New smart fortwo electric drive enters production

Mercedes has announced that the third generation 2012 smart fortwo electric drive has gone in to production. Mercedes may, very sensibly, be pursuing hydrogen fuel cells as the real future of motoring but they still have an eye on electric cars as urban runarounds. That urban EV takes shape as the Smart EV, and the third generation smart fortwo ED (electric drive) debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March and has now gone in to production.

Lotus announces partnership with Mansory

Group Lotus has announced its new collaboration with Mansory, which will become its official customization studio. The German tuner will be contributing bodywork, trim and special finishes for the Elise, Exige and Evora in yet another controversial strategic decision for the UK company. Lotus confirmed the first fruits of this new partnership will be the unveiling a new model variant at September's Paris motor show, two years after the highly ambitious announcement of five new models of which the first is yet to become reality.

Fiat Doblo (2010): first official pictures

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 19 March 2010 13:34 Fiat has unveiled the all-new Doblo – the doyen of practical MPVs. Fiat has flogged a million since the first Doblo went on sale in 2000 and today's latest model adds some welcome polish to the acres of room in the back. It's a properly new model, with just 3% carryover parts from the last Doblo.