Mercury / Quicksilver 15969a09, Deck Oil Fill Kit on 2040-parts.com

BMW 7-series hybrid due in 2009

By Nick Gibbs Motor Industry 07 July 2008 14:30 BMW will launch a hybrid petrol version of the newly unveiled 7-series in 2009, but admits it’s more for green-leaning V8 addicts than seriously eco-aware bosses. Even with the latest lithium-ion batteries, the forthcoming 4.4-litre V8 petrol-electric version will struggle to match the astonishing 39.2mpg and 192g/km of CO2 of the new six-cylinder diesel, especially when BMW will launch stop-start technology for the whole range within two years. The hybrid is likely to cost several thousand more than the £65,000 it’s estimated you’ll need to buy the regular, twin-turbo 750i that goes on sale in November 2008.

One lap of the Web: PT Cruiser Limo, Blackhawk Farms Raceway, and Swedish baby born in wrecked car

We love to cover the fastest race cars, strongest trucks and particularly the coolest vehicles in the world of automobiles. But we also cover the ridiculous -- like the PT Cruiser limo. Nothing says “I've made it” like a '50s-inspired crossover, and there is nothing like a night on the town in a PT Cruiser limo.

A super Cooper: We never tire of tires

Cooper Tires is the fourth-largest tire manufacturer in North America, with just more than 13 percent of the replacement-tire market in the United States. But nobody goes around chanting, "We're No. 4!" So Cooper is working on a bigger market share.