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Better Place EV Battery Swap business goes bust

It seemed like a good idea: take the cost of batteries out of the cost of buying an electric car and instead charge EV owners to use ‘Battery Swap’ stations where depleted batteries could be swapped for fully charged ones in the time it takes to fill an ICE car with petrol. But it’s all gone a bit Pete Tong. Better Place – which partnered with Renault in 2009 to make the battery swap technology viable – has failed to find anyone to add to the $750 million already involved in the project and has filed for bankruptcy.

Suzuki sedan heads for December introduction in the United States

It's been awhile since we've shown you some spy art of Suzuki's upcoming sport sedan foreshadowed by the Kizashi concepts. But we got a fresh look at the car on Thursday--with the "spy" art helpfully provided by Suzuki. It was attached to a "save the date" e-mail to members of the North American Car and Truck of the Year jury.

UPDATED: Aston Martin sold

By Phil McNamara Motor Industry 12 March 2007 09:38 Aston Martin is today under new owners, following the sale of Britain’s premier sports car company to an investment consortium. After 20 years of ownership, Ford divested itself of the brand, its facilities and its products, in a deal valuing Aston at £479m.   The new owner is a consortium led by David Richards, boss of automotive consultancy Prodrive, who helped to unite two private investment companies from Kuwait. Adeem Investment, which already owns the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, has a portfolio worth $1.5 bn.