Eastern Direct Fit Catalytic Converter 40656 on 2040-parts.com

Local Motors launches Pacific Northwest competition

Local Motors' 20th design competition, themed 'Thrive in the Elements,' opens for submissions starting today, 17 March. The new American car company is calling for entrants to design a car based around the four core elements: Earth, wind, fire and water; challenging designers to create a vehicle that will 'inspire Pacific Northwesterners to thrive'. The deadline for entries is 30 March 2010.

Volkswagen e-Golf: MK 7 Golf EV leaks ahead of Geneva debut

An electric version of the MK 7 Volkswagen Golf – the VW e-Golf – has leaked out ahead of a debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. Even though car industry bosses are sure that battery electric cars have no realistic chance of becoming a mainstream option – and the best-selling EV, the Nissan LEAF, has only sold 50k since 2010 – VW are rolling out an electric Golf at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. The VW e-Golf – with pretty much the same underpinnings as the new Mk 7 Golf with an ICE engine – comes with an electric motor driving the front wheels and offering 115bhp and 199lb/ft of torque, enough to get the e-Golf to 62mph in 11.8 seconds and on to a top speed of just 84mph.

Honda CR-Z – production ready at Detroit

Honda has revealed the production-ready CR-Z at the Detroit Motor Show Honda are very keen to catch up with Toyota in the hybrid car wars. The Honda Insight was their answer to the Prius (although better looking it was even more woeful to drive than the Prius) and Honda are now looking to move in to the ‘Sporty’ Hybrid market with the Honda CR-Z. Honda revealed the CR-Z back in October at the Tokyo Motor Show, and did the usual new model think of labeling it as a concept.