Au Ford Falcon Brake Booster #c109 on 2040-parts.com

Hyundai & Kia get Google Maps integration – but not in UK

Hyundai and Kia are adding Google Maps functionality to their SatNav Systems in the US, but it’s not coming to the UK any time soon. In the US, Hyundai has a clever system called Blue Link (Kia has a similar system called UVO) that offers increased functionality for stuff like the SatNav, Remote Access, Location Sharing and Enhanced Recovery. It costs a few hundred dollars a year (for the all-singing, all-dancing version), but makes your Hyundai much smarter than the average bear.

Renault confirms electric car production for 2011

It's hardly kept it a secret, but now Renault has officially announced that it will be putting its electric car range into production come 2011. You can read the full story on Renault's electric vehicle range in CAR’s December 2009 issue out on 18 November, in which Chris Chilton drives the mad concept cars. Yes.

Aston Martin Rapide S arrives with 550 horses

Aston Martin is replacing the four-door Rapide with the Rapide S, which gets minor styling tweaks and extra power. Just as they did with the new DB9, Aston Martin has made the new Rapide S a more aggressive car, with small styling tweaks like a new grill and a small spoiler at the back, some minor trim tweaks with the addition of Piano Black trim and a new duotone black and red leather trim, and an optional carbon fibre pack for exterior highlights. Under the skin, the Rapide S is still based on Aston’s VH platform, but it does get the latest Gen 4 tweaks including new adaptive dampers with Normal, Sport and Track modes, tweaked dynamic stability control (DSC) and the latest AM11 engine dropped by 19mm for a lower centre of gravity.