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

CAR interviews Patrick le Quément on Renault design (2009)

By Richard Yarrow Motor Industry 29 April 2009 16:05 Patrick le Quément, 64, has steered Renault through one of its most interesting – some would say controversial – design phases in its history. Born in Marseilles but educated from the age of 12 in the UK, he speaks almost accentless English and agrees to talk to CAR on the eve of his retirement. Le Quément is one of those designers who’s achieved stellar recognition over the past two decades – matching the reputation of Chris Bangle and J Mays as a member of the design A-list, that exclusive club who’ve helped shape the modern motor car as we know it today.

Jaguar XJ preview (Video)

Ian Callum stars in this video to the left - a preview of the forthcoming Jaguar XJ set to make its debut on July 9th this year. In his words: "The car is very modern, and it certainly meets up the expectations of people who understand design with a capital D, I have no doubt about that whatsoever." Callum goes on to describe the new XJ as a "very well crafted car," stating that it is "also a very designer led car". He asserts that the lines of the car have been reinterpreted in a different way "that actually is right and correct for the 21st century.

Better Place EV Battery Swap business goes bust

It seemed like a good idea: take the cost of batteries out of the cost of buying an electric car and instead charge EV owners to use ‘Battery Swap’ stations where depleted batteries could be swapped for fully charged ones in the time it takes to fill an ICE car with petrol. But it’s all gone a bit Pete Tong. Better Place – which partnered with Renault in 2009 to make the battery swap technology viable – has failed to find anyone to add to the $750 million already involved in the project and has filed for bankruptcy.