Seed of Chucky

scary games

 Seed of Chucky

Description Game:

Even killer dolls need a little target practise! Hit as many targets as possible to get a killer score

How to play Game:

Dig Defense tower defense

tower defense games

 Dig Defense tower defense

Description Game:

Defend your path with the 6 towers available
(Visited 12 times, 3 visits today)

How to play Game:

Michael Myers Rampage

scary maze game

  Michael Myers Rampage

Description Game:

You are MICHAEL MYERS, loose in Haddonfield once again. While trying to find your sister, some pesky people keep getting in the way. These people need to be silenced…with a knife

How to play Game:

Coaster Racer

disney games

 Coaster Racer

Description Game:

Drive your car through various 3D tracks. Upgrade every aspect of your vehicle and create the perfect racing car. You’ll be on your way to the championship!
(Visited 7 times, 1 visits today)

How to play Game:

Arrows/WASD to drive, X/N for Nitro and Z/M for freestyle.

Happy Kids Bike

happy wheels 2

 Happy Kids Bike

Description Game:

Ride your bike on the back wheel in this decent kind of bike game and don’t let the front wheel touch the ground.

How to play Game:

Use Spacebar to interact.

3D Pool

pool games

 3D Pool

Description Game:

Ever play pool in a 3d room? Here is your chance to polish up on your pool game, 3d style!
(Visited 24 times, 1 visits today)

How to play Game:

Mouse

Quick Draw Rangers

gun game

 Quick Draw Rangers

Description Game:

Keep It Simple, Stupid. It’s all about the quick draw. Hope you have a fast trigger finger, partner!
(Visited 8 times, 3 visits today)

How to play Game:

Menu - click the guns to get to the play screen. When the Sheriff calls "draw," mouseclick on your opponent. FAST!

Muay Thai

fight games

  Muay Thai

Description Game:

Another great fighting game similar to street fighter

How to play Game:

z = Block, x = Punch, c = Kick, Arrow keys to move

Batman Revolutions

batman game

 Batman Revolutions

Description Game:

Unknown aliens launch a brutal attack on Gotham city and damage it severely…Batman should make his way through waves of alien drones and destroy the Alien Boss!
(Visited 20 times, 2 visits today)

How to play Game:

Arrow keys to move, space to fire batarang and x to fire special weapon.

Basket Trick

basketball games online

  Basket Trick

Description Game:

Select your Gender. Play this game by throwing the ball to make it go through the basket and score points. Score more points within the time duration.
(Visited 6 times, 1 visits today)

How to play Game:

This game is played with mouse only.

Toys Bikers Happy

happy wheels game

 Toys Bikers Happy

Description Game:

Have you ever seen a Teddy Bear drive a motorcycle? Probably not! In this bike game, you must complete all levels in a shortest time without falling of the motorbike. Have fun to play in the Toy Universe.

How to play Game:

Use Arrow Keys to drive.

Lemonade Larry

coolmath4kids

 Lemonade Larry

Description Game:

How much does the lemonade cost? Check out your math skills.
(Visited 40 times, 1 visits today)

How to play Game:

Mouse - Interact

Scooby Doo Beach BMX

dirt bike games

Scooby Doo Beach BMX

Description Game:

It’s Scooby Doo Time! Show off your moves, perform tricks and stunts like front flips and back flips, and unlock new levels and achievements! Enjoy your BMX ride.

How to play Game:

Use arrow keys to ride. 1,2,3 to perform stunts.

Pimp My Ride

disney cars

 Pimp My Ride

Description Game:

Create your own future car then take it for a ride.
(Visited 5 times, 1 visits today)

How to play Game:

this game is played with the mouse only.

Being One

Game Info - Escape the world of Being One. With great graphics, this series is sure to be a hit.
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Motel Connection

Game Info - Control your squad as you move into other enemy areas and use each of your players to fight them off.
Game controls - W, A, S, D - Move.
Mouse - Aim / Attack.
1-4 - Use Weapon.
Z - Activate Samuel's Hyperspace special power.
X - X - Activate DjPisti's Otherview special power.
C - Activate Pierfunk's Waterheal special power.
Spacebar - Switch character.
M - Open Map.
P - Enter.

Lucky Balls

Game Info - Eliminate all the balls rolling on screen before they reach the skull by grouping 3 or more balls of the same color.
Game controls - Use Mouse to interact.

Dora's Purple Planet Adventure

Game Info - Dora is going to one of the coolest party in space, but you need to collect all the things for the party otherwise the party will be a dud.
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Tomorrow - When The War Began

Game Info - Shoot all the incoming enemies from your gun tower. Upgrade weapons and defenses to stay safe.
Game controls - Use mouse to aim and shoot.
Space bar to reload.
G to throw grenade.
1-6 to switch guns.

Presidential Paintball

Game Info - Hillary, Obama, Giuliani & more play paintball for the USA Presidency!

Shoot and Dodge the Paintballs!
Game controls - A or Left Arrow - Move to the left
D or Right Arrow - Move to the right
P - Pause the game
R - Reload (Takes 3 Seconds)

In order to CROUCH, move the cursor below the characters' head.

Danny Phantom The Ultimate Enemy Face-Off

Game Info - Create your monster and fight it against other Danny Phantom monsters. How many can you beat?
Game controls - Mouse - Create your phantom.
Up Arrow - Punch.
Down Arrow - Kick.
Right Arrow - tail Attack.
Left+Up Arrow - Defend against punch attacks.
Left+Down Arrow - Defend against kick attacks.
Left+Right Arrow - Defend against tail attacks.

Mysteriez 2

Game Info - Find the numbers hidden among objects.
Game controls - Use mouse to interact.

Top Model Dress Up

Game Info - Could she really be our next Top Model? Its all in your hands can you dress her and make the experts go wow at her mere beauty.
Game controls - Use Mouse to interact.

Quick Shooting Pool

Game Info - This school of pool is for those who have the need for speed...
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Quick Shooting Pool

Game Info - This school of pool is for those who have the need for speed...
 Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Drawn Together: Soak It

Game Info - Eliminate the other housemates in a no-holds barred watergun fight with this first-person shooter.
 Game controls - Use mouse to aim and shoot.

Dancing Madeline Dress Up

Game Info - Get Madeline dolled up in some dancing gear!
Game controls - Use Mouse to interact.

Daycare Nightmare

Game Info - You have to care for baby vampires, dragons and other monsters while their parents are at work. You have to pay attention to their needs. For example, you may need to change their diapers or put them in a high chair to feed them. Use the mouse to move.
Game controls - Use mouse to play the game.

U.F.O Shop 2

Game Info - Sort of Pacman version where you are the janitor of a school and must eat 100 soup noodles avoiding the teachers. Square ones make you bigger and faster.
Game controls - Use Arrow Keys to interact.

Scooby-Doo Hidden Objects

Game Info - Find out the below displayed objects, which are hidden from the image.
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Laser Blast

Game Info - Help Stitch escape from captain Gantu's spaceship.
Game controls - Left / Right Arrow Keys - Move.
Up Arrow Key - Jump.
V - Switch States.
C - Punch.
Spacebar - Shoot Laser Gun.

Mr And Mrs Jerry Kissing

Game Info - Make Mr and Mrs Jerry kiss and fill the kissing loader before the time gets over.
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Fit to Be Pie'd

Game Info - Fight against computer by throwing a pie at them.
Game controls - Left / Right Arrow Keys - Move.
Down Arrow Key - Duck.
Z - Jump.
X - Throw pie.

Cooking Show: Roast Turkey

Game Info - Roasting a turkey isn't as hard as it sounds. Here's a basic recipe to get you started. In this case, the turkey is not stuffed, so you might want to prepare a stuffing on the side.
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Happy Pancake

Game Info - Play the most delicious game of the year and make some great looking and divine tasting pancakes.
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Garden TD

Game Info - Place your garden "turrets" to keep the enemies from attacking your pumpkin garden.
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

My Sweet Baby 2

Game Info - In this game you will take care of a nice baby. You have to play with the baby, feed her, bathe her and much more. If you click on the baby you can see if she is healthy and happy. You can earn money by taking good care of the baby. With the money you can buy new things for the babt. This way you can make your baby the happiest child on the planet! In level two and up, there are more babies to take care of. I'm sure you can manage this job, too.
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Arcuz

Game Info - Hey little boy! Help Village Arcuz and train yourself to a real hero!
Game controls - J to attack.
K to jump.
WASD keys to move.

The Last Stand 2

Game Info - Shoot the incoming zombies. Set traps, arm other survivors with weapons and blow the zombies away!

GAME WALKTHROUGH GUIDE! - Click Here!
Game controls - W, A, S, D - Move.
Spacebar - Change Weapons.
R - Reload.
Mouse - Aim / Shoot.

Hamster Restaurant

Game Info - Today, we're going to work as a waiter or waitress in a restaurant full of hamsters. Hamsters are tiny animals, but they have a huge appetite! Choose a place for them in your restaurant, and bring them the food or drinks they ordered. If you serve them quickly and if the food's all right, your restaurant will be a big success. In that case, you can even expand in the next levels. Make your restaurant the most successful of the whole hamster country!
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Starlight Hair and Makeup

Game description: Starlight Hair and Makeup salon is where celebrities get their hair and makeup done! In this game your mission is to give choose a hairstyle, clothes and give hear a great makeover before she goes on stage.  
Game controls: Use mouse to interact.

Lori Dressup

Game description: This is Lori. She's about to go out with her friends. Help her get ready. First you need to help her do her makeup, then her hair and finally help her get dressed.  
Game controls: Use mouse to interact.

Singing Horses

Game description: This is fun seeing horses that sing in tune.  
Game controls: Use mouse to interact.

Blue Girl Dress Up

Game description: A beautiful collection of Blue girl dresses are about to amaze you in this cool dress up game. Have fun choosing the best dress!  
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only.

Ben 10 Moto Champ

Game description: Ride your favorite Ben 10 to win the moto champ competition.Collect ben10 gadgets to earn money. Clear levels to unlock new bikes. Buy your upgraded bike from the store and advance into next level. Enjoy!  
Game controls: Ride with arrow keys. Use mouse to buy new bikes in store.

Sea Treasure Match

Game description: Match 3 or more gems as you clear the tiles that have a background. Bombs and locks included later.  
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only.

Barbie Puzzle

Game description: Finish this Barbie princess puzzle.
 Game controls:

Sue: Syuui Uisangsil

Game description: Design the right clothing for her new hairstyle.
 Game controls: Use mouse to interact.

Slim and Pretty

Game description: Green spring dresses with a slim and pretty lady are waiting for your help. What a feeling of freshness?  
Game controls: Use mouse to interact.

Code Lyoko: Monster Swarm

Game description: Swarms had infiltrated the jungle and it's up to Lyoko to stop the all.
Game controls: Z to attack. X to throw fan. Arrow keys to move. 

Hottie Hot Dog

Game description: You have introduced new hot dogs in your shop. Now, your task is to prepare and serve the new hot dogs to the customers according to their wish by which your collection box gets filled. Keep in mind! If the customer waiting time exceeds, the customer will move away from shop.
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only. 

Shop Empire

Game description: Build the biggest, most luxurious and extemely profitable shopping malls around the world. Deploy and upgrade boots, restrooms, elevators and restaurants to make your vistors spending lots and lots of money. Hire cleaners to keep it tidy, technicians for dealing with power failures and security against the shop lifters. This pixel quality game is fun for everyone!
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only. 

Swords Saga

Game description: A sword-fighting RPG game.Live by the Sword. Die by the Sword. Mild cartoon violence.
Game controls: W, S, A, D - Move. U - Fist. J - Swords. K- Jump. I - Discard. 

Penguins Can Fly

Game description: Jump your penguin up the platforms as you collect fish and coins. You can buy upgrades and useful items as well.
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only. 

Nyan Cat: Lost in Space

Game description: Gather as many food and drinks as you can with NYAN CAT! Warning: NYAN CAT: Lost in Space with music is seriously addictive! Play with NYAN CAT only at your own risk!
Game controls: Mouse key click to jump, click twice to jump higher! 

Christmas Sparkles

Game description: Style up this gorgeous teen girl for that fancy Christmas party she's about to attend, getting her a stylish, fancy fashion look and covering her up in glitter from head to toe!
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only. 

Carsales.com.au launches Snap 'n Sell

A new smartphone and tablet service will negate the need for private car games advertisers to go near a desktop device

Carsales.com Ltd has launched a unique new smartphone and tablet service aimed at advertisers of private vehicles.

Dubbed 'Snap 'n Sell', the service is offered to private advertisers across carsales.com Ltd’s network of automotive sites.

Snap 'n Sell allows users to photograph and publish private cars for sale advertisements directly from their Apple smartphone to Carsales' network of websites.

carsales.com.Ltd is the only Australian automotive classified business to offer this functionality, which was developed in-house by the company's own technical team.

The iPhone version of Snap 'n Sell was launched last week as part of an update of that carsales.com.au smartphone app, which has logged more than 700,000 downloads since its launch in September 2010. An iPad tablet version will soon follow.

“Snap 'n Sell was developed at carsales.com Ltd as part of an expanding suite of smartphone and tablet tools," carsales.com Ltd Chief Information Officer, Ajay Bhatia, said.

“Part of the carsales.com.au iPhone and iPad apps, Snap 'n Sell uses native iOs functionality to allow people to photograph, compose and publish their cars-for-sale advertisements without touching their desktop. It is the only service of its type in Australia.”

carsales.com.au is Australia's number one automotive online destination. In April 2012 carsales.com.au served more than 6.8 million sessions and over 145 million page impressions to in excess of 2.8 million unique visitors via its desktop sites. In the same month, carsales.com.au's mobile sites and apps served more 4.2 million sessions and over 110 million page impressions to Australian users.

Snap 'n Sell is the latest in a long line of important enhancements of Carsales' suite of consumer tools and services. In early 2012 carsales.com.au launched enhanced membership functionality across its network, while last month parts and accessories listings searchable across over 320 sub-categories were added to carsales.com.au's inventory of more than 200,000 new and used cars, and light commercial vehicles for sale.

“Snap 'n Sell is another clear example of carsales.com Ltd's commitment to innovation - in the automotive space and across the other verticals in which we operate," carsales.com Ltd Strategy Director, Paul Barlow, said.

“As part of this commitment, a key focus of Carsales' development team is improving mobile users' access to smart functionality. Snap 'n Sell allows direct integration between the carsales.com.au app and the camera and photos already stored on a user's device. This significantly enhances the user experience when creating a car advertisement.

“It's this level of integration and user-friendliness that we would like consumers to associate with Carsales' tools. It's a stated aim for our business,” Mr Barlow stated.

Head to iTunes store to download to find out more about Carsales Snap'nSell

Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site…

New M-Class to head Benz SUV boom

Mercedes-Benz to radically expand its paltry presence in Australia’s booming luxury SUV segment

discount new cars games Get the best price on a new Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz’s third-generation M-Class will be the first of at least six upgraded, new or additional SUV models to arrive here from the famed Stuttgart brand within the next few years.

Now on sale from just $81,400, the cheaper new M-Class is the first new Benz SUV to be charged with bolstering Mercedes’ small presence in Australia’s booming premium crossover market.

According to official VFACTS figures, to April this year BMW sold 504 examples of the X1, Australia’s most popular small SUV priced over $40,000, as well as 780 X3s, 124 X6s and some 798 X5s (making it the nation’s top-selling $70,000-plus large SUV), for total SUV sales of 2206.

German rival Audi has sold 121 Q3 mini-SUVs since launch in March, along with 936 versions of the country’s dominant $60,000-plus medium SUV, the Q5, and 296 Q7s, for total SUV sales of 1353. Audi expects to sell about 2800 Q3s this year – around the same number of Q5 buyers it attracted last year.

In the absence of a smaller SUV than the M-Class, however, Mercedes-Benz managed to sell just 536 SUVs in the same period, including 340 examples of the previous M-Class – sales of which were down by almost half, with only dealer stock remaining for the past three months – plus 91 GL-Class, 72 R-Class and 33 G-Class vehicles.

In other words, so far in 2012 Mercedes has penetrated less than six per cent of Australia’s luxury SUV market, which expanded by 12.3 per cent to 9374 sales, while its most direct competitors snared up to four times that, with BMW accounting for 23.5 per cent and Audi 14.4 per cent.

Benz says the MkIII ML will be the first in a series of redesigned or all-new SUV models to change all that, with Merc’s first ever four-cylinder SUV - the all-new ML250 BlueTec diesel variant –– expected to attract up to half of all new M-Class sales and up to half of them forecast to come from customers that would otherwise have bought another brand’s SUV.

“Lower pricing will translate to more conquest business,” says Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific senior corporate communications manager David McCarthy. “ML250 will pick up some X3 and Q5 buyers who want a larger SUV.

“Our competitors don’t yet know how to compete with it (the ML250). It’s priced between X3 and X5, so we’ll steal sales from both models and keep our traditional market.”

The ML250 BlueTec opens the new M-Class range at $81,400 plus on-road costs, making it $4380 cheaper than the old six-cylinder ML300 CDI it replaces at the bottom of the M-Class range and about $6500 more than flagship versions of the smaller X3 and Q5.

More significantly, the new ML250 undercuts its most direct competitors by about $10,000, with BMW’s cheapest X5 (the $92,100 xDrive30d) priced $10,700 higher and Audi’s $90,500 Q7 3.0 TDI costing $9100 more.

However, Mr McCarthy admitted that some ML250 customers would come at the expense of sales of other M-Class models.

“If we sell, say, 1000 ML250s, then 300 or 400 will be substitutional, but more than half will be incremental. They will pull people from a class smaller,” he said.

Mr McCarthy said the sharp ML250 pricing was a continuation of Mercedes-Benz Australia’s ‘customer first’ sales strategy, which sacrifices per-vehicle profit margins in the pursuit of greater sales volumes by lowering prices and increasing standard specification levels.

“We introduced the strategy with the C-Class and have had it on every model launched since. We said we want more volume, but we’re taking less profit on each model.

“We had to bargain really hard with Stuttgart, but to date it’s worked really well. Other markets have adopted it too, but we were the first to give it a red-hot go.

“Customers will ask ‘why am I paying a $10,000-$15,000 premium?’ We used to charge that premium, but that market’s smart.”

However, Mercedes admits the price of the ML250 – Australia’s only four-cylinder full-size luxury SUV – is partly a result of the fact the mid-size GLK continues to be unavailable in right-hand drive form for Australia.

“In a lot of ways this is our answer to not having GLK,” said Mr McCarthy.

Mercedes has confirmed the next-generation GLK will be available to Australians when it replaces the current model – a facelifted version of which was revealed at last month’s New York motor show – in late 2014.

Before then, next year will see a facelifted G-Class and second-generation GL-Class arrive here. Emerging on the same underpinnings as the new M-Class, the new GL made its global debut alongside the upgraded GLK in New York and will be launched in Europe in July.

A third M-Class-based SUV is also expected to emerge soon, in the form of the BMW X6-rivalling MLK, which will be produced in the US alongside the M-Class and GL-Class and could be released as an AMG-only model.

While a replacement for the current R-Class, which is officially classed as an SUV rather than a people-mover, is yet to be confirmed for production alongside the M, GL and MLK at Tuscaloosa, a sixth Mercedes SUV has been announced for production, based on the new A-Class.

Expected to be called the GLC, the all-new Mercedes mini-crossover will be based on the same new MFA platform that underpins this year’s new B-Class and the redesigned A-Class that will go on sale here in the first quarter of next year, following its European launch in July. While A-Class pricing will open from less than $35,000 for the first time, the GLC will be Mercedes’ first direct rival for the sub-$45,000 Q3 and X1 when it arrives here in 2014.

MFA will spawn two other additional small Mercedes models, including the coupe-styled CLA compact sedan that was previewed by the CLC concept at the Beijing motor show last month.

Due to be launched here next year after the A-Class, the CLA will be built alongside the B-class at Mercedes’ new passenger-car plant at Kecskemét in Hungary.

The fifth MFA-based model is yet to be confirmed, but motoring.com.au understands it will either be a new compact sedan aimed at the US or a small sub-SLK two-door sports coupe-convertible that could be priced from about $50,000 here.

“We don’t know was the fifth (MFA) model is because it hasn’t been locked in yet,” said Mr McCarthy.

The next new Mercedes-Benz passenger model to be launched in Australia will be the latest SL roadster in September, followed in 2013 by the all-new CLS Shooting Brake and next-generation S-Class limousine, which will form the basis for the CL-replacing S-Class Coupe.

Juke prospects for Oz improve

Nissan Australia is taking a fresh look at the quirky Juke, now that the dollar is escalating in value
discount new cars games  » Get the best price on a new Nissan

The opportunity for the Nissan Juke to go on sale in Australia has opened up, following the strong performance of the Aussie dollar in recent months. Nissan had more or less written off the K12 Micra-based crossover, but it's back on the 'for consideration' list maintained by the company's local product planners.

"We looked at it in Geneva," the head of Corporate Communications for Nissan Australia, Jeff Fisher, told the Carsales Network earlier this week, "[but] the numbers didn't add up..."

Nissan has a target price in mind for the Juke, should it come here, and that's shaped by currency exchange rates, among other things. The Juke, which is Nissan's answer to the Toyota Urban Cruiser, is a Japanese product built for European markets -- in Europe.

That has made it too expensive to bring here, "but things have moved a bit since mid-year," said Fisher during Nissan's 4WD Panorama media event on Monday. The decision to go ahead with importation or stick with the status quo won't be formally made until next year at the earliest, according to Fisher.

"It's only just gone on sale [in Europe], as of about two weeks ago," Fisher mentioned as an aside. Apparently the factory has been inundated with forward orders for the new model and any export program beyond Europe is on the back-burner for the time being, leaving Nissan Australia a little time to see how things pan out before committing one way or another.

Exchange rates aren't the only factor in the decision-making process. While the Juke has a tangible competitor overseas in the Urban Cruiser, the Toyota is not available in Australia either, so Nissan is forced to look at such unlikely rivals in the light/small-car segments as the Toyota Rukus and the Kia Soul. Other than styling novelty, the fluently-styled Juke appears to have little in common with the angular Rukus or Soul -- cars that are more likely to compare with Nissan's Cube. But Nissan has nothing else close in size and market appeal to provide a benchmark for the Juke. Fisher advised that the sales numbers for the Rukus and the Soul in the local market to date are not encouraging. The figures for the Rukus in particular are an argument against importation of the Juke, a car that will be seen very much as a niche-market model, rather than a mainstream, volume-selling car.

But the Soul, as a vehicle that serves to build the Kia brand, could be an argument in favour of the Juke coming here. While the Kia sells in negligible numbers, Fisher suggested that Nissan might consider bringing the Juke in as a loss-leader -- also with the aim of building the brand and expanding sales growth in Australia by whatever means available.

During the media event on Monday, Nissan Australia MD, Dan Thompson spoke of the company's "aspirations and ambitions" to be the number one full-line importer in Australia. That would require Nissan to overtake Mazda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi. Thompson said that the company was now "moving into the aggressive growth phase of the plan," by which is referring to Nissan's GT2012 program.

Juke may be a small, but significant part of that plan -- and the "aggressive growth phase", to use Thompson's expression. It's tempting to think, on the basis of what Thompson and Fisher said, that the Juke might be sold at a loss to Nissan Australia of $2000 a unit, but the company is so very confident in its current and upcoming products that such an idea seems a tactic of last resort.

Either the Juke can sell profitably on its own merits, or it's not worth importing...

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...

Carsales' brand new car competition

Win $5000 cash towards your new-car purchase

The Carsales Network is offering new-car buyers a chance to score big during the next three months. Buy a new car through a participating dealer and you'll go into the draw for a $5000 cash prize.

The competition runs from November 4 to February 5, 2011, and is open to anyone making an enquiry through the Carsales Network and following through with a sale at the dealership.

So if you want to cover the cost of driving your car out of the showroom and then some, here's your chance. Competition terms and conditions can be read at: www.carsales.com.au/brandnewcarcomp.

MOTORSPORT: Webber takes title fight to the wire

Mark Webber can be F1 world champion but he needs to win next Sunday's finale with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso no higher than third -- and the Aussie probably needs a little help from teammate Sebastian Vettel, without instruction from Red Bull.

Abu Dhabi decides whether Webber's world champion
The Formula One world championship will go down to the wire in Abu Dhabi next Sunday with Aussie Mark Webber still a chance to be champion -- but to be sure of it he needs to win the race and still have a few other things go his way.

After Red Bull Racing's fourth one-two finish of the year in today's Brazilian GP, with German youngster Sebastian Vettel ahead of Webber, the Australian has narrowed Fernando Alonso's championship lead to eight points. If Webber wins the race in Abu Dhabi he cannot afford Alonso and his Ferrari to finish higher than third.

Vettel is 15 points behind Alonso and if he wins in Abu Dhabi with Webber second the German could be world champion -- the Red Bull pair would have the same number of points but Vettel five wins for the season to Webber's four. However, Vettel won't be champion in that scenario if Alonso finishes fifth or better.

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton remains an outside chance to repeat his 2008 title, but -- 24 points behind Alonso -- needs a miracle. McLaren's other driver, Jenson Button, champion last year with BrawnGP, is out of the running now.

These five filled the top five finishing positions at Sao Paulo's Interlagos circuit this morning -- Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Hamilton and Button -- and have been the class of field in what has been the most enthralling championship in F1 history.

Alonso, champion with Renault in 2005 and '06, is in the box seat to become, at 29, the sport's youngest triple world champion.

Webber, who led this championship longer than anyone but lost that advantage when he spun and crashed into a safety wall at the new Korean GP late last month, reckons he's "still absolutely in the hunt".

"It was very good for me to come back [in Brazil] after a bad race in Korea. I took a few points off Fernando today, so it's still all to play for in Abu Dhabi," Webber said.

"The (Red Bull) team's philosophy is that we race (each other) and we will work to that. Seb deserved the win today -- it was a close fight... Both of us need to finish ahead of Fernando in Abu Dhabi, so let's see what happens there."

Red Bull has won the constructors' championship in only its sixth season as an F1 team, but it is the drivers' title that counts. There is still no sign from Red Bull that it will break from its very public policy that it won't impose team orders. Yet this stance could deny it having the world champion driver this year.

If Vettel wins again in Abu Dhabi -- where he was victorious last year, and he's won two of the past three GPs this season and dominated the other until his Renault engine blew -- and Webber is second, with Alonso third, then the Spaniard will be world champion a third time.

But if the race finishing order were to be Webber, Vettel and Alonso then Webber would be champion -- and Red Bull would have the world champion driver as well as the constructors' world championship.

While Red Bull steadfastly says it won't impose any orders on its drivers, there has been just the slightest hint from Vettel after the Brazilian GP that he may be prepared to help Webber if he can't be champion himself.

He said the pair "will have to judge according to the situation (in Abu Dhabi)".

"I think both of us know how to act," he said.

Perhaps, after all the fuss that reached even new heights on the eve of the Brazilian race, Webber has a teammate rather than an enemy in the team's other car. Yet if Alonso were to finish sixth or worse in Abu Dhabi then Vettel could still be champion himself, if he and Webber finish in the same order they did today again next Sunday.

In that case they would be tied on points but Vettel would take Alonso's mantle as F1's youngest champion with more wins in the season than Webber.

The great irony is that, while Red Bull won't use team orders, the instruction Ferrari gave its Brazilian driver Felipe Massa at the German GP to surrender the race lead to Alonso -- and the extra seven points the Spaniard scored as a result -- could now be decisive.

Ferrari escaped that episode with a US$100,000 fine -- for breaching the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) rule forbidding such tactics -- yet there was no points penalty imposed either on the team or its drivers.

Even if Red Bull now had a change of heart about its stance, any blatant manipulation by it now of Sunday's finishing order in Abu Dhabi would cast a cloud over any drivers' title and perhaps trigger months of legal action.

Alonso has come back from 47 points adrift in this championship at one point to be the favourite going into the finale. As much as Australian hearts will want Webber to join Sir Jack Brabham and Alan Jones as a world champion, the odds must favour the Spaniard to become a triple champion.

Formula One drivers' world championship after 18 of 19 rounds: Fernando Alonso (Spain, Ferrari) 246 points, Mark Webber (Australia, Red Bull-Renault) 238, Sebastian Vettel (Germany, Red Bull-Renault) 231, Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain, McLaren-Mercedes) 222, Jenson Button (Great Britain, McLaren-Mercedes) 199.

F1 constructors' championship: Red Bull-Renault 469 points, McLaren-Mercedes 421, Ferrari 389, Mercedes 202, Renault 145.

Scoring system: 25 points for win, 18 for second, 15 for third, then 12, 10, eight, six, four, two and one (for 10th place).


Toyota driver takes lead in NASCAR'S Sprint Cup
Toyota is close to snatching its first NASCAR Sprint Cup. Toyota driver Denny Hamlin won at Texas today for the second time this season to take the lead in the closest three-way Chase for the Sprint Cup yet, with just two races left.

Hamlin took the lead today with 29 laps to go, then got a push from Matt Kenseth's Ford on the final restart with three laps to go. Kenseth got ahead briefly but Hamlin regained the lead to score his eighth victory of the season.

Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet's champion of the past four seasons, had a 14-point lead before the Texas race but left 33 behind Hamlin, with another Chevrolet driver, Kevin Harvick, third -- 59 points behind Hamlin.

Australia's Marcos Ambrose finished 12th in Texas in his third last race driving a Toyota for JTG Daugherty Racing before his scheduled switch back to a Ford with Richard Petty Motorsports next season.

The story of the Texas race, the finishing order and series pointscore are all at nascar.com


Atkinson ends Asia-Pacific rally series with podium
Australian rally ace Chris Atkinson notched a podium at the final round of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship in China, driving a Proton Satria Neo.

Young Japanese driver Yuya Sumiyama won the rally in a Mitsubishi ahead of Atkinson's Proton teammate, Alister McRae -- the Perth-based brother of late Scottish world champion Colin McRae.

It was an encouraging end to the season for Proton after its drivers had led rallies but failed to finish. They were the first APRC-registered drivers to finish in China, while Sumiyama won the Asia Cup.

Japan's Katsu Taguchi won the Asia-Pacific title for India's Team MRF in a Mitsubishi with Australian Chris Murphy as his co-driver.

Glenn MacNeall, another Australian partnering Taguchi's Indian teammate Gaurav Gill, won the co-drivers' championship as Murphy missed a round when unable to fly out of Britain in April because of the Iceland volcano.

Taguchi and Murphy and Gill and MacNeall retired on the first day of the Chinese event.


Lambo triumph at first Targa High Country
Victory in Victoria's first Targa High Country -- the first round of the new national targa championship -- went to a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, but there was confusion about which one it was.

Initially, Tasmanian Jason White was handed the trophy as it was believed he had crossed the finish line 6 seconds ahead in a gruelling final day tussle. But South Australian Kevin Weeks asked for a review of times on Sunday's fifth stage and it was found he had been wrongly allocated a time.

With the corrected time Weeks became the winner, 20 seconds clear of White and a further 1 minute 21 seconds in front of third placegetter, eight-time Targa Tasmania winner Jim Richards.

"It is unfortunate that the error happened, but these things can occur in such logistically complicated events like a Targa and it's just one of those things," Weeks said.

"It's been a fantastic rally -- the roads [in and around Mt Buller] are amazing and take so much commitment."

The showroom competition was won by Peter Brown in a Mazda3 Diesel, while former touring car driver Andrew Miedecke won the Shannons Classic Outright section in a 1970 Ford Capri Perana.

The next round of the Australian Targa Championship is the Hobart-based Targa Wrest Point on January 29-30, with the 20th Targa Tasmania in April.

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BMW 6 Series Convertible revealed

Soft top 6 brings more conservative styling to sporting range
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BMW has officially revealed a soft-top version of the sporty new two-door, the 6 Series Convertible, following the release of its new 6 Series Coupe.

Bringing a more conservative look to the range, the new Convertible continues traditional 6 Series design cues -- sweeping bonnet, flat waistline and set-back passenger compartment -- while contouring external surfaces with a view to softening the more controversial lines found on the previous model's Bangle design.

At 4894mm in length, the new BMW 6 Series Convertible is 74mm longer than its predecessor. Its similarly extended wheelbase now stretches to 2855mm. The car games has also grown by 39mm in width, and now measures 1894mm across, while 9mm have been shaved off its height (now 1365mm). The 6 Series convertible models tip the scales at 2015 and 1915kg for the 650i and 640i respectively.

Advances in the use of materials and in the development of the car's load-bearing structure have seen its static torsional rigidity improve 50 per cent over that of its predecessor.

From the front, enlarged kidney grilles are angled forward slightly to promote a sense of motion, the "shark nose" also featuring a broader air intake, contoured wheel arches and chrome elements on the outboard edges of the front air dam. Optional foglamps bring LED daytime to the chrome trim pieces, further accentuating the car's width. The headlamps also include LED accents when the optional Active Headlights are specified.

Boasting a genuine 2+2 seating configuration, the new 6 Series Convertible combines a classic (powered) soft-top with customary "fin" design. The multi-layer roof has been optimised for acoustic performance and structural rigidity. Opening the roof takes 19 seconds, and closing 24 seconds. Both operations can be initiated while on the move at speeds of up to 40 km/h.

The new BMW 6 Series Convertible boasts 300-litres of boot space with the roof open and 350-litres when closed.

Inside, the cockpit is driver-orientated in typical BMW fashion, with the driver experiencing a new black-panel instrument cluster. The state-of-the-art display technology combines traditional twin-circular gauges with full-function high-resolution 9.2-inch info display screen.

Numerous BMW ConnectedDrive features offer owners a selection of optional driver assistance systems that include a rearview camera, Head-Up Display, Surround View, BMW Night Vision (with pedestrian recognition) and BMW Parking Assistant.

Additionally, a newly designed Control Display and revised iDrive functionality are also included, controlling navigation system, telephone and entertainment functions. The standard 7.0-inch screen can be upgraded to 10.2 inches by ordering the optional Professional navigation system. The larger screen features a high-quality galvanised chrome surround.

From launch, the new BMW 6 Series Convertible will be available with two engine variants. The BMW 650i Convertible will feature a 4.4-litre V8 producing 300kW/600Nm while the 640i Convertible's 3.0-litre TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder develops 235kW/450Nm. Both engines are mated exclusively to an eight-speed automatic transmission with Steptronic (+/-) override function.

Performance figures see the pair accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.0 and 5.7 seconds respectively with each having their top speed electronically limited to 250km/h.

As with almost every BMW in the current range, the 6 Series Convertible also includes a number of EfficientDynamics environmentally considerate technologies which include Brake Energy Regeneration (640i only), Auto Stop-Start functionality, Electronic Power Steering and low rolling resistance tyres. Fuel economy averages for 650i and 640i are 10.7 and 7.9L/100km respectively. CO2 emissions tally 249 and 185g/km.

Both 6 Series Convertible models are offered standard with Drive Dynamic Control, which allows drivers to choose their own suspension settings, while the Adaptive Drive system is available as an option with electrically controlled dampers and roll stabilisation.

Due for launch in Europe in Q2 next year, Australian launch will follow shortly thereafter. Engine variants, local pricing and specification for Australia will be announced closer to the local launch.

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CN CONFIDENTIAL: Seeing stars in safety punch-up

Benz delivers broadside to road safety research organisation, Impreza concept hints at new global design direction for Subaru, GM CEO confuses 'tact' with 'attack'... and more

Whether it's from the www, the latest motor show or the back doors of a carmaker near you, Carsales Network Confidential features the good oil other sources either won't publish, don't care about or don't know. Heard an automotive rumour or new model tip? Then let us know - editor@carpoint.com.au

Safety stoush
Mercedes-Benz and the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) are on opposing sides of a heated debate concerning the merits of MUARC's crash safety data.

According to MUARC, the Benz Vito van is not as safe as Ford's Transit van. Benz executives have come out fighting in response. At least one media outlet and a motoring association have been caught up in the ensuing vortex of words.

Benz management types are fit to be tied, since the MUARC findings don't square with ANCAP test results that rate the Vito a five-star-safe commercial vehicle. It confuses the safety message from Mulgrave at a time when the importer is arguing that employers are putting their staff at risk in fleet vehicles that aren't safe enough -- and there are plainly occupational health and safety ramifications that could cost companies big time.

Benz's Senior Manager for Corporate Communications, David McCarthy, has been tirelessly defending the company and its products from what he questions as misleading information out there in the marketplace.

"[MUARC] rates vehicles in terms of the occupants' ability to survive a crash; the ability of cyclists, pedestrians and other road users [to survive] if hit by one of these vehicles. They rate the Ford Transit as safer than our Vito/Viano, but also safer than a VE Commodore," he told the Carsales Network.

"Whilst I accept that there can be differences in how you calculate data and how you gather it... I asked [MUARC] how they accounted for different road conditions, different times, different temperatures, different drivers, different vehicle condition -- all these factors. I was told they had a very calculated algorithm."

Plainly unimpressed by that answer, McCarthy told the Carsales Network that he is yet to see the road safety organisation's data in detail. In the absence of hard data from MUARC he backs comments from Benz safety expert, Ullrich Mellinghof, who has been in Australia recently to meet the local media and assess the Australian road safety environment for himself.

"When I discussed this with Mellinghof..." said McCarthy, "he said to me that he does not accept [MUARC's] data. He said that it is simply inconceivable... that this vehicle [the Transit] could rate higher than our Vito or Viano...

"Look, let's put aside Transit versus Vito/Viano, let's look at Transit versus VE Commodore..." he continued. Even if readers have never heard of the Vito or the Viano, says McCarthy, surely they would recognise the top-selling car in the nation -- and its safety credentials.

Where does that leave Benz, we asked? Would the importer seek legal redress through the courts if it came to that?

"I don't see any point in giving further validity to something that's discredited," McCarthy answered. "In all these things, the punter reads it and the punter will make his or her own assessment. In the example that a VE Commodore is less safe than a Transit, I can't accept that..."

Presumably punters familiar with the Commodore wouldn't either.

"Would we want to sue them?" he continued. "No, I think why give something more oxygen when it needs to be starved of it?"


Impreza concept heralds future design strategy?
Following the publication of our original story -- and out of curiosity -- we checked with Subaru Australia's National Corporate Affairs Manager, David Rowley, concerning the Impreza concept car the company introduced at the LA motor show. Rowley was under strict instructions not to discuss the new concept prior to its debut.

In the article published by the Carsales Network, we surmised that the concept may point to future design directions for Subaru. That has since been revealed to be the case.

On the basis of a 'smoke and fire' analogy, we subscribed to the view that where there are concepts, there is design disharmony. For a company such as Subaru to produce firstly the gullwing hybrid tourer design study for Tokyo last year and now the new concept for LA, the company seems to be casting around for a new corporate look.

Rowley isn't unduly concerned about reports in the media and feedback from the public concerning the current Impreza and Liberty/Outback models. As he said, both cars are selling better than the models they replaced -- and that's usually a sign of satisfaction that supersedes any other factors in the way a car is perceived by the market.

"Customer feedback and media perception is certainly something that we and Fuji [Heavy Industries] take on board," he replied. "Having said that, in terms of the current Liberty and Outback for example, the increases in the sales of those two models confirm that our customers are looking at the overall package -- in terms of Subaru traits... durability, safety, retained value, engineering. So they're looking at the holistic thing, they're not just looking at design when they go and buy their car."

But if Subaru does buy into the alleged public backlash to the styling of the volume-selling models -- and history suggests the company might -- that would certainly support the contention that the LA concept will pioneer a new styling theme for Subaru's entire product portfolio -- not just the Impreza -- just as the SLS Gullwing has done for Mercedes-Benz.

"I certainly wouldn't downplay the importance of styling in the purchase decision," Rowley responded. "I would underline that Fuji do take criticism -- both good and bad -- on board, over time. Some of the very recent concepts -- likely to include this latest one in LA -- no doubt provide some exciting clues as to the [company's] future design direction."


First Dan
Dan Akerson, the man who replaced Ed Whitacre at the very pinnacle of the General Motors management hierarchy, seems to be determined to make a name for himself. And his preferred name appears to be 'cockeyed optimist'.

As reported by the Detroit Free Press on October 28, Akerson was talking up a jobs boost for the Lansing Grand River plant in Michigan, shortly to forego production of the Cadillac STS, but then slated to start a second shift building the Cadillac ATS. The ATS is a car smaller than the Cadillac CTS model and is to be pitted against BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Reportedly built on GM's rear-drive Alpha platform (the 'A' in ATS), the new model is expected to be Cadillac's game-changer in Europe. The Cadillac brand has not made major inroads into European markets, with the CTS failing to make an impact there. Based on a Saab, the Cadillac BLS has been even more a flop.

The smaller ATS, when it arrives, is Cadillac's best chance of changing market perceptions outside North America, but it's going to be struggling in the face of Akerson's brash words quoted in the press.

"We've ceded this segment of the market to our foreign competitors for far too long," Akerson said.

And what words of high praise did he have for the segment leader, the car that is the benchmark by which any other car in the segment will be judged?

"They call it the C-Class because it's very average."

Now he might have been joking -- but what does that say of his own company's CTS?

Mondo Voodoo in Canberra
Word has reached us here in Schloss Carsales that the head honcho of a Japanese car importer has met with Sophie Mirabella, shadow industry minister. This particular meeting has sounded alarm bells in the precinct of a completely different car company.

A company insider there tells us that the said honcho, who has spoken candidly in the past about government assistance for local auto manufacturing, was warmly received by Ms Mirabella.

Our source expressed concern the opposition MP shares at least some of the views of the auto industry exec she met. Should the current Gillard government lose power -- and it wouldn't take much in a hung parliament -- the auto industry could be faced with an industry minister less amenable than the incumbent, Kim Carr (himself not entirely pin-up of the month material, as far as the industry's concerned). Although nothing has been said outright, the industry -- and especially the local manufacturers -- would be anxious about a new government's lack of support for the current New Car Plan and the Green Car Innovation Fund.

"Let's just say that voodoo economics did not die with Ronald Reagan," said our source, "it lives on in Sophie's office."

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Young Aussie rocket faster than Vettel!

Perth's Daniel Ricciardo has proven again that he has the speed to be an F1 driver with two scintillating days of testing in Abu Dhabi, but he doesn't know when he's going to get on a GP grid
Twenty one-year-old Australian Daniel Ricciardo has lapped Abu Dhabi's grand prix track faster than new world champion Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber -- but still doesn't know whether and when he will get to race in Formula One.

Ricciardo's racing future is to be decided before Christmas by Red Bull motorsport supremo, Austrian ex-F1 driver Dr Helmut Marko.

The West Australian may have to do one more year in a junior category as Red Bull Racing has Germany's new world champion Sebastian Vettel and Australian Mark Webber contracted again next season, and smaller sister team Toro Rosso has committed to Swiss driver Sebastien Buemi and Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari.

However, Ricciardo will get another F1 outing this month -- some demonstration runs at Perth's new Festival of Speed at Barbagallo Raceway on Sunday, November 28.

Ricciardo, of Duncraig in Perth, has won 24 races in Europe in the past three seasons, taken two titles -- including the prestigious British Formula Three Championship last year -- and been runner-up in two other series, most recently the World Series by Renault for 3.5-litre V6 openwheeler cars.

Possibilities for next year are the GP2 category, a support series to F1 at many GPs, or another season in the Renault series.

Ricciardo lapped Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina circuit overnight 1.3 seconds faster than Vettel did in taking pole position for last weekend's season-ending GP, at which he became F1's youngest world champion at 23.

Ricciardo, at the wheel of the Red Bull RB6 car that Webber drove in that race, was more than 1.8 seconds quicker than his countryman -- a veteran of almost 160 GPs -- was last weekend.

Ricciardo's best lap last night was 1 minute 38.102 seconds as headed testing for potential F1 drivers for the second and final day in Abu Dhabi.

Vettel's pole position time last Saturday was 1 minute 39.394 seconds, while Webber qualified fifth at 1 minute 39.925 seconds.

F1 experts estimated the Yas Marina track was about 1.5 seconds faster last night than on the weekend, with more traction as much more rubber had been laid on the racing line from more than a dozen F1 aspirants circulating each of the past two days.

Ricciardo drove 77 laps last night -- almost 1½ times a GP distance -- and the second fastest driver on trial, Belgian Jerome D'Ambrosio in a Renault, was 0.7 seconds slower.

"I had the most amazing time in the car," Ricciardo said. "The team (Red Bull Racing) seemed very pleased, which is really nice for me and I got on so well with everyone over the two days.

"It's an amazing experience to work with so many people who are all focused on one car -- it is such a professional team effort.

"I'm not sure what this test will mean for next year, but I know even more now that this is where I want to be.

"Whether I might be in F1 next year or the following, I will do everything to make sure it happens -- and I think this test has probably helped me.

"I feel like I've had a really eventful season (runner-up in the World Series by Renault and F1 reserve driver for Red Bull) and now with the F1 test over I can step back a bit -- I've done what I can.

"It's been an amazing experience and I hope I can repeat it again soon."

The car Ricciardo -- and Webber -- will demonstrate in Perth on November 28 will be an older, Cosworth-engined Red Bull, rather than the Renault-powered RB6.

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Winds of change generate a whole new sameness

Amid the deluge of tiny electric city cars coming on stream through motor shows to market, it's getting hard to tell one from the next

The announcement of another new-name electric city car at November's LA Auto Show came and went. The pool is expanding and a great school of such vehicles is swimming upstream to get to it. Not just from big-name makers like Mitsubishi (i-MiEV), Nissan (Leaf, Townpod) and BMW (MCV) -- they're the lucky ones with well-built brand platforms from which to make the transition into the EV and alt-fuels market.

But beneath them is a horde of new names and less well-knowns jumping on an opportunity to raise their profiles or start over. With predictions abounding that the mainstream global car market could be 20 per cent electric-powered by 2020, it's not surprising that the auto media is drowning in material from manufacturers well known, less known and unknown alike.

Among the reams of material emanating from this month's LA Auto Show was a release announcing the arrival of yet another new name when US EV specialist Wheego took the wraps off its Whip LiFe EV (pictured), staking its claim in what it hopes will one day be a serious chunk of the mainstream auto market.

The LiFe, a tiny city car straight from the smart fortwo, Toyota iQ et al mould, gets its steam from a 45 kW electric motor powered by a 115 volt Li-ion battery pack. It produces 128 Nm of torque and will make up to 160 km on a single charge. A top-up charge from 50 to 100 per cent takes about five hours off a 240 volt outlet. Regenerative braking helps stretch its range with constant battery top-ups.

Wheego has equipped it with what's fast becoming standard kit in the light car market -- two airbags, ABS, power steering and an AM/FM CD player with MP3 and USB ports, plus remote central locking and power windows and mirrors.

Production of the LiFe has already started, with the car reaching dealerships late November at a base price of US$32,995 (AUD$33,755), before federal tax credits of up to US$7500 cut in.

Perhaps the most outstanding feature of the LiFe is its increasing lack of upstandingness. Wheego has popped up as one more in a growing phalanx of new names looking to stake their claim in the new goldfields of the EV and altfuels sectors. Names like Tesla, Fisker and Aptera are already well known, thanks more to well funded publicity campaigns than sales at this point (the latter two have generated plenty of noise in the US without having yet sold a unit). But others are growing profile now too, often care of some radical ideas built into their concept vehicles.

Take UK company Riversimple. Their two-seat city car is revolutionary in several ways. It uses an electric motor on each wheel; these draw power from a small (6kW) hydrogen fuel cell and a bank of ultracapacitors fed by its energy regeneration systems. Riversimple has kept the weight down to 350kg by using mainly carbonfibre composite body panels and subframe. The company claims a potential range of 300-400 km on a single fill of its 1kg hydrogen tank, which calculates out to about 1.0L/100km and 30g/km CO2. All that and -- perhaps most radically of all -- the blueprints are open-source, inviting input from anyone who thinks they can help.

Meanwhile, French company Lumeneo has come up with something called the Smera, a tandem two-seat affair reminiscent of the Messerschmidt 'bubble cars', but powered by a 15kW electric motor producing an astonishing claimed 1000Nm of torque. That's bound to be a hoot in a 450 kg midget that leans into corners like an enclosed bike.

Closer to home is Eday Life, an Australian company that's been looking to China to source a small EV possibly a single platform available with electric, LPG and petrol power options. Eday is also investigating business models based on a two-year battery-lease program, part of a wider whole-of-life vehicle management strategy.

The top-shelf contenders and pretenders

The supercar market isn't without its contenders and pretenders either. And not just in imagination grabbers like Audi's R8-based e-tron. To quote a Swiss outfit called Protoscar, who describe themselves as "Clean Car Shapers", "electric drive-trains are mature and perform sufficiently well to be a solution for all types of vehicles, not just city cars. This includes premium cars, the segment through which most new technologies have successfully been introduced into the market." As an example that "impressively demonstrates that", the company used the 2010 Geneva show to serve up the Lampo 2, a none-too-pretty pitch at Tesla's Roadster based on GM's now defunct Kappa platform. It uses a 30 kWh Li-ion battery pack powering two electric motors -- one per axle, allowing variable torque distribution among all four wheels -- for a total claimed output of 260 kW and 600 Nm. That's enough for a 0-100 km/h dash in around five seconds, a 200 km/h top speed and a range of "over 200 km". All with the ability to absorb "an extra 100 km of additional range" in just ten minutes off a DC fast-charge point.

German outfit e-Wolf generated loads of copy with pics of its Lambo-esque e2 electric supercar in 2009. A year later, the company has gone remarkably quiet, its ludicrously vain website having disappeared. Not so Swedish photovoltaics specialist NVL, which teamed up with sportscar maker Koenigsegg to adorn the 2009 Geneva motor show with a massive four seat, gullwinged electric sportsbarge called the Quant. Driven by a 150 kW motor inside each of its 23-inch wheels, it powers its instruments and helps keeps its charge up with the help of photovoltaic pyrite film over its carbon fibre body panels.

NVL turned up again at the 2010 Geneva show without Koenigsegg  but with a working prototype of the Quant. The figures being bandied around are staggering, especially the 2.7 second 0-100 acceleration time. Questions remain about much of the technical detail.

At the same show, Italian design house I.DE.A Institute (Institute of Development in Automotive Engineering) rolled out its Sophia concept, a Karma-esque sedan designed from scratch to accommodate a V8 petrol or hybrid powertrain. Despite the abundance of superlatives in the press material for the concept -- "Italian to the core: its shape, its look, its elegance and name are instantly recognized as being synonymous with Italian styling and beauty" etc -- nothing has been heard about it since.


Opportunity to boost profile

Actually, I.DE.A fits more appropriately among that other group in the mix: names that aren't so new but are using changing times to gain a leg-up from obscurity, boost their profiles or expand out of limited markets. Norwegian specialist Think, for example, has been producing EVs since the early 1990s; current conditions have changed to provide what might appear a God-given springboard to success of the kind its people could only dream of a decade ago. Think certainly seems to think so, given how much of its recent media activity has revolved around getting its executive mix right for growth.

Then there's Gordon Murray -- the engineering brains behind McLaren's legendary 1990s F1, for a while the world's fastest road car. Murray's moved on to something altogether less spectacular, but likely more applicable on a mass scale. The T.27 electric city car, a joint project with UK EV and hybrid engineering outfit Zytek, is just 2.3 metres long with a 12 kW/h Li-ion battery pack powering a 25kW electric motor driving the rear wheels. Much of the T.27's USP lies in the packaging of its entire powertrain -- battery, motor, transmission, power management unit -- in a single module. The car is good for a claimed 130-160 km, with CO2 emissions calculated at somewhere around 48 g/km combined when it's charged from the standard UK grid.

Swiss custom house Rinspeed is best known for garish chop-and-tweak jobs on Porsches and the like for the Arab and Russian quarters. Until last year, at least, when it took the covers off a radical road-rail concept called UC. It's a small city car that can be hitched in multiples like a train to ride the inter-city rails, at least partially solving some of the range problems that restrict EVs to city use.

And venerated Italian design house Pininfarina has been busy on EV concepts aimed at the mass market. First came the Bluecar, (initially B0 or B-Zero), a small four-seater developed with French battery specialist Bollore. It was designed from scratch as a ready-to-roll production model and went on sale in late 2009. Following its debut at the Geneva motor show in March, the car has generated more than 6000 orders. Deliveries begin early in 2011.

Now comes the Nido platform, developed in-house at Pininfarina's Cambiano studios. The aim is, once again, affordability with the flexibility to produce it in different body styles -- two- and four-seat city cars, a pickup and a van. The company plans to use an Audi-style aluminium space frame to keep the kilos down.

The Nido's 30 kW electric motor drives the rear wheels. Unusually, it's powered by a nickel-salt Zebra battery -- a formula high on the energy density scale but marred by high operating temperatures. Power-to-weight is what counts, and Pininfarina reckons that 21.2 kW/h from a relatively light 180 kg leaves it with plenty of margin to deal with the heat. It helps that the nickel-salt formula contains nothing toxic (at least until you look back to the process of mining nickel...) and allows for full recyclability. The company claims a range of about 140 km and 0-100 sprint time inside seven seconds. It's looking at future Nido product with hybrid power as well.

Indian giant Tata has hit the EV trail as well, using the Geneva show to debut an all-electric version of its tiny four-seat Nano. The company claims a range of 160km and acceleration of 0-60km/h in under 10 seconds. It joins the company's Indica Vista EV, already on sale in Europe.

At end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010 the wires were buzzing with rumours that Caterham was looking at extending its stock in trade, the open-wheeled Seven roadster, to include electric and/or hybrid powertrains. The noise has died down, so it appears the company has shelved such plans for the time being.

Don't expect it to be forever, though. No nook or cranny of the industry is immune to the winds of change.

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