2003 Suzuki Z400 4wheeler on 2040-parts.com

Toyota will compete at 2012 Le Mans with a hybrid

Toyota today announced it would compete at the 2012 Le Mans 24-hour race with a hybrid sports car in the LMP1 class. This single rendering has been issued of the new Toyota hybrid race car. The Japanese giant has not competed at Le Mans in a factory team since the late 1990s with the GT-One, which set a lap record in 1999.

Mercedes proves E-Class hybrid tech with unusual test

IN AN impressive display of performance and economy, Mercedes-Benz has completed a lengthy test of its new E300 Bluetech Hybrid saloon by driving it almost the length of the country on a single tank of fuel with a flat-out speed test at either end. With ex-rally driver Mick Linford at the wheel the standard production E300 Bluetech Hybrid began with a full tank of fuel at Newquay Cornwall Airport, the most southerly airport in mainland Britain. Down the main runway it completed an acceleration test to past 62mph from rest in a little over seven seconds and reached 136mph before braking for the end of the runway.

Volvo PCP Performance Division planned on the back of rising sales

The Volvo C30 PCP by Polestar - 400bhp and £50k You’re not a serious player in the desirable saloon car stakes unless you have a performance division. BMW has the M Division and Mercedes has AMG; even VW has swapped out its Volkswagen Individual in to a division just to fettle ‘R’ cars and sell associated paraphernalia - Volkswagen R GmbH. And now it seems it’s the turn of Volvo.