The Demo Site

Mitsubishi i MiEV

France's PSA Group, which includes Peugeot and Citroen, will be jumping into the electric car game in 2011 courtesy of Mitsubishi. The Japanese carmaker will start selling its i MiEV later this year in Japan and will reportedly supply a re-badged version to sell through European dealers. Mitsubishi is planning to start with just 2,000 examples this year, with plans to double that volume each year over the next few years. With the additional volume going to PSA, the total number of cars is expected to double with half going to the French. That will mean Lithium Energy Japan, the JV between Mitsubishi and GS Yuasa will also have to crank up its production volumes. There are already some examples of the iMiEV being tested by electric utilities here in the US, but Mitsubishi hasn't yet committed to actually selling the car here.

Sony is expanding its Xplod car stereo lineup with eight new models, including the company's first double-din unit in several years.

The most feature-filled of the new models is Sony's MEX-BT5700U model (in photo above) with a front USB port for music players including iPhone and iPod. Its Bluetooth connection can also transfer phonebook info from a phone to its display and allows access to phone functions through the head unit. And when using Bluetooth to play music from a media device, the Sony unit displays song name, artist, etc. Sony says the MEX-BT5700U is their top of the line head unit and expects it to go on sale this June for about $300. Follow the jump for info on all seven of Sony's other models announced this week at CES as well as the official Sony press release.

Project Kahn's Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe

Few cars epitomize "the good life" quite like the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe. But for some people, good isn't good enough. And for those people, there's Project Kahn, the blingtastic British tuning house which has just debuted its own custom DHC.

Central to Kahn's package are the special Silver Mist rims, specially made for the Rolls. They measure 22 inches in diameter, a steam-rolling 9.5-inches wide and are able to accept the RR hubs that keep themselves right-side-up. The package also includes a polished grille, special elm-wood veneers, embossed headrests, piano-lacquer steering wheel spokes, iPod connectivity and lambs' wool rugs. Kahn's treatment of the exclusive cabriolet adds another $50k to the bottom line, but somehow we doubt that anyone looking to buy a new Rolls these days would be deterred by some extra pocket change.

Those who mourned the passing of the Smart Roadster may be interested by the reports that Renault is preparing to launch a tiny convertible of its own. The diminutive spider is tipped to be based on the existing Renault Twingo, and feature a manual targa-style deployable roof that can be stowed in the trunk.

The Smart Roadster was never a market success, largely because it was too expensive to build and therefore too expensive to buy. But if the reports are to be believed, Renault is learning from Smart's mistakes and is targeting the affordable Nissan Micra C+C, Opel/Vauxhall Tigra and Peugeot 207 CC for the Twingo convertible's pricing. Sources indicate that the little roadster could bow in Frankfurt in 2010 - only that year's show will actually be held in Renault's home-base of Paris.

[Source: AutoInternationaal via ABG]

2009 Aprilia Dorsoduro 750

The supermoto genre may have initially emerged when people began spooning 17-inch wheels and tires from road-going sportbikes in place of the larger-diameter hoops with knobbies that their dirtbikes came with from the factory, but things have certainly diverged from there. There's a big difference between single-cylinder machines like the Suzuki DR-Z400SM and much larger bikes like the Ducati Hypermotard, despite the fact that both platforms are said to fulfill a similar purpose. Aprilia recently joined the ranks of manufacturers going after the higher-end supermoto category, and the SMV 750 Dorsoduro is finally set to join the firm's other lighter-weight supermoto machine, the SXV550, in the American market.

Aprilia's self-developed liquid-cooled V-Twin engine displaces 750cc in this application and offers up 92-horsepower, making it a natural competitor for the air-cooled 1100cc Hypermotard from Ducati. Suspension and braking bits are suitably up to the task, with 43mm inverted front forks holding wave-shaped disc brakes clamped by radial calipers. Wheelies and stoppies are sure to ensue. Get yours now in either black or red for $9,599.

Zolfe Orange

Britain has a rich heritage in niche sportscars, but unfortunately for American customers, few of them end up making it over to the Colonies. The oddly-named Zolfe Orange, however, stands as a unique exception. We first reported on the Zolfe Orange two years ago, when it was set to enter production under Suzuki Hyabusa power. But a lack of space and other concerns sent the lightweight GT back to the drawing board, finally to re-emerge, and all the better for it.

The revised Zolfe Orange now incorporates Ford-sourced engines, starting with a 2.3-liter Duratec driving an entirely respectable 185 horsepower to the rear wheels via the Mazda MX-5's five-speed manual. More powerful engines, a six-speed manual or an available automatic, and a limited-slip differential will be offered, promising to deliver strong performance from the composite body draped over a spaceframe chassis that weighs 1543 pounds. The project is lead by Nic Strong of British Midlands plastics manufacturer Spatz Arlon and former Caterham engineering chief Jez Coates, benefiting from additional input from other cottage automakers through the Niche Vehicle Network. AP supplies the brakes, Avon the tires and the interior ergonomics were benchmarked against the Audi TT. Best of all, the first year's run of 30 vehicles are almost all earmarked for the American market, so if you've got £27,500 (approximately $42k in greenbacks) on hand and are looking for something a little different, the juicy little Orange may be your kinda squeeze
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