Engine Intake Valve Sealed Power V-2613 on 2040-parts.com

New Volvo XC40 heading for Paris debut?

New Volvo XC40 The Volvo XC40 is the next stage in Volvo’s XC adventure and it looks like it will debut – at least as a concept – at the Paris Motor Show. We’ve know for some time that Volvo are planning to extend their range of SUV come crossover vehicles, and a little brother for the XC60, XC70 and XC90 is the direction. We did think, until it became clear that Volvo’s new baby would be the V40 and not the V30, that the next instalment for the XC would be the XC30.

Volkswagen e-Golf goes on sale – price from £30,845

The Volkswagen e-Golf (pictured) is now on sale in the UK The Nissan LEAF has almost had the market place for proper family EVs to itself until recently, but the arrival of the impressive BMW i3 -especially when specced with a range extending motor – threatens to make a dent in LEAF sales, and another dent could come courtesy of the new Volkswagen e-Golf, which goes on sale today in the UK priced from £30,845 (£25,845 after taxpayer bribe). In most of the ways that matters, the e-Golf is a regular Golf MK 7, but lurking under the familiar exterior lies a thumping great bank of batteries weighing 318kg (about the same as a car full of passengers) and an electric motor driving the front wheels and good for 113bhp. Range for the e-Golf is up to 118 miles from a full charge, a charge that will take 13 hours from a regular 3-pin socket, a more acceptable 8 hours if you use the optional 3.6 kW wallbox you can spec (for free from British Gas) and a quick charge of up to 80 per cent in 35 minutes.

Electric wire eases closing of Corvette Stingray hatch

A single piece of wire makes closing the hatch on the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray easier. Tucked behind the rear fascia, the alloy wire changes shape when an electric current heats it up. The wire returns to its previous shape when it cools.