New BMW X4 price and specs for the UK – costs from £36,590

The new BMW X4 is now on sale in the UK The new BMW X4 – BMW’s baby X6 and a ‘coupe’ version of the very able X3 – arrived at the Geneva Motor SHow in March, and it’s now on sale in the UK priced from £36,590 for the BMW X4 xDrive20d SE, a chunky £3.5k more than the equivalent X3. But what you’re buying in the new X4 is a lifestyle statement rather than a family SAV like the X3, so the premium is so others know you’re prepared to pay more for a less practical urban SUV. Still, a similar scenario with the X5 and X6 hasn’t stopped buyers opting for the X6 instead and it seems likely the X4 will take an even bigger split of the X3/X4 sales than the X6 does from the X5.

Porsche Boxster E (2011): prototype Boxster EV

Porsche recently rolled out the first of three Boxster E electric vehicles, to take part in the 'Electromobility Region Stuttgart' local government initiative in Germany. The Boxster E is powered by two electric motors, capable of a peak power output of 180kW. Energy is stored in a 29kWh battery pack.  Not with the Boxster E. Three electric Boxsters are being built as part of a programme sponsored by the Baden-Wurttemberg state government (Porsche's home state in Germany) and WRS, the Stuttgart Region Economic Development Corporation.  Porsche's hometown of Stuttgart is one of eight model regions participating in a federal pilot programme sponsored by the Minitsry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs to develop EVs and their supporting infrastructure.  The three Boxster E prototypes will take part in the programme, acting as mobile laboratories for testing EV usage and planning for EVs in urban infrastructure.  CAR's view? We reckon this electric Boxster E is much cooler than your usual EV council van.

Honda expands recall for faulty headlights

Honda is expanding a recall launched in March to fix a headlight problem to include the Civic and Pilot. About 820,000 vehicles have been added to the recall, which now covers 2002-2003 Civic sedans and 2004-2005 Pilot SUVs. The problem is with the headlight-wiring system, which could cause the low beams not to work.