Dacco Da38 Torque Converter on 2040-parts.com

Fiat Panda (2012) first official pictures

This is Fiat’s new 2012 Panda – incredibly, only the third generation of Panda in the range’s 31-year history. Not that buyers seem to mind the glacial rate of progress: Fiat has sold 6.5m Pandas over the past three decades. The new 2012 Panda squeezes more space into the compact footprint; it’s 3650mm long, 1640mm wide and 1550mm high – enough, says Fiat, for five passengers and the biggest boot in segment.

2014 Nissan Versa priced at $12,780

The 2014 Nissan Versa with a five-speed manual transmission -- at dealerships today -- will set you back $12,780, including $790 for destination. Stepping down to a four-cog automatic will cost a grand more. For that price -- the lowest in America, by the way, more on that later -- buyers get a 1.6-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine, available air conditioning, six-way adjustable driver's seat, and a radio with an auxiliary input.

Chevrolet Mi-ray concept gets a new ‘mid-electric' hybrid powertrain

General Motors Co. has unveiled a sporty South Korean-developed concept car that showcases a "mid-electric" hybrid powertrain that can run on electric-only front-wheel drive or tap a gasoline engine to turn the rear wheels for extra power. Dubbed the Chevrolet Mi-ray, Korean for "future," the compact, open roadster gets a carbon fiber body mounted on an aluminum chassis for lightweight performance.