Jaz Racing Fuel Cell 12 Gal Drag Race Circle Track Camaro Pro Street on 2040-parts.com

Why carmakers say no to battery swapping

There's a strange disconnect surrounding Better Place, the company best known for its plan to extend the range of electric vehicles by relying on speedy battery swaps. Automotive executives are nearly unanimous in dismissing the idea. With the conspicuous exception of Nissan-Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn, rarely does an executive express interest.

Driving the Edison 2 Very Light Car 4.0

Oliver Kuttner got into the alternative car business to make money. Or, more accurately, he got into it to win money. In 2010, the $5 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize was up for grabs and Kuttner, a Charlottesville, Va., real estate developer and former IMSA/ALMS racer, won it with his single-cylinder-engined Very Light Car (“Lightweight Endeavors,” June 27, 2011).

Jaguar XKR-S (2011) at 2011 Geneva motor show

Jaguar has turned up the power and sharpened the handling on the flagship XKR coupe for the 2011 Geneva motor show. The result: the XKR-S, claimed to be the fastest production Jaguar sports car ever. For 2011, Jaguar is returning the XKR-S to the top of the XK range. CAR readers may recall the well regarded 2008 limited edition that last carried the badge.  The XKR-S has an uprated version of the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 found in the standard XKR. Power moves up to 542bhp (from 510bhp), and torque swells to 501lb ft (up from 461lb ft) thanks to lots of ECU tweakage.