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Electric Ford Focus starts European production

The Electric Ford Focus (pictured) is now being built in Europe The electric Ford Focus is already in production, and on sale, in the USA, and now it’s gone in to production in Germany ahead of arriving with owners in July. So far, the Focus EV hasn’t been an overwhelming success in the US, with just over 700 sold in the first five months of 2013 but, even though Ford see the EV as a niche product, they’re still hoping to make a dent in sales of the Nissan LEAF in Europe. The Focus EV comes with an electric motor producing 143bhp and powered by a bank of lithium-ion batteries.

BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Series introduced

BMW has released images and detail on the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Series The 7 Series ActiveHybrid, although built to serve the same purpose, utilises a different methodology to the X6 AvtiveHybrid. It is a ‘Mild’ Hybrid – built in co-operation with Mercedes – that uses a single electric motor (as opposed to the X6′s twin motors) together with the BMW 4.4 litre, twin-turb0 V8, to deliver 455 horses and 516lb/ft of torque. The V8 delivers 440bhp with the electric motor adding an extra 15bhp.The electric motor in the 7 Series ActiveHybrid is sandwiched between the 8-speed ZF ‘box and the engine.

CAR interviews Ferrari's tech boss on 458 Speciale and beyond (2014)

By Ben Pulman Motor Industry 10 January 2014 11:30 2014 is an exciting year for Ferrari. The new 458 Speciale is relishing the change to take on all comers from McLaren and Lamborghini, and the LaFerrari hybrid supercar will finally be passed on to 499 lucky (and well-heeled) customers. CAR's Ben Pulman met with Ferrari's technical director at the marque's Maranello HQ to talk Speciale, hybrid supercars, and what's next for the world's most famous sports car maker.