Beck/arnley Disc Brake Caliper 077-1660s on 2040-parts.com

BMW ActiveHybrid 3 (2012 / 2013): New 3 Series Hybrid details revealed

2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 - on sale late 2012 BMW hasn’t had the most astonishing success with its hybrid offerings to date, but despite that, and following the reveal of the 2012 3 Series last week, they have announced details of the 3 Series hybrid – the BMW ActiveHybrid 3. Just like the recently revealed ActiveHybrid 5, the BMW Active Hybrid 3 will get a 302bhp twin-turbo six-pot (the same engine as the 335i) together with an electric motor which throws an additional 53bhp in to the mix. That should mean a 0-60mph of around 5.5 seconds (although BMW has given us no performance figures) and it will give 44mpg, exactly the same as the bigger ActiveHybrid 5 – and not exactly spectacular.

Brabus V12 cabriolet squeezes 800 hp into an E-class Mercedes-Benz

Consider German tuner Brabus the BALCO to Mercedes-Benz’s Barry Bonds: Brabus makes the cars stronger, faster and meaner. First, Brabus attacked the Mercedes E-class sedan, and then it went crazy on the coupe, installing insane V12 engines in both. Now, the mad scientists are pumping up the four-seat cabriolet.

2013 Ford Mondeo launches in China. UK & Europe still waiting.

With the UK and Europe having to wait until 2014 to get the new Ford Mondeo, Ford has managed to launch the new Mondeo in China this week. Of course, as we reported last year, it’s entirely possible that with Mondeo sales now just half of what they were in 2008 that Ford may even move Mondeo production to Mexico to build it alongside the Ford Fusion, the US version of the Mondeo which has been on sale since summer 2012. But Ford are adamant the move to Spain for the Mondeo is happening and, once complete, will mean Ford finally rolling the new Mondeo off the production line by the end of 2013 for the UK and Europe.