Meet the Kia Soul EV and Niro hybrid concept

Kia revealed three electrified cars at the Chicago Auto Show on Thursday, one concept and two that are headed for production. The Niro hybrid is Kia’s future take on a city car, while the Soul EV and new Optima hybrid will be out later this year. The Soul EV is the company’s main focus at the show, judging by our seven pages of press releases on it.

Think, again: Norwegian electric-car maker looks for U.S. plant

Think, the Norwegian electric-car maker, says it plans to build an assembly plant and a technical center in the United States. After financing failed in the wake of the collapse of credit markets in late 2008, the company entered Norway's debt-settlement process (the equivalent of Chapter 11 bankruptcy), and production of its recently redesigned Think city car was halted. It continues operating under a $6 million interim funding measure while it pursues additional financing.

Pforzheim University Winter Degree Show 2010

Pforzheim University held its winter degree show earlier this month, taking over the Congresshall complex in downtown Pforzheim again, rather than the school itself, which is situated on the outskirts of the town. The German school's exhibition covered projects from five graduating Masters' students and eight BA students, with an increasing number of interior projects being tackled, especially by MA students. The exhibition also included work from first-semester Masters students for a vehicle for the nearby spa town of Bad Herrenalb , as well as a 'My First Mercedes' project from fourth and sixth semester undergraduates.