Fiat at the Paris motor show 2008

By Ben Barry Motor Shows 03 October 2008 09:29 No new cars for Fiat at Paris, so the spotlight fell on environmental initiatives. A five-times life-size white Fiat 500 presided over a stand occupied entirely by pearl white 500s, Bravos, Sedicis, Cromas and Qubos. These cars were set on a Simpsons sky-like floor of blue and white over which the usual high quality of Fiat ladies strolled.

Rolls Royce 102EX: Electric Phantom revealed

Electric Rolls Royce Phantom Rolls Royce has taken the wraps of its experimental electric Phantom at  Geneva – Rolls Royce 102EX –  and they certainly haven’t done things by halves. Rolls Royce engineers have taken the regular engine out of the Phantom and replaced it with a pair of electric motors rated at 145 kWh and possibly the biggest lithium-ion battery bank on four wheels. The Phantom EV uses five lithium-cobalt-manganese-oxide (or NCM) pouch cells which form the shape of the engine and live under the bonnet.

Audi A1 & A3 get 1.4 TSI with Cylinder on Demand

Audi is introducing cylinder on demand technology to the A1 and A3 with the launch of the 1.4 TSI CoD option in the UK. Price from £16,740. Cylinder deactivation – or cylinder on demand – is a technology that’s been around on big engines for some time.