Factory Oem 17" Hyundai Sonata Wheel / Rim - Aly70803u20 on 2040-parts.com

Jaguar hybrid cars due in 2013-14

Jaguar will launch its own hybrid vehicles soon after Land Rover, CAR can confirm. Parent company Jaguar Land Rover is developing battery-assisted hybrid versions for both brands but its strategy puts part-electric Land Rovers first on the launchpad in 2013.Hybrid Jaguars – set to include the XJ and XF, but eventually every model – are therefore likely to be on the market by 2013-2014, using a similar eight-speed ZF hybrid transmission to petrol-electric BMWs.The staggered roll-out of battery Jags and Land Rovers makes sense: heavy 4x4s have come in the firing line from green protestors who label them Chelsea Tractors. Hybrid Land Rovers will trim emissions and – in plug-in hybrid mode – enable even big bulky Range Rovers to drive in zero-emissions mode into central urban areas emitting nothing more unsaintly than an electric whir.So which Jaguars will go hybrid first?It's likely that the largest models such as the XJ will receive the hybrid power packs first; large cars reap the greater benefit and can more easily swallow the additional cost, put at around £10,000 in today's money.JLR's Midlands engineering bases in Whitley and Gaydon now employ 100 engineers in the expanding hybrid powertrain business unit launched 18 months ago.

Citroen DS4 teased

The first teaser shot of the Citroen DS4 We already have the Citroen DS3 – the ‘Luxury’ version of the C3 – and, as we reported last year, next in line are the DS4 and DS5. And the first to come will be the Citroen DS4 and Citroen have now started the inevietable ‘Tease’ with the picture you see above. The Citroen DS4 will be mechanically based on the new C4, but will be very much its own car.

Vintech P550 Tribute – Porsche 550 reborn (2012)

French company Vintech will show this classy P550 Tribute coupe at the 2012 Pebble Beach concours this week. No prizes for guessing that it's inspired by Porsche's pert 550. The P550 Tribute is a carbon-bodied two-seater due to be shown at the The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering on 17 August 2012.