Smart, Mercedes, GM, Toyota, YouMo, BMW.

New Smart debuts in Berlin: The Daimler subsidiary presented the 2016 models of the ForTwo and ForFour in Berlin last night. The ForTwo will be 10 centimetres wider than its predecessors and feature a number of new and improved safety systems, such as blind-spot monitoring. The event focused on the petrol-driven models. When the electric version will hit the road remains uncertain.
greencarreports.com, autoblog.com (with video)

Details of the C-Class plug-in: The Mercedes C350 plug-in hybrid is set to enter the market by 2015 and will have a four-cylinder gasoline engine with 208 hp, complemented by a 50 kW electric motor. CO2 emissions are expected to be around 50 gram per kilometre.
autocar.co.uk, greencarreports.com

New GM batteries: The 2015 Chevy Volt’s battery pack will get more capacity. Instead of 16.5 kWh, the upgraded battery will feature 17.1 kWh. Similar to the Chevrolet Spark EV (we reported), the updated battery pack will not affect range according to EPA ratings.
hybridcars.com

Toyota free rider: The Yaris Hybrid is to be exempt from congestion charge in London. The Toyota is therefore the first non-plug-in hybrid to receive this rating thanks to its carbon emissions being below 75 g/km. The starting price for the new Yaris will remain the same, despite its extended extras.
carbuyer.co.uk

Swiss cruise e-bike: The start up YouMo has launched its first pedelec. The cruise bike aims young people (YouMo means Young Mobility) and comes in four versions. The YouMo One costs 2,950 euros (3,990 dollars), while the top of the range s-pedelec with a 500 W rearwheel motor is 4,470 euros (6,050 dollars).
technologicvehicles.com

Second-hand i8 review: The Week did a quick roundup on various reviews of BMW’s i8. The review features the first reactions from authors like Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson and his colleagues from AutoExpress, Daily Express and Autocar.
theweek.co.uk