Amc Amx Javelin Rally Wheels on 2040-parts.com

Kia Cross GT SUV Concept arrives ahead of reveal in Chicago

Kia has revealed their concept for a new large SUV – the Kia Cross GT Concept – ahead of a reveal at the Chicago Auto Show. Underpinning the Cross GT are the same underpinnings the impressive Kia GT Concept we saw at Frankfurt in 2011 had, to create a new SUV that is a chunk bigger than the Sorento (213mm longer with a wheelbase 399mm more) but, thanks to a swooping roofline, is 41mm lower. Power for the Hybrid Cross GT comes from a 3.8 litre petrol V6 and an electric motor which produce around 400bhp and 500lb/ft of torque, driven to all four wheels through an eight-speed auto ‘box.

Better Place Electric Car visitor centre opens

Better Place have opened a visitor centre in Israel to demonstrate their battery swap technology for electric cars Last October we wrote about a start-up company in Israel – Better Place – that had a new way forward for electric cars by taking the purchase of battery packs out of the equation, and was developing a system for ‘Battery Swap’ stations where electric car owners could drive in and swap their battery pack for a fully-charged one in a few minutes. That story first brought to our attention our favourite quote of last year – by Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn – who said “A hybrid is like a mermaid: if you want a fish, you get a woman; if you want a woman, you get a fish.” Which probably explained why Nissan – and its partner Renault – got involved with Better Place. Better Place aims to address the main concerns of electric car drivers by making the battery packs in electric cars ‘swappable’.

Maserati GranCabrio Fendi; half Maserati, half handbag

Maserati GranCabrio Fendi - a handbag on wheels Car maker like to hang a label on a special edition, and Italian car makers quite like the label to be ‘Designer’. Which at least explains the Maserati GranCabrio Fendi, just as it did the Fiat 500 Gucci. Whether it forgives it… So brace yourself for the world of pretension and ‘style’.