Longacre Pyrometer on 2040-parts.com

London Motorexpo competition shows future EVs

London's 2012 Motorexpo show has showcased the work of the winners in its competition to design an electric vehicle of the future. The brief, to create a circa 2032 zero-emmission city car capable of transporting four adults and luggage, was won by Michael Vlcek, a first-year student at London's Royal College of Arts' (RCA) Vehicle Design department. Vehicles of the future Vlcek's proposal displayed a car with electric motors mounted in the wheel housings to maximise interior space, and a front-hinged opening to allow access via the rear of the car, where Vlcek positioned the rear lights on vertical vanes to improve aerodynamic stability.

Skoda Citigo Monte Carlo launches – costs from £10,590

Skoda Citigo Monte Carlo (pictured) launches The Skoda Citigo may be a small city runaround, but that’s not stopping Skoda tagging the Monte Carlo badge on to give it a bit more appeal. The Skoda Citigo Monte Carlo has been launched with the usual array of tweaks and titivations Skoda likes to use on its Monte Carlo models, but no extra power. That means a trim level based on the mid-range Citigo SE spec with black highlights for the exterior on the alloys, front and rear spoiler, rear diffuser, grill and door mirrors and a lowering of the suspension for a more dynamic appearance.

Try a prestige car from Europcar before you buy. Or you could just go to a dealer.

You can hire a BMW 5-Series (pictured) from Europcar before you buy It’s always good to have a promotion to get punters through the door, but the latest PR promo from Hertz does seem to have a very visible flaw in its logic. According to Europcar – the leading car hire company in Europe, don’t you know – the best route for trying out a new prestige car before you buy is to give them a call and book a day or three in the cars of your choice. Europcar say you can have anything from a 4×4 to a luxury saloon and performance cars, with the suggestion you can pit a Mercedes SLK against an Audi TTS or check out the differences between a new E-Class or new 5-Series.