Four Seasons 36897 Engine Cooling Fan on 2040-parts.com

Renault-Nissan and Mitsubishi to join forces

MITSUBISHI and the existing Renault-Nissan alliance are set to work together on a series of new cars. Discussions aren’t finished but as part of the deal Mitsubishi will get hold of a Renault chassis large enough to use as a base a full-size saloon for the North American market. The firms will also further develop an electric version of a Japan-only ‘kei car’.

Volkswagen Beetle R: Frankfurt debut planned?

2012 VW Beetle R - a Hot Beetle However hard they tried – and they did for a while – Volkswagen never managed to make the reborn VW Beetle anything more than a novelty; a girly car with a flower vase for girly drivers. That was enough to make the Beetle sell in almost respectable numbers in both North and South America, but it consigned VW’s retro effort to the novelty bin in Europe, where we tend to know a cynical marketing ploy from a real car. But Volkswagen seem intent on making the 212 VW Beetle rather more credible.

New Volvo Drive-E engine delivers 444bhp – from just 2.0 litres

The new Volvo Drive-E engine (pictured) delivers 444bhp When Volvo announced its new Drive-E engine range would consist of just a single petrol and diesel engine of 2.0 litre capacity, we did wonder if Volvo had given up on the idea of delivering properly powerful road cars. But it seems not. We already know that the T8 hybrid powertrain for the new XC90 will deliver 394bhp, but now Volvo has revealed a Drive-E concept engine that delivers an even more impressive 444bhp without the aid of electric motors and batteries.