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Japan hopes to make EV recharging technology the global standard

Japan's automakers aim to cement their lead in electric vehicles by making Japanese recharging technology the global standard and bringing it to the United States. A coalition of manufacturers, including Nissan and Toyota, is teaming with Japan's biggest electric company and the government to make it happen. They aim to corner the market on one of the technologies that will be key to the eventual acceptance of electric-powered cars: the high-speed charging points that will act like gasoline stations of the future and enable drivers to recharge and keep driving after their batteries run low.

Ferrari sets price for the 458 Spider

Ferrari has set the price of the 458 Spider at $257,000, with U.S. sales to start in January, In Europe, the sports car will cost 226,800 euros, or $309,000 at current exchange rate. Sales begin in October.

Pagani Zonda R at the Nurburgring: on video

The phrase 'broken record' at the Nurburgring has become ever so slightly over-used. Every other week, another manufacturer steps forward with claims of shaving time off the fabled record.  Pagani are guilty of this as much as the next supercar brand. Yet for some strange reason, you can almost forgive them when you watch the documentary video footage below of Horacio Pagani talking you through the record-breaking, £1.3m, track-special Zonda R.