Ram introduces CNG-powered pickup

Aside from the Honda Civic Natural Gas, compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicles have usually been converted after the fact, generally for fleet use. Chrysler is hoping to carve out a niche in the corporate-pickup segment by selling a factory-built CNG Ram 2500 that can seamlessly switch over to gasoline operation when the natural-gas tanks run dry. The twin 4.6-cubic-foot CNG tanks (which store the equivalent of 18.2 gallons of gas) take up a section of the bed, while an eight-gallon gasoline tank provides fuel during start-up and then reserve capacity when the compressed tanks are tapped out, allowing the bruiser a measure of operational flexibility.

Driven: Citroen DS3

The Citroën DS3's success has taken many – Citroën included – by surprise. The company has been forced to increase production since the car went on sale 12 months ago, in the light of unprecedented customer appetite. At launch, there were many who felt the DS3's relatively conventional nature did a gross disservice to the famous nameplate (despite the company's protestations that the DS moniker has no connection with its 50s namesake).

Hyundai & Kia responsible for big positive impact on European economy

A report by economics consultants London Economics reveals the big positive impact Hyundai and Kia are having on the European economy. We already know that both Hyundai and Kia are looking at 2013 more as an exercise in building their ’Brand’, rather than simply selling more and more credible cars. ‘Brand’ is often as much about perceptions as anything else, so if you can address any possible negatives for your brand, as well as producing cracking products, you’re on to a winner.