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BMW-Toyota partnership may yield hybrid Z4, new Supra

The BMW-Toyota sports-car lash-up has been reported on for a couple of years now, but new information from a report in the U.K.'s Autocar sheds more light on the future of the BMW Z4 and what this year's Toyota FT-1 concept will ultimately herald. Like the current Z4, its predecessor and the Z3 before it, as well as every generation of Supra, the new platform will feature a front-mounted gasoline engine. From there, things look to be diverging wildly as technology marches forward.

GM's top battery executive for the Volt to join California startup

General Motors's top executive in charge of developing batteries for the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid is leaving to take a position with an unnamed startup battery company in California. Denise Gray, 46, global director of rechargeable energy storage systems, will step down March 5 after more than three years in the post. This was “an opportunity that I could just not resist,” Gray said in a phone interview.

Kia Niro concept

Kia's Niro concept, which debuts at the upcoming Frankfurt motor show, will hint at a possible B-segment model. Designed at Kia's Frankfurt design studio under the direction of chief designer Europe Gregory Guillaume, Kia says the Niro will feature "intriguing elements not always associated with smaller cars" as well as a mix of contrasting materials. Although full details haven't been released, the pictures show the Niro features triangular headlamps along with Kia's signature ‘tiger nose' grill design and muscular wheelarches.