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New Smart ForTwo and ForFour set for 2014 unveil

Mercedes-Benz's struggling Smart city car division is seeking to add a new dimension to the urban driving experience with its third-generation ForTwo, currently undergoing the final phase of a three-year test and development program ahead of a planned unveiling mid next year. Set for North American launch in 2015, the ultra-compact two-seat hatchback represents a fresh chapter in operations for Smart, which has recently gained greater independence from parent company Mercedes-Benz as its boss, Annette Winkler, attempts to stem years of financial losses after almost a decade of rebuilding following its short-lived joint venture with Mitsubishi. The new ForTwo, known internally as project C453, has been developed in a joint engineering program with the upcoming second-generation ForFour and its sister car, the third-generation Renault Twingo.

Volvo 13-liter liquefied-natural-gas engine announced for North America

It comes as no surprise that, with rising fuel costs, companies are continuing their efforts to increase efficiency. Volvo Trucks, for its part, plans to launch a 13-liter liquefied-natural-gas engine for North America in 2014 and is set to develop a new form natural-gas fuel called DME, or dimethyl ether. Volvo looks to add the liquefied-natural-gas option to complement its compressed-natural-gas (CNG) offerings.

McLaren P1 gets 903bhp

McLaren has revealed that their new supercar – the McLaren P1 – will deliver 903bhp and have emissions below 200g/km. The McLaren P1 will get 727bhp from its 3.8 litre V8 with an additional 176bhp coming from an electric motor for a combined power delivery of 903bhp, with the V8 contributing 531lb/ft of torque and the electric motor an instant 192lb/ft for a combined torque of 664lb/ft at 4000rpm. The boost from the electric motor is instantly available at the flick of a button on the steering wheel – McLaren call it Instant Power Assist System (IPAS) – which instantly throws more additional power to aid the McLaren’s V8 than a pair of Fiestas can manage.