2000 Honda Insight Ima Electric Motor on 2040-parts.com

Hyundai's record year – can it continue? (2013)

Hyundai’s metamorphosis is complete – it’s now one of the ten most popular car brands in the UK, and the first Korean manufacturer ever to crack into the Premier League of UK car buying habits. Sales in 2012 soared by 18.1% to 74,000 units, while its Kia sister brand scored 66,000 registrations last year, according to the new SMMT figures out this week. The Korean double-act isn’t just a thorn in the side of the established French mainstream brands: it’s killing them off completely.

Nissan Versa hatchback previewed by Japan-market Note

The Nissan Versa hatchback will be redesigned, with styling similar to that of the new Note subcompact that the automaker revealed in Japan on Monday. Nissan said the Note will go on sale in Japan this fall and in Europe in 2013. The carmaker did not say when the Versa hatchback will go on sale, but the car is expected to reach showrooms early in 2013.

Button: I over-reacted at Hamilton

JENSON BUTTON has conceded to an over-reaction in his criticism of Lewis Hamilton following Sunday's German Grand Prix. Button initially claimed Hamilton's performance at Hockenheim to be "strange" as his former McLaren team-mate was involved in a trio of minor collisions en route to finishing third from 20th on the grid. One of those involved Button at the hairpin as an attempt by Hamilton to pass culminated in the latter losing the front-wing endplate from his Mercedes.