Ford Timing Cover C90e-659-a7a on 2040-parts.com

BMW i3 Range Extender engine adds 10% to the price

BMW i3 Range Extender engine adds 10% to the price The BMW i3 – BMW’s first foray in to a world of electric cars – was officially revealed in July – and due on sale in 2014 – and seems, by electric car standards, to be almost affordable. At a starting price of £30,680 – £25,680 after the taxpayer bribe for EV buyers – it’s no more expensive than other electric cars and does come with some clever technology – and the BMW badge – that will help it move out of showrooms. But as we reported as far back as 2011, the BMW i3 is to get a range-extender option – a small petrol engine that kicks in to recharge the batteries when they get low – which will make the i3 a much more practical proposition.

Fiat 500L: Now it’s the ‘Fatherhood’ video

Fiat has followed up their viral ‘Motherhood’ video for the new 500L with a new version to balance the gender bias – ‘Fatherhood’. That was because Fiat managed to tap in to the woes of parenthood (or, more precisely, motherhood) with a bit of a hip-hop ditty by a vexed young mother, bemoaning the changes motherhood has wrought on her life. It was a clever bit of marketing to target grown-up lovers of Fiat’s funky little 500, with the family sized version of their favourite car offering solace for a very different lifestyle.

Honda unveils supercharged CR-Z, 2014 Civic Coupe at SEMA

Hard to tell, but the supercharged tomato you see above represents a fundamental shift within Honda: it is the first car from Honda Performance Development with parts that actually make your car go faster. Honda Performance Development: "We're not just body kits and lowering springs anymore!" After two decades in actual racing development, perhaps it was time. HPD has built engines and chassis for IndyCar, American Le Mans Prototypes, Formula Atlantic, and the Continental Sports Car Challenge.