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Aptera hits a speed bump

While the streamlined, electric two-seat Aptera 2e may be one of the most efficient cars ever designed, the process of getting it to market is becoming a little less efficient. Original plans had the 2e going on sale this year, but the company said on Wednesday that the car will be available to consumers starting in 2010. No specific date was set.

OFFICIAL: Alfa Romeo 4C laps the Nurburgring in 8:04s

The Alfa Romeo 4C (pictured) laps the Nurburgring in 8:04s We wouldn’t normally report on a car lapping the Nurburgring in around 8 minutes; after all, the Nurburgring lap record for a full production car is sub-7 minutes, so 8 minutes seems almost a stroll. But the lap time round the Nurburgring for the Alfa Romeo 4C is worthy of note because it’s a new lap record for a production car with less than 250bhp, and puts the Alfa 4C very much on the map as a performance car. We’d heard rumours a few weeks ago that Horst von Saurma has managed the impressive time in the 4C round the Nurburgring, but Alfa has now confirmed the time – with the 4C shod with road-legal Pirelli Zero Trofeo tyres – was completed on 23rd September 2013.

New Ford S-Max Concept at Frankfurt Motor Show

The New Ford S-Max Concept (pictured) will debut at Frankfurt Ford’s sporty take on the Galaxy – the Ford S-Max – has been with us since 2006, so it’s time for a change. But with Ford in Europe not having the best of times and the new Ford Mondeo not expected to arrive until 2014, the all new S-Max – which will have underpinnings from the new Mondeo – won’t be arriving until 2015. But in the absence of anything new to show at Frankfurt, Ford has put together a Concept version of the new S-Max to try and show Europe it really does have new stuff on the way.