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Better Place Electric Car visitor centre opens

Better Place have opened a visitor centre in Israel to demonstrate their battery swap technology for electric cars Last October we wrote about a start-up company in Israel – Better Place – that had a new way forward for electric cars by taking the purchase of battery packs out of the equation, and was developing a system for ‘Battery Swap’ stations where electric car owners could drive in and swap their battery pack for a fully-charged one in a few minutes. That story first brought to our attention our favourite quote of last year – by Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn – who said “A hybrid is like a mermaid: if you want a fish, you get a woman; if you want a woman, you get a fish.” Which probably explained why Nissan – and its partner Renault – got involved with Better Place. Better Place aims to address the main concerns of electric car drivers by making the battery packs in electric cars ‘swappable’.

2014 Skoda Octavia Scout revealed ahead of Geneva Motor Show debut

The 2014 Skoda Octavia Scout (pictured) debuts at Geneva A more rugged, pseudo off-road estate car is a sensible compromise for buyers looking for a bit more ruggedness than a regular estate car offers, but without going to a full-blow SUV or Crossover. So it makes a lot of sense for Skoda to go the ‘Allroad’ route with the Octavia Combi (estate) and give it a touch more rufty tufty and a new name – the Skoda Octavia Scout. The 2014 Octavia Scout has been revealed ahead of a debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month and comes with all the butch add-ons you’d expect.

Mercedes GLA 45 AMG (2014) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 07 January 2014 10:00 This is, at last, the Mercedes GLA 45 AMG. We’ve seen Visions of the GLA, and a ghastly stickered-up ‘concept’ version, but this is the surprisingly handsome production version of Merc’s super-crossover. Prices are expected to top £43k, outpunching the Audi RSQ3’s ask, and Merc’s other four-pot rockets, the A45 and CLA 45, which start at £38,190 and £42,265 respectively.