New Dii Exterior Door Handles, D-m1796 on 2040-parts.com

Toyota cuts 2014 Prius Plug-in hybrid prices

For the 2014 model year the Toyota Prius Plug-in hybrid will get a price cut, with the base Prius Plug-in model starting at $29,990, not including destination. The $2,010 drop in price comes without any changes to the vehicle, and Toyota was keen to point out that "This price repositioning on the base Prius Plug-in Hybrid is not accompanied by any reduction in vehicle content.” This drop in price can be viewed as part of Toyota's effort to keep sales volume of its popular plug-in hybrid model on target -- about the only place where the 2014 model Prius will look different will be the Japanese domestic market, where the Prius will get two-tone paint options, new wheels, and LED lighting. Likewise, the Prius Plug-in Advanced will also get a price cut for the 2014 model year, and will start at $34,905, not including destination.

Mercedes SLS Electric Drive takes to the track

Mercedes-Benz turned heads at the Paris motor show with the SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive. The cool blue supercar costs $540,000, making it Mercedes-Benz’s most expensive car in the dealership. Mercedes also took the car to the Ascari race track in Spain.

Volvo XC40 spotted undisguised in Norway

The Volvo XC40 – the compact SUV / Crossover version of the new Volvo V40 – has been spotted undisguised in Norway ahead of a Paris Motor Show debut. We’ve been hearing for some time that the Volvo XC40 – the latest addition to Volvo’s SUV range and based on the new V40 – is getting close to a public debut, and back in April we reported that the XC40 would, in all probability, arrive at the Paris Motor Show in September. That prediction on the XC40′s fairly imminent arrival has been given additional credence with the first shots of the new Volvo XC40 taken on what appears to be a photo / video shoot on closed roads in Norway – perhaps the debut video for the XC40 in the making?