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Battery breakthrough set to accelerate electric-car development

A team of scientists working at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are claiming a significant breakthrough in recharging times for lithium-ion batteries. According to findings published in the scientific journal Nature, MIT researchers Byoungwoo Kang and Gerbrand Ceder have unlocked the potential of lithium-ion batteries by patenting a unique process which is claimed to allow a typical laptop power pack to be fully recharged in less than a minute--an improvement in recharging performance of roughly 90 percent over existing lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries generate electric current via the flow of lithium ions across an electrolyte, from an electrode to a cathode.

First Sight: Citroën C4

 The Citroen C4 is a new car that shall be formally unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in September as the replacement for the Xsara that has been quietly competing in the European C-class for six years. The C4 was previewed in Geneva with the C4 Sport (a WRX themed concept car based very closely on the production 3-door C4) and less directly with the C6 Lignage Citroen concept car of Geneva 1999 which introduced many of the new car's exterior and interior design themes on a larger vehicle concept. Sitting between the C3 and C5 in Citroen's range, the C4 platform will also be shared by Citroen's partner Peugeot for the 307 replacement.

Alpina B6 xDrive boosts Gran Coupe to 540 hp

The 2015 BMW Alpina B6 xDrive Gran Coupe was revealed on Wednesday. The new super-coupe will make its North American debut next month at the New York auto show and go on sale immediately after. The Alpina B6 is based on the 6-series Gran Coupe (and thus features four doors, despite the name).