le Rendez-vous Toyota on the Champs Elysées in Paris last week. Designed jointly by Toyota's ED2 studio in the south of France and renowned French architect and industrial designer Jean-Marie Massaud, the ME.WE is a polyvalent 4-seat electric vehicle to "combat the crisis". It is designed to be simple and functional, yet also project an image of intelligence for our modern times.

UK car sales grow for first time in 15 months

By Tim Smith Motor Industry 06 August 2009 12:30 UK new car sales have nudged upwards by 2.4% in July 2009 – the first increase for 15 months. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, which collates registration figures, claimed that the scrappage scheme was responsible for the jump. Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive, said: ‘The impact of the scrappage scheme is clear and we are encouraged by the positive impact it has had, increasing new car registrations since April 2008.

Kentucky bourbon-powered car: Because gas isn't expensive enough

We're filing this one under “urban legends” until we get further confirmation, but a Kentucky man has reportedly built a homemade car that runs on bourbon whiskey. Why would 62-year-old Mickey Nilsson of Bardstown do such a thing? He allegedly was inspired by the movie Chitty Chitty, Bang Bang and by the hosts of the reality-TV show American Pickers.