Cam And Lifter Kit on 2040-parts.com

Ownership costs of traditional versus alternative fuel vehicles

As gas prices remain high, and an increasing number of automakers roll out plug-in hybrid cars and full-electric vehicles, it's becoming easier to be tantalized with the idea of driving right past the gas station and simply "plugging in." The debate ensues when it comes to cost: These alternative fuel vehicles mean a larger outlay of cash at the onset, but the long-term fuel savings could make the purchase worthwhile. To help straighten out this numbers game, we use the Department of Energy's Vehicle Cost Calculator to compare alternative fuel vehicles with their gasoline-only counterparts. For each scenario, we assumed that our hypothetical owner was able to get the full $7,500 federal tax credit and a $2,500 state tax credit, such as is available in California.

2013 Mercedes SLS Electric Drive: Paris 2012

The electric SLS – the Mercedes SLS Electric Drive – has been shown at Paris 2012 ahead of a 2013 launch. Mercedes are billing the electric SLS as the most powerful production electric car in the world, and with an output of 740 horses from its four electric motors – one at each corner – that’s no surprise. That output – and a torque figure of 738lb/ft – makes the electric SLS a whole heap more powerful than its ICE counterpart and allows it to get to 62mph in 3.9 seconds.

Design Contest: Terra Prix 2085

Local Motors is back once again with another design competition. Unlike previous contests that aim to produce cars through open source design, the Terra Prix 2085 contest is set firmly in the future. As the name would suggest, the concept is based around the idea of future motorsport: an around the world race taking in all continents and every variety of terrain.