Central Digital Rotor Gage No.6459 on 2040-parts.com

Audi A2 EV won’t make production – but you knew that

Audi has revealed that it’s dropped plans to put the A2 electric concept – first revealed at Frankfurt 2011 - in to production. Back in June 2012 we reported that the Audi A2 EV wouldn’t make production as Audi had decided that the market simply wasn’t there for a £40k electric city runaround. Now that appears to have been confirmed by Audi in conversation with Autocar.

BMW: Don't fear the stop/start system in the 2012 3-series

BMW is taking a calculated risk by installing an automatic stop/start system on its best seller, the 3-series, for 2012. But company brass is optimistic that American consumers will adjust to the relatively foreign technology. "Many customers will enjoy the car very quickly," said BMW board member Ian Robertson, who oversees sales and marketing.

New Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV plug-in hybrid goes on sale. Price from £28,249

The new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (pictured) goes on sale in the UK The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV arrived at the Paris Motor Show in 2012, and although it’s already available in Europe it’s only now going on sale in the UK. And it does offer a compelling package. Mitsubishi say the Outlander PHEV is the most practical vehicle qualifying for the UK’s £5,000 grant for low emission cars, and instead of charging really silly prices for their new plug-in hybrid Mitsubishi have pitched it so buyers pay no more at entry-level (after the grant) than they would for its diesel equivalent.