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Smart video hints at new ForTwo and ForFour designs (2014)

By Adam Binnie Motor Industry 08 July 2014 12:42 Good news if you cannot wait for the official launch of Smart’s two new 2014 models: a sneak preview of the new ForTwo and ForFour has been released. The video shows off the innovations of the new models, including the ForTwo’s new ‘smile’ and wider stance, and was uploaded to the Daimler AG YouTube channel ahead of the cars’ launch in July 2014. It shows how the latest evolutions of Smart’s clever small cars retain features from their predecessors, such as the Tridion safety shell and wheel-in-each-corner design.

2014 Subaru XV – less choice, more refinement

The 2014 Subaru XV (pictured) gets a bit of a tweak The Subaru XV arrived in the UK in 2012, and it’s a perfectly able and reasonably-priced compact crossover from Subaru. But within a year of launching the XV Subaru decided to inject a bit more appeal in to the XV with a price cut of £2,300 across the range and now, not more than six months later, they’re fiddling with the XV range again. The 2.0 litre petrol XV gets new valve-train components to cut engine noise and revised suspension, with extra soundproofing improving NVH levels across the range, a revised power steering system for added stability and feel  and thicker and reshaped suspension lower arm and extra reinforcement around the base of the A-Pillar for better crash performance.

U.S. seeks 5 percent annual fuel-economy gains through 2016

The Obama administration today proposed gasoline mileage and greenhouse-gas pollution standards for new vehicles for model years 2012 to 2015, filling in the blanks for manufacturers en route to a 35.5 mpg national target in 2016. The Transportation Department and EPA proposal calls for fuel economy to increase by about 5 percent each year, starting from an average of 27.3 mpg for the 2011 model year, the agencies said in a statement. The average car buyer would save more than $3,000 in fuel costs over the life of a vehicle, the statement said.