BMW reveals plans for Efficient Dynamics Mk2

By Ben Whitworth Motor Industry 09 March 2009 09:49 BMW is pushing ahead with its second-generation Efficient Dynamics green car technology – with help from space scientists at NASA. Employing a thermoelectric generator similar in principle to those developed to power satellites will, according to BMW’s head of development Klaus Draeger, boost economy by some 5% on the combined cycle. Expect to see the new Efficient Dynamics tech in showrooms by 2014.

McLaren 12C Can-Am goes in to production

The track only McLaren 12C – the 12C Can-Am – was revealed as a one-off at Pebble Beach but is now going in to limited production. The 12C Can-Am is aimed at the lucrative track day market in the States, and without the constraints of any production series McLaren has been able to play as they wish. That means the 12C Can-Am – developed by the McLaren GT Team which developed the 12C GT3 Race car – gets a new aerodynamic package that improves downforce by 30 per cent, including a carbon fibre splitter with winglets, a carbon fibre diffuser and huge rear spoiler.

New Lancia Ypsilon in UK – as Chrysler Ypsilon

New Lancia Ypsilon Tease Sketch - we'll get it as the Chrysler Ypsilon Lancia finally left the UK in 1994 after a decade or two of falling sales which owed much to the Fiat brand developing perforated body panels after a week or three. Lancia had plans in place to come back to the UK in 2008, but the storm clouds which had gathered over the car economy put paid to that. But now, as part of the Fiat Chrysler partnership, they’re coming back.