Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid ‘game-changer’ to cost same as diesel model

Mitsubishi Mitsubishi UK has revealed it will sell its new Plug-In Hybrid Outlander EV for the SAME price it retails diesel versions of the Land Rover Freelander rival, rather than many thousands of pounds more – a move managing director Lance Bradley believes has the potential to "blow the market apart. "It could be a gamechanger," he told MSN Cars as the firm prepared to reveal the car’s price. "A car like this comes along once in a generation: this could be our Mazda MX-5, our Jaguar F-Type." On Bing: see pictures of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVFind out how much a used Mitsubishi Outlander Including the £5,000 UK government subsidy for plug-in vehicles, the entry-level Outlander PHEV GX3h will be priced from £28,249, the same as the diesel-powered Outlander GX3h auto.

Mercury dies off, Lincoln to benefit

Ford's brand portfolio is set to get smaller by the end of the year. Following the sale of Aston Martin, Land Rover, Jaguar and most recently Volvo (to Chinese automaker Geely), the Blue Oval has now announced the demise of its 'middle of the range' Mercury brand, with production of the last vehicles set to cease at the end of 2010. In a statement released to media, Ford announced that the shuttering of the 71-year old Mercury brand was in the interest of focusing on Lincoln, the automaker's only remaining premium brand.

Lotus V8: the new engine plan in full

Lotus has confirmed details for its new inhouse V8 engine family, which will make its first road car appearance in the 2013 Esprit. Responding to feedback which said the 'New Era' plan to launch five new models was weakened by its reliance on Toyota engines, the new management team decided last Christmas to design and develop its own engine. 'The feedback from customers was "how can you justify a £100,000 car with a Toyota engine?",' said chief executive Dany Bahar.