Drayson Racing and Michelin compete for EV record

Drayson Racing Technologies and Michelin are joining forces to make a run at the FIA World Electric Land Speed Record on Tuesday with the Drayson B12 69/EV prototype. In addition to a record attempt this will be a real-world test for the car, which will also compete in the 2014 FIA Formula E Championship. The car was originally powered by a 5.5-liter biofuel Judd engine, but it has now been converted to full electric drive.

Kia Ray Concept at Chicago Motor Show

Kia wil preview the Kia Ray Concept plug-in hybrid at the Chicago Motor Show next month Yes, the Detroit Motor Show is only just about done, but waiting in the wings is the rather less fancy Chicago Motor Show (although they probably won’t thank us for describing it as such). But despite Chicago being a lower key affair than Detroit they will still get their share of new stuff. Well, not necessarily new (we reported that North America gets the BMW Alpina B7 which will debut at Chicago) but certainly new to the US.

Toyota will pay NHTSA fine, adds to recalls

Toyota has stayed at the top of the news in the last few days. The Japanese automaker agreed to pay the record $16.4 million fine the U.S. Transportation Department levied against it, even as it scrambled to fix the Lexus GX 460 that Consumer Reports said was unsafe to drive.