Nissan Leaf Charger on 2040-parts.com

Shortened LX rear-drive platform--Chrysler's midsize car answer?

Chrysler's new management team is wrestling with its first major product decision, and it's a crucial one: how to replace the slow-selling Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger. One option--a stretched version of Fiat's compact D-Evo platform--faces serious hurdles, and one early proposal--use of an Opel platform--is off the table. Now sources say Chrysler Group LLC could replace its much-maligned mid-sized cars with a model based on the Chrysler 200C EV, a concept shown at the Detroit auto show in January.

Lotus's new 2010 Elise dips below 150g/km of CO2

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 09 April 2010 07:53 The new facelifted 2011 model year Lotus Elise has cut its CO2 output by nearly a fifth to a saintly 149g/km.It's a 16% improvement over the outgoing Lotus Elise S and Hethel claims 'the Elise has the lowest CO2 for its performance level for any gasoline sports car in the world.' Lotus is getting combative with the new Elise, pointing out that the Elise weighs just 876kg – while the Porsche Boxster sends the scales spinning to 1334kg.So how come the new Lotus Elise is so clean?The aerodynamics are 4% smoother, according to Lotus, while a smaller Toyota 1.6-litre VVT-i engine is downsized by 200cc compared with the outgoing 1.8, yet produces the same power.The new 2011 model year (but on sale now in 2010) shows the benefits of lightweight: it'll hit 60mph in 6.0sec.

The Woodward Dream Cruise with Ian Callum

Try describing the Woodward Dream Cruise—a pulsing expression of Amer-ican automotive enthusiasm condensed into an endless, eight-lane traffic jam—and your audience will fall into one of two groups: The ones who shrug it off as inexplicable gasoline-fueled hysteria, or the ones who simply embrace it as the day-long automotive flash mob it is. Ian Callum, principal designer for Jaguar, falls firmly in the second camp. That's right.