Mercury Thrust Ring. Part 35915. Acquired From A Closed Dealership. See Pic. on 2040-parts.com

Toyota shelves A-BAT pickup concept

Toyota won't build the small, ultramodern A-BAT hybrid pickup concept that was a head-turner at the 2008 Detroit auto show and looked like a good bet for production. "We have a lot of top priorities, and A-BAT is not one of them right now," Bob Carter, Toyota Division's general manager, told the Web site PickupTrucks.com. "It's on the shelf." A Toyota official confirmed Carter's comments.

Lotus Exige S Roadster Official: Price (£52,800) and Specs

It’s the first properly good news from Lotus for a while, and looks a promising offering at the same price (£52,800) as the tin top Exige S and, remarkably for a convertible, actually weighing less than the hard top – although by only 10kg. The Exige S Roadster gets the same 3.5 litre V6 as the coupe which means 345bhp, 295lb/ft of torque and a 0-60mph of a very respectable 3.8 seconds, but it does lose the coupe’s rear wing and front splitter for better airflow. The folding roof on the Roadster is a manual affair, but Lotus say fresh air motoring is just ‘Two clicks and a roll away’, so the manual roof is probably the best – and lightest – option.

Mini Clubvan concept

The 2012 Geneva motor show will see Mini further expand its brand with a new commercial model. The Clubvan concept is essentially a panel van variant of the Clubman wagon, pitched at premium small business as an up-market alternative to the traditional city van. The Clubvan retains the Clubman's asymmetrical body shell, complete with double rear doors and the small 'club door' on the right-hand side of the car.