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Ford Focus, Fiesta racers (2011): global motorsport

The new One Ford mantra is spreading to the race track - as the Blue Oval sends its motorsport division global too.  Announced at the 2010 SEMA show, the Fiesta R2 rally car will now be available in North America for the first time. And the all-new Ford Focus touring car (pictured) will race globally - it's anticipated to be in the 2011 British Touring Car Championship. Ford plans to coordinate and support private race teams around the world and is promising to help teams adapt the car to worldwide touring car categories.

Volkswagen launches Car-Net in-car assistance system

Volkswagen has launched an in-car assistance system which will offer a number of convenience and diagnostic features. Not too dissimilar from some other systems already on the market -- such as BMW Assist, Mercedes-Benz'sMbrace, and GM's On-Star -- VW's system will offer roadside assistance, service appointment scheduling, and automatic crash notification. The latter triggers a call from the vehicle to a Car-Net customer specialist when the airbags in the car are deployed, which will then connect the occupants with a local public safety answering point, which can send emergency vehicles to the scene if needed.

UK has more EV charging points than electric cars

The UK has more charging points than EVs Department for Transport figures say that there are now more charging points in the UK for electric cars than there are EVs. Yes, we have little time for electric cars as anything more than urban runarounds for those with enough spare cash to pay through the nose for inferior technology. And it’s becoming clear that the great British car buying public feel much the same.