Halogen Sae-y-86 on 2040-parts.com

GM to double size of battery lab

General Motors says it will spend $8 million to double the size of its Global Battery Systems Lab, which the company claims is the largest and most technologically advanced automotive battery lab in the United States. GM says the expansion will speed up the development of hybrid and electric vehicles, such as the upcoming Chevrolet Volt, by improving on-site testing of battery cells and systems. When finished, the lab will be 30,000 square feet bigger than it is now, for a 63,000-square-foot total.

2013 Ford Fiesta ST: Price from £16,995

The 2013 Ford Fiesta ST will cost from £16,995 when it arrives in Ford’s UK showrooms in March, with an extra £1,000 buying the Fiesta ST2. But now, with the Fiesta ST about to arrive as a three door in UK showrooms (the 5 door Fiesta ST will be sold in the US), Ford has come up with prices and specs for their hot Fiesta. The regular Fiesta ST will get some butch bumpers, a set of 17″ alloys, suspension lowered by 15mm, tinted glass, Recaro seats, DAB and AirCon, and if you want to spoil yourself you can opt for the Fiesta ST2 which adds in LED headlights, keyless start, part leather seats and climate.

Historic first Porsche P1 electric vehicle goes on display

In what at first glance appears to be a blatant attempt to upset McLaren’s SEO – that’s Search Engine Optimisation – a Porsche P1 model has been announced. But this is no fearsome new 1,000hp rival to McLaren’s P1 hypercar (after all, Porsche already has one of those). Rather, the Porsche P1 actually dates from 1898, and produces just 3hp.