Scanstrut Pt2004 6" Powertower Composite 30° Aft Leaning Radar Mount on 2040-parts.com

New smart fortwo electric drive enters production

Mercedes has announced that the third generation 2012 smart fortwo electric drive has gone in to production. Mercedes may, very sensibly, be pursuing hydrogen fuel cells as the real future of motoring but they still have an eye on electric cars as urban runarounds. That urban EV takes shape as the Smart EV, and the third generation smart fortwo ED (electric drive) debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March and has now gone in to production.

VL Destino revealed - what became of the Fisker Karma

VL This is the new face of the Fisker Karma, the luxury plug-in hybrid whose parent company went to the wall last year. But it’s not only the Karma’s gap-toothed grin that’s disappeared: its plug-in hybrid powertrain has bitten the dust, too, replaced by a GM-sourced V8 – a supercharged lump boasting 638hp and 640lb ft. Called the VL Destino, the wilder Karma will be shown at this month’s North American International Auto Show, aka the Detroit Motor Show.

Cadillac ELR – a posh Chevy Volt: 2013 Detroit Auto Show

The Cadillac ELR – a range extender Cadillac with the running gear from the Chevrolet Volt – has been revealed at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. Joining the Chevrolet Volt and Vauxhall Ampera as the third version of GM’s range-extender pitch at the EV market, the two-door Cadillac ELR is a convincing looking offering with swoopy looks, wheels at the corners, a great big nose (that can close for better aerodynamics), dramatic LED headlights, steeply raked screen and lots of sharp creases. The interior of the ELR looks as appealing as the exterior, with lashings of decent leather, digital instruments, Bose sound with noise cancellation, carbon inserts and even powered cupholders.