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Kia Optima T-Hybrid concept revealed ahead of Paris debut

Kia Optima T-Hybrid concept revealed ahead of Paris debut It looks like Kia is ready to push the start button on a new range of mild hybrids with the reveal of the Kia Optima T-Hybrid concept ahead of its debut later this week at the 2014 Paris Motor Show. The new mild hybrid powertrain isn’t going to make an enormous difference to power or economy, but in a world where taxation gets based on official CO2 figures it will make the Optima more appealing to company car buyers. The Optima hybrid gets the normal 1.7 litre diesel engine and adds a small electric motor powered by a 48V lead-carbon battery which will be enough for short running at low speeds on electric power alone or allow some electric ‘cruising’ on motorways.

Mugen Honda CR-Z Hybrid Video ahead of Goodwood

Mugen Honda CR-Z Hybrid playing on video We reported back in April that Honda had turned to Mugen to see if they could inject anything in to the CR-Z Hybrid that might make it even remotely appealing to a driver. The plan was to take the resulting Mugen Honda CR-Z to this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, to see if the knowledgeable petrolheads that gravitate to the Goodwood Estate like moths to a Summer flame could find something to love in the Honda CR-Z, once it had had some Mugen fairy dust springled on it. We were a bit reluctant to expect anything much of the CR-Z even after Mugen had played, but we were pleasantly surprised to learn that the CR-Z would get a wider track, new suspension and brakes and a drop in weight thanks to some carbon fibre in the mix – most notably the carbon fibre bonnet.

2012 Fiat 500c convertible pricing and new video released

The posh new 2012 Fiat 500c will be available this spring, starting at $19,500. This, according to Fiat, makes the 500c the only cabrio with a starting price of less than $20,000. Optional features bump the cost for each of two available trim levels.