Tribsa Pin / Badge Biker Rocker 59 Cafe Racer Motorcycle Ahrma on 2040-parts.com

Porsche Panamera to receive long-wheelbase treatment for 2012

Porsche is developing a long-wheelbase version of the Panamera in a bid to satisfy demand for greater rear-seat legroom from customers in North American and China. Details remain sketchy, but insiders at the company's research and development center in Germany have indicated to AutoWeek that the 115-inch wheelbase of today's Panamera will be extended by almost five inches, taking it up to nearly 120 inches. By comparison, the long-wheelbase version of the Mercedes-Benz S-class boasts a 124-inch wheelbase.

Smart fortwo ED (that’s the electric one) 3rd Gen in 2012

2012 Smart fortwo ED You’ve got to admire Mercedes for persevering with the Smart, despite not exactly setting the car sales charts on fire. Even braver is their faith in producing an electric Smart when electric cars are just not selling. Still, their pockets are deep enough to play, so we’re to be treated to the third generation Smart EV with the arrival at Frankfurt next month of the 2012 Smart fortwo ED.

Euro NCAP tests for C4, Swift, CR-Z and iX35

The results from the latest round of Euro NCAP crash tests are in, and - surprise, surprise - every car tested came away with a maximum five-star safety rating. The new Citroen C4, Suzuki Swift, Honda CR-Z hybrid and Hyundai iX35 were all put through their paces, and each passed with flying colours. The latest results, while highlighting how far car safety has come in recent years (remember the notorious Rover 100 fiasco of 1997?), are bound to reignite the growing debate that the tests - or at least the marks awarded - need to show more differentiation between models.