Mercury Mercruiser Quicksilver Oil Cooler 92374 on 2040-parts.com

Nissan Puts Self-Cleaning Car To The Test

NOT a fan of cleaning your car? If so, you might want to make friends with your local Nissan dealer, as the Japanese firm has begun tests on a "self-cleaning" vehicle which could wash away the worries of those weary of doing the job themselves. Boffins at Nissan's European technical centre in Switzerland are testing an innovative paint technology that repels mud, rain and everyday dirt.

Lotus to create 100 new jobs (2013)

Lotus is bouncing back from the five-car plan debacle that saw its CEO Dany Bahar dismissed for professional misconduct, and an ambitious plot to launch a Porsche-slaying five-car range go up in smoke without so much a test mule spy shot. The Norfolk-based outfit has announced today the creation of 103 new jobs to meet rising demand not just for its cars, but the brand’s legendary car set-up skills too. It follows a £100m investment from parent DRB-HICOM earlier in 2013.

Electric Ford Focus starts European production

The Electric Ford Focus (pictured) is now being built in Europe The electric Ford Focus is already in production, and on sale, in the USA, and now it’s gone in to production in Germany ahead of arriving with owners in July. So far, the Focus EV hasn’t been an overwhelming success in the US, with just over 700 sold in the first five months of 2013 but, even though Ford see the EV as a niche product, they’re still hoping to make a dent in sales of the Nissan LEAF in Europe. The Focus EV comes with an electric motor producing 143bhp and powered by a bank of lithium-ion batteries.