Sachs Sg214018 Lift Support-trunk Lid Lift Support on 2040-parts.com

Drivers unmoved by electric cars

SUPPORT for electric cars appears to be failing to spark off real interest from drivers, according to a survey of more than 3,000 motorists. Only 1% of UK drivers own an alternative fuel vehicle (AFV), while CO2 emissions are at the bottom of the checklist when Britons are shopping for a new car, the poll by Auto Trader found. Since January 2011, motorists have been eligible for up to £5,000 upfront cost relief on the purchase of a new electric vehicle but the survey showed that 35% of drivers were unaware of this grant.

Audi A3 g-tron revealed

Audi has revealed the A3 g-tron Sportback ahead of the Geneva Motor Show, an A3 that runs on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and petrol. The A3 g-tron is powered by a tweaked version of Audi’s 1.4 litre TSI petrol engine which can run on both -gas and petrol, with the A3 g-tron normally using the petrol just for start-up and switching over to e-gas as soon as it’s running. Audi has provided two fillers under a common fuel flap – one for e-gas and one for petrol – with the A3 g-tron producing a total of 108bhp with the dual-fuel setup, enough to power the A3 g-tron to 62mph in 11 seconds.

Mercedes A45 AMG – with Lewis Hamilton & Nico Rosberg (video)

That lump is a 2.0 litre turbo 4-cylinder that produces a not insignificant 355bhp and 332lb/ft of torque, which is enough to get the pocket rocket A45 to 62mph in a competition busting 4.6 seconds. And with the A45 AMG heading towards Mercedes showrooms soon, MB are bust promoting their new hot hatch, and what better way to do that than rope in your own highly paid F1 drivers to add a bit of performance gloss? So Mercedes has put Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel of an A45, Nico Rosberg in the passenger seat and a ‘Good Fairy’ in the road to sort out arguments about who should get to drive.