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After a rocky start, Honda's CR-Z joins U.S. hybrid derby

Honda Motor Co.'s new CR-Z sporty hybrid is the car that nearly wasn't. The wedge-shaped, two-seat hatchback was almost killed twice because engineers weren't convinced it was a unique concept and because U.S. bosses originally didn't want it.

17,000 solar panels to power Toyota’s Derbyshire plant

Toyota’s manufacturing plant at Burnaston in Derbyshire, where the Auris and Avensis are built, will install the biggest solar panel system yet seen in a UK car plant.  British Gas, which will stump up the £10 million cost of installing the solar panels, and Toyota are working together to save 2000 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year. Once the solar panels are installed, they claim it will save enough energy to build approximately 7000 cars a year.

Video: Honda Super Ultra Daydreams has us smiling with joy

Honda's press conference at last week's press conference was full of the usual marketing messages about sales figures, new models and company strategies but the thing that caught our magpie-like eyes was this joyful little video. The cheeky vector graphics feature 19 of the company's concept cars from the last 20 years, starting with the 1994 FSR right up to the NSX via such wonderful oddities as the Kiwami and P-Nut, all accompanied by a bouncy score.  It reminded us all why this is a brand that has always stood out as individual and creative even if the last few years have been a little sparse.