Bilstein 6565 on 2040-parts.com

Ford Focus Electric (2011): Blue Oval's new BEV

This is the new Ford Focus Electric, just unveiled at CES 2011, the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The Ford Focus Electric will become the first electric production car from Ford, and the first of five electric or electrified (hybrid) vehicles that Ford will put on sale in North America and Europe by 2013. Ford hasn't released every single detail yet, as it unveiled the Focus Electric at the CES to highlight the technology which allows drivers to find charging stations, set their car to charge when the electricity is at its cheapest, and remotely access their cars.

Nissan cuts the price of the Micra to £7,995

The Nissan Micra is getting a price cut in the UK, with the entry-level Micra dropping to just £7,995 and price cuts across the Micra range. That means the entry-level Micra 1.2 12v Visia comes down form a not exactly bargain basement £9,750 to a much more appealing £7,995. And Nissan hasn’t done it by cutting equipment levels, as they say every model still gets the same level of equipment, including Bluetooth.

Sergio Marchionne warns of strife ahead in Europe

Fiat chief exec Sergio Marchionne today warned of troubled waters ahead as Europe's car makers prepare for a radical restructuring. Marchionne, who's the current president of trade body ACEA, said factory closures were looming and repeated his call for a concerted EU-wide response to overcapacity. He warned that national interest was blocking action to strip out excess capacity, caused after European new car demand crashed by 3 million in the past five years.