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

£5000 electric car grants to cut a quarter off EV price

British motorists will qualify for grants lopping a quarter off the price of electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen cars – up to a maximum of £5000 discount – the Government confirmed this week. The Office for Low Emissions Vehicles, which launched six months ago, said the new grants would come into force from January 2011 as part of a £230 million low-carbon car incentive programme. Car buyers will qualify for the Plug-In Car Grant from an approved list of low-carbon cars.

Are Land Rover planning a sub-Freelander model?

Are Land Rover planning a smaller Freelander? It’s reported that Land Rover are planning a sub-Freelander model to fit in below the current Freelander 2 as a ‘leisure’ vehicle. Land Rover, just like Jaguar, are very much on the up since Tata took the reins in 2008 and are investing heavily in future models with 40 new models, variations and other product promised in the next few years and JLR profits of over £1 billion a year.

Renault Dezir concept (2010) first official pictures

These are the first pictures of the Renault Dezir, a sporty Clio-sized electric concept set to be unveiled at the Paris motor show in September 2010. This is the first car produced under the watch of new design director Laurens van den Acker, who's charged with reinvigorating the Renault range after Patrick le Quement's departure. The Dezir concept car heralds a new design language for Renault, which has seen the small car market become increasingly chic (think Citroen DS3) yet it's soldiered on with just the Clio and, now, the Wind Roadster.