Volvo S60 L plug-in petrol hybrid heading for Beijing Motor Show

The Volvo S60L Plug-in (pictured) heading for Beijing The Volvo V60 Plug-in is already doing good business for Volvo – despite a price tag of £50k – but the V60 plug-in is a diesel hybrid which doesn’t suit all markets. So Volvo are ploughing ahead with a petrol engine based plug-in hybrid with the debut at the Beijing Motor Show next week of the Volvo S60 L Plug-in, a petrol hybrid version of the long wheelbase S60. At first glance the S60 Plug-in looks just like its regular ICE sibling, but under the skin sits a 2.0 litre Drive-E petrol engine with 238bhp and 258lb/ft of torque – which drives the front wheels – and a 68bhp electric motor with 147lb/ft of torque that can drive the rear wheels, which can be recharged in 4.5 hours.

RCA students open Clerkenwell Week Design with Jaguar-inspired artwork

Two Royal College of Art students have designed a Jaguar-inspired sculpture to celebrate the opening of Clerkenwell Design Week in London. Ewan Gallimore and Claire Miller developed their idea alongside Jaguar's Advanced Design team in Whitley, Coventry, by using technologies applied in the creation of Jaguar production and concept cars. The two were the successful team from a selection of nine groups who submitted entries after Jaguar's challenge to the RCA's Vehicle Design and Textile Design departments.

Only bikers avoid commute stress, says study

MOTORCYCLES, scooters and mopeds are among the modes of transport least likely to affect your general wellbeing, according to a government travel survey. The Office for National Statistics released a report earlier this year examining the impact of commuting patterns on people’s levels of anxiety, happiness and satisfaction. For journeys up to 30 minutes there was no negative effect on levels of happiness or anxiety for those who rode a motorcycle, moped or scooter to work.