Dor-522-354 on 2040-parts.com

Ford electrifies the Focus

Don't be fooled by the Aston Martin-like grille and the stretched headlights--the Ford Focus electric has some serious green-car ethos. The Focus five-door hatch will be Ford's first-ever all-electric passenger car when it launches in late 2011. It can travel at speeds up to 84 mph and takes three to four hours to charge on a 240-volt outlet.

German enthusiasts name TechArt GrandGT the 'Sports Car of the Year'

For the fourth year in a row, readers of German car magazine Auto Bild have selected the TechArt GrandGT as "Sports Car of the Year" in the sedan-tuning category. The GrandGT, from TechArt Automobilidesign GmbH, is based on the Porsche Panamera Turbo and packs 630 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. The additional power comes from upgraded turbochargers, sport air filters and a tuned engine-management system.

Do Winter Tyres REALLY work? Oh, yes, say Volvo (+ video)

Volvo prove how effective Winter Tyres are in the Snowdome For some reason, the debate on fitting winter tyres in the UK continues to be a debate, even when those who’ve actually used a car fitted with winter tyres swear by them (an argument not helped by previous government advice). So Volvo – safety conscious as ever – decided to prove the point by taking the very good Volvo V40 off to the Snowdome indoor ski slope in Tamworth to see exactly what difference a set of winter tyres makes to the grip available in a regular, FWD, family Volvo. And the results should make every car owner go out and fit winter tyres.