Engine Cover 2003 Tl 387336 on 2040-parts.com

Tesla Model X Electric SUV production confirmed for early 2015

The Tesla Model X SUV (pictured) will start production in early 2015 The Tesla Model S electric car has been a bigger success than anyone could have guessed, and is probably the only electric car that offers a real alternative to an ICE car. But a one-model range is not a recipe for long-term success, so Tesla are planning on delivering a 4WD electric SUV and a BMW 3-Series EV to add to the Model S, with production of the Model X SUV now conformed for early 2015. In an email to customer who have already put a deposit down on the Model X SUV, tesla reveals that they will be building the first production prototypes this Autumn, and that proper production of the Model X will commence in early 2015.

Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid (2011) first official pictures

Porsche has released details of its updated 911 GT3 R Hybrid – the 2010 original nearly won last year's Nurburgring 24hr race before (ironically) it retired with petrol engine failure.  The 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid – the lowdown Before this report disappears in a chorus of ‘it looks the same as last year’s one’, let's outline where Porsche’s engineers have been busy. At the unfashionable end of the car remains a 4.0-litre flat-six engine producing approximately 470bhp. Up front are twin electric motors, now producing 75kW of power each (up from 60kW) and combined these give the GT3 R Hybrid a 197bhp electric boost, which can be programmed to activate automatically via the throttle pedal, or manually selected during overtaking. F1-derived hybrid tech for the 911 GT3 R Hybrid Power for the two electric motors doesn't come from batteries, but flywheel accumulator technology from Williams Hybrid Power, an offshoot of the Williams Formula 1 team. The flywheel, encased in a carbonfibre safety cell in the space where the passenger seat would be, spins at up to 40,000rpm and acts as a mechanical energy store for the electric motors. Regenerative braking feeds energy back into the flywheel system – no surprises there, as the technology is derived from Williams' exeprience with Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) in F1.

Virtually sit in the new Corvette Stingray

We're not sure how this awesome 360-degree look at the new Corvette interior flew under our radar for so long, but we're loving the full driver's view of the 2014 Stingray taken at the Chicago Auto Show. The massive improvements in the Corvette's interior are on full display, with the red leather and carbon-fiber accents adding just the right amount of Bad MoFo to what's an otherwise luxurious cockpit. Stay tuned: We're expecting to get our hands on the new Corvette this summer, and we'll bring you a full drive report as soon as we wipe the grins off our faces.