Aston Martin V8 Vantage Front Bumper on 2040-parts.com

Leaf Powers Ahead As Europe's Best-Selling Car Vehicle

THE NUMBERS are in and, while recent months have seen a flurry of new electric car launches, one car reigns supreme in this emerging sector. With a record-breaking 2013 behind it, Nissan’s Leaf topped the charts in Europe with 11,120 sales – a massive 204 percent rise compared to 2012. Furthermore Nissan is keen to point out that the Leaf is head and shoulders above its nearest rivals, achieving 25 percent more sales than its closest competitor.

Mercedes-Benz courts Renault for new Smart model based on Twingo

Mercedes-Benz is set to join forces with Renault in a deal aimed at providing its underdeveloped Smart division with a contemporary-engineered front-engine/front-wheel-drive platform as the basis for a frugal new Forfour model. The new Smart, due out in 2013, is planned to sit on a lightly modified version of the Renault Twingo’s underpinnings, complete with a 93.3-inch wheelbase. Speaking about the new car over the weekend, a highly placed Mercedes-Benz official told AutoWeek: “It’s a key component in plans to grow the Smart brand.

Cadillac ATS (2012) compact exec unveiled at Detroit show

Cadillac took the wraps off the new compact Caddy, the ATS, at an event on the eve of the 2012 Detroit auto show. The new Cadillac ATS is essentially a BMW 3-series rival meeting all the design and engineering criteria of the larger Cadillacs. Cadillac ATS: what's new The ATS is like a baby CTS - the Art and Science design credo has been upheld, with sharp creases and pressed body surfacing to give it the Cady look.