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Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid: Production underway

The world’s first production plug-in diesel hybrid – the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid – has gone in to production ahead of customer deliveries. Volvo are producing just 1,000 2013 V60 plug-ins, but are aiming to up production to between 4-6,000 a year from the 2014 model year and, despite the problems of integrating the V60′s complicated electric stuff in to a production car, the V60 plug-in is rolling down the same production line as the regular V60, V70, S80 and XC90. That complicated stuff includes two different powertrains and a battery pack – enough for up to 32 miles as an EV only – and a total of 300 additional parts compared to a regular ICE V60.

Tesla Model S warranty extended to 8 years for Drivetrain

Tesla Model S warranty extended to 8 years for Drivetrain The Tesla Model S – perhaps the only truly useable electric car – has taken the motoring industry by storm, and now it’s getting better still for owners as Tesla announce an extended warranty on the drivetrain of the Model S to 8 years, matching that of the battery pack. The warranty also applies retrospectively, so all Model S Teslas already in the hands of owners are covered – and the warranty can be transferred to as many new owners as needed – for a full 8 years, which is unlimited for the 85 models and 125k miles for the 60 models. It’s a strong response from Tesla after a number of long-term tests (by Consumer Reports and Edmunds in particular) produced a number on niggling problems, and standing behind their product so solidly – just as Hyundai/Kia did – may not take the niggles away but it will give comfort to prospective buyers (if not shareholders, at least in the short term).

Monaco Grand Prix: It’s a Mercedes front row

Nico Rosberg & Lewis Hamilton pictured after making it a Mercedes front row in Monaco Two weeks ago in Spain, Nico Rosberg pipped team mate Lewis Hamilton to pole position, and he’s pulled the same trick on the streets of Monaco today to ensure the second Mercedes front row in succession and his own third pole position in a row. Behind the Mercedes it’s a Red Bull second row, with Sebastian Vettel taking third place and Mark Webber fourth, with the third row made up of the Lotus of Kimi Raikkonen and the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso. McLaren managed to take seventh (Perez) and ninth (Button) with Sutil’s Force India in eighth and Vergne’s Torro Rosso in tenth.