Honda 53166-881-a00 on 2040-parts.com

Daimler-Renault alliance to delay new Smart and Twingo models, report says

Renault SA and Daimler AG, who are sharing technology to build the new Smart ForTwo and Renault Twingo cars, will delay the introduction of the models by a year, according to a French newspaper. The cars will now come to market in 2014 instead of 2013, La Tribune said, citing industry sources. The next ForTwo and the third-generation Twingo will be built on Renault's A platform, with ForTwo production continuing at Smart's plant in Hambach, France, and Twingo output at Renault's Novo Mesto factory in Slovenia.

Infiniti and Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel collaborate for Frankfurt

Getting extra press is just one of the benefits of having defending Formula One World Champion driver Sebastian Vettel as a company ambassador. The other is the chance to sell cars with Vettel's name attached. Infiniti has been a partner with Vettel since it signed on as a sponsor of the Red Bull Racing team at the start of this year's F1 season.

July 14: Figuring out range

Topping off the tank seems to work best. By keeping it full I get a lot more freedom and a lot less range anxiety. Today I drove up to Pasadena twice, down to Los Angeles, west to Santa Monica and all the way back to my office in LA.