Pergo Main Battery Switch on 2040-parts.com

Car-sharing programs hit the big time

Rental-car company Getaround introduced its business plan for “peer-to-peer car sharing” on May 24 at the Tech Crunch Disrupter conference in New York City. Unlike other car-renting and car-sharing companies such as ZipCar, Getaround works by connecting potential car renters with willing car owners via an iPhone app. All Getaround vehicles are privately owned.

New York, California first to get electric Focus

Customers in New York and California will be the first to take delivery of the 2012 Focus EV, according to a message posted on a Focus Forum from Ford marketing. That also explains some new material from the company which says, "2012 Focus electric; coming spring 2012." The Focus will launch in 19 markets, including Chicago, Detroit and Seattle, but it will hit the coasts first. In the www.myfocuselectric.com forum, Ford's electrified-vehicles marketing manager David Finnegan broke the news.

Changan CS35

Changan CS35 unveiled its first compact urban SUV concept at the recent Beijing auto show, designed at the company's European Design Center under Luciano D'Ambrosio. The CS35's horizontal grille with its Changan logo is similar in style to the Changan Yidong, while its side features a diving waistline and four prominent wheel arches reminiscent of the Ford Kuga. The C-pillar design is distinctive with its graphic split from the roof and the use of the brand's logo as a decorative feature.