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Mazda MX-5 Kuro Special Editions

Mazda has released yet another special edition MX-5 for the UK market in the guise of the Mazda MX-5 Kuro.  Yes, it’s yet another special edition MX-5, this time the Mazda MX-5 Kuro which comes as either a 1.8 litre soft top or a 2.0 litre Roadster Coupe. It seems the Japanese like the idea of ‘Black’ Special Edition cars as much as we do in the West (Kuro means black in Japanese), with the last ‘Kuro’ special being the Nissan Juke Kuro. But oddly Mazda are offering the MX-5 Kuro not just in black but also in Velocity Red Mica and Crystal White Pearlescent, with the ‘Kuro’ bits referring to the Brilliant Black roof, door mirrors and dark gunmetal 17″ alloys.

Renault axes Fluence Z.E. electric saloon

Renault has ceased production of its all-electric Fluence Z.E. saloon car at its European factory in Turkey due to poor sales. Figures from industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that only 75 Fluence Z.E.s were sold in the UK since the car went on the market in 2011.

Volvos to get twin-clutch gearbox

By Ben Pulman Motor Industry 14 May 2008 13:33 Volvo’s C30, S40 and V50 are now available with a new six-speed twin-clutch ‘box – dubbed Powershift – mated to the company’s 134bhp 2.0-litre diesel. The new twin-clutch gearbox has been developed with Getrag (and Volvo's parent company Ford), and is basically the same unit recently announced in the Focus and C-Max. Volvo claims the new gearbox offers an 8 percent improvement in fuel consumption over a conventional six-speed automatic.