Used Model A Front Motor Mount on 2040-parts.com

New Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive goes in to production

The first Mercedes B-Class ED (pictured) rolls off the production line in Rastatt With the BMW i3 grabbing headlines – and flying out of showrooms – as BMW’s first electric car, Mercedes need to play catch-up with a convincing EV of their own, and that’s the new B-Class Electric Drive – an EV version of the regular B-Class – which has now gone in to production in Germany. Built alongside regular ICE versions of the B-Class at Mercedes’ Rastatt Plant, the B-Class ED (Electric Drive) looks practically the same as its more conventionally powered siblings – although the front bumper does look a bit different – and has an electric motor good for 177 bhp and 250 lb/ft of torque, can manage a scoot to 62 mph in 7.9 seconds and has a range of up to 124 miles. The range – at least the quoted range – is a chunk better than the BMW i3′s and on a par with the latest Nissan LEAF, thanks to EV technology provided by Tesla, and the wrapping of an EV drivetrain in a conventional series production car could appeal to more buyers than the ‘statement’ design of the BMW i3.

Dodge Dart (2013) unveiled early

Dodge Dart (2013) revealed early The US take on the Alfa Giulietta, the 2013 Dodge Dart, has been revealed early after photos leaked out ahead of a debut at the Detroit Auto Show. The Dodge Dart has been teased in bits by Chrysler ahead of a debut at the Detroit Auto Show next week, but the interwebs have lost patience with the new Dodge tease and have jumped the gun, revealing the Dart in all its glory. And actually, it’s not a bad looking effort.

Alfa Brera & Alfa Spider get new engines and Italia Independent trim

The Alfa Brera & Alfa Spider get new engines and a new trim option Alfa Romeo introduced new engine options last year on the Alfa 159 – the 1750iTBi Petrol engine and the 2.0 litre JTDm diesel – which are now about to find their way in to the Alfa Brera and Alfa Spider. Which is a far from bad move. The 1750i Turbo manages to deliver 200bhp and a decent amount of torque – 236lb/ft from only 1400rpm – which makes it distinctly brisk – 7.7 & 7.8 seconds respectively to 62 mph for the Brera and Spider.