Arias Pistons 12.5:1 Compression 82mm Bore Honda B-series on 2040-parts.com

Electric cars get a £500 million government cash boost – but will it get spent?

The new BMW i3 EV (pictured) will be subsidised until 2017. The subsidy of up to £5000 paid to buyers of electric cars has been with us for three years, but it hasn’t had much impact on EV sales and it did look like the government had decided to scrap it all together. But it looks like the coalition has allowed Nick Clegg to have his way with EV subsides in a move that will see £500 million injected in to promoting and supporting electric cars in the UK in the next few years.

Canada urged to adopt European car safety standards

CANADA has been urged to adopt European standards for new vehicle safety by the president of Mercedes-Benz Canada. Tim Reuss told reporters that if EU rules, which apply to all cars built by European industrial powerhouses like Mercedes and the Volkswagen Group, were in place Canada would already have new, more efficient, safer cars. At present Mercedes cannot import the A-Class because of the expense associated with modifying it to conform to Canadian safety requirements, and Mr Reuss argues that the current approach lacks common sense.

Autoweek in review: What you might have missed

Road test editor Jonathan Wong took the new Subaru BRZ on a trip through the French Alps. Besides the beautiful scenery, did he like what he drove? Check out the article for full details in his Drive Review.