Wrangler Smittybilt Jeep Seats - 45011 on 2040-parts.com

BMW 7-series hybrid due in 2009

By Nick Gibbs Motor Industry 07 July 2008 14:30 BMW will launch a hybrid petrol version of the newly unveiled 7-series in 2009, but admits it’s more for green-leaning V8 addicts than seriously eco-aware bosses. Even with the latest lithium-ion batteries, the forthcoming 4.4-litre V8 petrol-electric version will struggle to match the astonishing 39.2mpg and 192g/km of CO2 of the new six-cylinder diesel, especially when BMW will launch stop-start technology for the whole range within two years. The hybrid is likely to cost several thousand more than the £65,000 it’s estimated you’ll need to buy the regular, twin-turbo 750i that goes on sale in November 2008.

Book Review: Cosmic Motors

It is the year 8966-B in Galaxion, a distant galaxy where Daniel Simon has spent the past two years creating visions for the Cosmic Motors brand. Beginning with the Camarudo ‘one-person motion device', the former VW designer puts aside gravity to find unique forms for future vehicles, accompanied by excellent narration that develops the CoMo story and describes the techniques he used. All the vehicles in this stellar catalogue have been made into digital models with Autodesk AliasStudio - and the results are simply stunning.

Hennessey tunes the McLaren MP4-12C

Texas tuner Hennessey Performance will offer an upgrade package for the McLaren MP4-12C. The result is an 800-hp machine that looks even more sinister than the car it came from. The blood-red paint, carbon-fiber aero kit and blacked-out wheels in the rendering all say supercar to us.