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

Electric car sales DOWN 20% in 2012 – time to scrap subsidies for EVs?

The SMMT are reporting that sales of electric cars in the UK have fallen by 20 per cent in the year to date (2012). Despite every green evangelist proclaiming that electric cars are the way to save the planet from imminent doom, UK car buyers obviously disagree. Despite a taxpayer bribe of £5000 to buy an over-priced electric car, car buyers have not exactly taken to the EV in droves.

Hyundai UK target SME fleet sales

Hyundai Basildon (pictured), one of Hyundai’s new Fleet Business Centres The last few years has seen Hyundai convince the car buying public that their cars are as credible and well built – not to mention appealing – as anything from the mainstream; no longer a budget option, Hyundais are now a real force. So once you’ve cracked Joe Public and his preconceptions, the next step is to crack the bit of Joe Public that buys a few cars at a time – the owners of small and medium businesses (SME) with a modest fleet (by fleet standards) of up to ten cars. With that in mind, Hyundai has appointed 27 Fleet Business Centres at Hyundai dealers across the UK with dedicated staff – and extra hand-holding and facilities – to coax the small business owner in to a bit of Hyundai goodness for his/her business.

Fiat-Chrysler: A match made for enthusiasts

The Fiat-Chrysler marriage means big love for auto enthusiasts in the United States. Here's a quick rundown on some of the Fiat hardware we got a chance to sample during a recent visit to the company's headquarters and test track in Italy. Fiat 500: With styling that makes it look like the spawn of a Volkswagen Beetle and a BMW Mini Cooper, the 500 does an Italian job on both competitors: It's cuter than a Beetle, and likely less expensive than a comparable Mini.