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Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid: Production underway

The world’s first production plug-in diesel hybrid – the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid – has gone in to production ahead of customer deliveries. Volvo are producing just 1,000 2013 V60 plug-ins, but are aiming to up production to between 4-6,000 a year from the 2014 model year and, despite the problems of integrating the V60′s complicated electric stuff in to a production car, the V60 plug-in is rolling down the same production line as the regular V60, V70, S80 and XC90. That complicated stuff includes two different powertrains and a battery pack – enough for up to 32 miles as an EV only – and a total of 300 additional parts compared to a regular ICE V60.

New Mercedes C-Class Estate price and specs – costs from £28,055

The new Mercedes C-Class Estate (pictured) costs from £28,055 The second variant of the new C-Class – the 2015 Mercedes C-Class Estate – was revealed last month offering proper load-lugging abilities together with the C-Class’s mini S-Class goodness. Now, with the new C-Class Estate due to arrive in the UK in September, Mercedes has revealed prices and specs for the initial launch range. Just three versions will be available at launch – the C 200, C 220 BlueTec and C 250 BlueTec – with the C 220 and C 250 sharing different power versions of Mercedes’ 2.1 litre diesel and the C 200 getting the 2.0 litre petrol.

NY Times reporter says he followed Tesla's advice

A New York Times reporter says he was following the advice of Tesla employees when he drove an electric Model S sedan beyond its indicated range in an effort to reach a recharging station. Responding to a blog post by Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk highly critical of his original article, Times reporter John Broder on Thursday said he did not set out to sabotage the test drive -- refuting one of Musk's most-damning points. Broder also refutes Musk's claim that he drove the car around a parking lot in a deliberate attempt to fully discharge the battery -- Broder says he was looking for the recharge station in a poorly lighted rest stop at night.