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

VW E-Bugster – it’s the electric love-child of a Beetle and a Porsche 356

VW E-Bugster Volkswagen has revealed the VW E-Bugster at the Detroit Auto Show, a squashed VW Beetle with big wheels and the electric motor from the Golf EV. Maybe it’s early and our eyes and brains aren’t in gear yet. But the VW E-Bugster – an electric customised VW Beetle – looks like it’s a cross between a California surfin’ chopped Beetle and a Porsche 356.

Renault Kangoo ZE electric concept at 2009 Frankfurt motor show

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 15 September 2009 12:00 This is the Renault Kangoo ZE, just unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show. It’s a preview of the Kangoo-based electric commercial vehicle that Renault will sell from 2011. That white paint is practical – it’s heat-reflective and helps to prevent temperature fluctuations, as does the Thermos-style double-layer bodywork.

Get up close and personal with the David Brown Automotive Speedback

The David Brown Automotive Speedback is certainly one of the more intriguing coachbuilt cars we've seen recently -- all the more so because it's a product of Britain, not the carrozzeria hub of Italy. We just got our first glimpse of the Speedback yesterday, and thanks to this XCar video, we can dive a bit deeper into the car's origins and its many design details (unfortunately, there's no on-road footage yet). The Speedback, in the words of DBA founder David Brown, seeks to combine the “classic simplicity of the '60s underpinned by a modern platform with all of the functionality you'd expect from a modern car.” And it does so successfully, from what we can tell so far.