Designing the sound of tomorrow's electric cars

By 2019, the European parliament has ordered that all new electric cars sold in the EU must be fitted with a device that emits noise to make them more audible to pedestrians. With safety legislation in America and elsewhere set to follow, this presents an opportunity to completely rethink the sound electric cars make. It's a chance to take it beyond a warning sound by considering something that harmonizes with its surroundings.

Nissan Super-Juke with 480hp planned

The 480hp Nissan Super Juke Only last week we had news that the appealing Nissan Juke has had a few tweaks to make it more economical; more suited to its urban environment. But now comes new from the other end of the economy spectrum with a report that Nissan Europe is planning a monster ‘Super’ Juke complete with the turbo V6 from the Nissan GT-R. The photo above – courtesy of our friends at Jalopnik – shows just what the Juke on steroids will look like.

BMW X4 Leaks

We have the first official photos of the BMW X4 SUV – the ‘Lifestyle’ version of the X3 – which we expect to debut at the Shanghai Motor Show this month. We have the first leaked images of the X4 that show a BMW X3 with the same sort of treatment as the X5 got to turn it in to the X6, and create what BMW like to call an SAC – a Sports Activity Coupe. Apart from the changes to the body – and less room in the back – you can expect the X4 to offer much the same under the skin as the X3 – albeit at a premium price – which will mean – for the UK at least – will mean everything from an X4 xDrive 18d SE through to an X4 xDrive 35d M Sport.