Corvette Engine Data Console Plate L-82 350, 1973 on 2040-parts.com

Volvo extends its range of DRIVe Eco cars

It really is remarkable what car makers can do when pushed. After years of thirsty cars, more and more manufacturers are showing us what can be done when they make a real effort in this direction (and not always at the expense of performance), and the latest is Volvo, which has extended its range of DRIVe cars to seven. Volvo DRIVe range extended to seven models - will show at Geneva '09 The full DRIVe range will be revealed at Geneva ’09, and includes the C30, S40, V50, V70, S80, XC60 and XC70.

Aptera Motors reaches end of the road

Start-up EV manufacturer Aptera Motors has announced it is going out of business. The brainchild of former Chrysler brand manager and CEO of ASC Inc, Paul Wilbur, the company had gained approval for a $150 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy's advanced vehicle fund, but was unable to find further backing.

Poll: Would you buy a Hyundai i20?

Last week we asked you if you'd be interested in a Nissan Micra, which is built in Mexico and is available in Canada and dozens of other countries, but not in the U.S. A substantial majority of our readers, 77 percent, voted that they would be interested in buying the $9,100 Micra if it was sold in America, a slightly lower percentage than for most of our past foreign-vehicle polls (which were all quite different, it should be noted). The Micra essentially offers the same engine and almost the same amount of interior space as the Nissan Versa Note at 2/3 the price of a stateside Note, which is already considered to be about as spartan as it gets despite a $14,780 price tag.