1965-1968 Ford Mustang Heater Plenum on 2040-parts.com

2012 CDN – Opel/Vauxhall Interactive Competition shortlist announced

With a hugely impressive 263 entries in total, the judges of the 2012 Car Design News – Opel/Vauxhall Interactive Competition had an unenviable task ahead of them when they gathered at the firm's head quarters in Russelsheim, Germany on Monday 21 May. Their challenge was to shortlist a number of students to progress to the next stage of the competition. The winner will be announced at the 2012 Paris motorshow.

Dacia Duster launched

Dacia has launched the Duster in to the European market Dacia is Renault’s Romanian brand and produces its own cars mostly based on Renault underpinnings. It currently offers none of its cars in the UK, but that could change with the Duster, although the initial roll-out doesn’t include RHD versions. The budget conscious Dacia Duster is Renault’s budget arm’s take on a budget, compact SUV.

Mercedes SLS AMG Electric Drive sets Nurburgring production EV record

The Mercedes SLS AMG ED (pictured) set a new EV lap record at the Nurburgring Just as Audi decides that the R8 e-Tron isn’t a production viable option, Mercedes decides to prove there is potential for electric cars at the very high end. The Mercedes SLS AMG Electric Drive has been to the Nurburgring and set a new lap record for a production electric car of just 7 minutes 55 seconds. The SLS AMG ED, which goes on sale very soon at more than £300k, may weigh a chunk more than a regular SLS (550kg more), but it gets plenty of help from its four electric motors – one at each corner – to overcome the weight of its batteries with 751bhp and 737lb/ft of torque on hand.