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Carbon-fiber parts and a software fix help create a lighter, faster Fiat

Chrysler Group's Mopar parts brand and Italian supplier Magneti Marelli have teamed up on a design exercise based on the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth that shaved weight and added horsepower. The vehicle, called the Venom, has a number of carbon fiber components -- hood and side mirrors, for example -- that makes it about 200 pounds lighter than the 2,512-pound Abarth. The Venom uses software updates and additional exhaust components to boost the Abarth's standard 160-hp 1.4-liter turbocharged engine's output by as much as 25 percent.

Chevrolet Colorado Rally concept

Chevrolet has announced the second concept that previews the brand's next generation of pickups ahead of its official unveiling at the 5th Buenos Aires Auto Show. Following on from the Colorado concept shown in Bangkok, the Colorado Rally truck takes the basic premise of the first Colorado concept and adds a dose of aggression, with the vehicle gaining increased ride height, chunkier tires and a more prominent under body. Integrated winches, front and rear, convey the truck's off road abilities.

Government to trial electric cars

Cabinet ministers could soon swap their luxury limousines for electric vehicles, in a bid to set an eco-friendly example. A Whitehall source told the London Evening Standard that electric car trials are likely to start as soon as spring. On Bing: see pictures of electric cars Find out how much a used electric car costs on Auto Trader London currently boasts a network of 800 charging points – but three out of four went unused in 2012.