Minn Kota 2378225 Deckhand 40 Electric Anchor Control Circuit Board on 2040-parts.com

Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid – now with Volvo’s R-Design spec. Price from £51,675

The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid now get the R-Design option The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid is already selling at such a rate that Volvo can’t keep up with demand, and now they’re making it even more difficult for themselves by launching an R-Design version. Volvo’s R-Design models add a range of tweaks to the regular range that add more visual purpose, but do so subtly and without too much fanfare. The R-Design version of the V60 Plug-in Hybrid is no different, with R-Design bumpers and grill, rear diffuser and 18″ Ixion alloys on the exterior and sports seats, sports pedals, sports floor mats and charcoal headlining on the interior giving the car a more focused appeal.

Toyota RAV4 EV (2012) - a Toyota/Tesla electric SUV

The Toyota RAV4 has been turned into the only all-electric SUV on the market after a heart transplant from Tesla Motors.  The RAV4 EV has been given batteries and drivetrain bits from the Silicon Valley start-up to turn Toyota's most popular SUV into an electric-only vehicle with a 100-mile range. Toyota RAV4 EV: how it works A massive 422kg of batteries provide the power for the RAV4 EV, mounted low down in the centre of the vehicle to improve weight distribution. Toyota says that despite the new powertrain, no compromises have been made on passenger space.  Two driving modes offer a choice of speed or economy, Normal and Sport. Normal will send the RAV4 from 0-60mph in 8.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 85mph; Sport mode will take you there in 7.0sec and up to 100mph.

Finalists announced in Car Design News-Opel/Vauxhall interactive competition exterior design phase

Car Design News is pleased to announce the finalists in the exterior design phase of the Car Design News – Opel/Vauxhall interactive design competition. Pierin Giacomo and Victor Uribe of IED school of design in Turin (who are finalists in the interior phase) are joined by Jadir E Minutti, from IAAD in Turin, Italy and Lina, from Creapole school in Paris, France. The approaches of the students to the exterior design phase differed greatly, and because of this the judges felt that four, rather than three, students merited being invited to Geneva where the winner of the exterior design phase will be announced, together with those for the interior phase which closed in December 2010.