Kyb Kg5504 Rear Mono-tube Gas Pressurized on 2040-parts.com

Abarth Fiat 500 Convertible confirmed. Punto Abarth coming?

It looks like plans for an Abarth version of the 500C for 2010 are confrmed But a successful model is always going to spawn whatever variants a car maker can viably muster, so our report in July that we will see an Abarth version of the 500C in Spring 2010 – probably at the Geneva Motor Show – now seem to have been confirmed as ‘jokeforblog’ has published pictures of what seems to be a road-ready Abarth Convertible at Abarth’s facility. Now that will be a bunch of fun – and just in time for next Summer. Spy shot of the Abarth 500 Cabriolet It also now seems likely that Fiat are pushing ahead with a new Abarth version of the Punto.

SAE approves new fast-charging standard for EVs, plug-ins

SAE International said it has approved a new technical standard that will dramatically reduce charging times for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles. The global engineering group said the new charging standard, developed with the cooperation of more than 190 automakers, utilities and equipment builders, will allow charging times to be reduced from as long as eight hours to as short as 20 minutes. Automakers want DC direct charging to take less than 10 minutes, or roughly the time it takes to fill a tank with gasoline.The goal is to accommodate currents as high as 500 volts distributed from public charging stations.

Hood-ornament quiz--the answers

Were you able to separate the Cadillac from the Packard in our hood-ornaments challenge in the April 5 issue of AutoWeek? We wanted to know whether you could identify eight classic cars solely by their hood ornaments. Here's the place to confirm your car-knowledge prowess, or to recalibrate your hood-ornament history.