Audi A1 e-tron Wankel range-extender EV trial begins

Audi A1 e-tron trial begins in Munich If car makers are going to foist electric cars on us, the least they can do is make them as useful as the limited technology permits. And that’s what Audi are doing with the A1 e-tron EV. The Audi A1 e-tron isn’t a daft BEV (battery electric vehicle) with a woeful range at the mercy of weather conditions, instead it’s a range extender EV with a small Wankel engine which kicks-in when the battery charge is used up to increase range.

Volvo S60 R-Design won on Facebook by ‘The Lake District’

Volvo Greatest Drive Winner – The Lake District You may remember we reported in June that Volvo had gone slightly bonkers and decided to give away a brand spanking new S60 to whoever submitted the ‘Greatest Drive’ on Facebook; the route that offered not just great scenery but a great driving experience too. And Volvo didn’t skimp on the competition, with not just an astonishingly good prize but also the services of Robert Llewellyn to drive an S60 round the three routes initially voted the best (curious, that – we didn’t know Bobby could drive a car without an electric motor), with videos posted so Volvo’s Facebook fans could make a proper decision on what really was the ‘Greatest Drive’. And the winner was ‘The Lake District’.

GM to import more Chevy Spark minicars from Korea

General Motors is increasing imports of Chevrolet Spark minicars for sale in the United States following a stronger-than-expected launch here. GM recently upped its order for Sparks from the Korea plant that produces the car, Cristi Landy, marketing director for Chevrolet small cars, told Automotive News. “We've asked for more already,” Landy said Wednesday.