Electric cars amped up with £500 million boost

THE GOVERNMENT is to extend the £5,000 grant scheme open to anyone who buys a car with plug-in electric power. It is part of a £500 million move to encourage car owners – and city authorities – to take up the electric car baton and run with it. The initiative will give cities a chance to win government funding to further the sales of electric cars in their areas, for example by allowing them to use bus lanes or park for free.

Hot laps: BMW 435i vs M3 winter tyre test 3

By Ben Barry First Official Pictures 31 January 2014 08:50 How much difference can winter tyres make to your car’s performance and safety? In snowy conditions, choosing between winter and summer tyres is like choosing between crampons and slippers, but plenty of British winters pass with barely a flake touching the ground. So it’s understandable that most of us are reluctant to fork out for winter tyres.

Ferrari 458 Speciale stars at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show

This is the Ferrari 458 Speciale, debuting here at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show – and it’s the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 model the iconic Italian supercar builder has ever produced. It’s not just the 458’s engine that’s received some attention though, a new trick traction control system and interior details to die for carve this out as potentially one of the greatest Ferraris of all time.