Audi, Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, Diesel.

Audi’s Tesla-fighter update: 500 km range is not enough to beat a Tesla, Audi engineers seem to think and now boast with 600 km range for the electric SUV expected by 2018. It runs under the working title C-BEV and resembles the RS6 in power (500 hp) and price (110,000 euros min). AWD and wireless charging of the 90-kWh battery are planned as well.
auto-motor-und-sport.de (in German)

Porsche’s Tesla-fighter: New patent drawings make the electric Pajun (Porsche 717 / 718) appear more real. Sitting on the modified eMSB platform, two electric motors are located in the rear. An ‘Impact Plate’ between the sills protects the battery, which delivers 400 km range by 2019.
auto-motor-und-sport.de (in German)

Mercedes introduced pieces of the new E-Class, such as technology that will move the car closer to driving autonomously. It steers, brakes and parks automatically via smartphone that also unlocks the E-Class. A plug-in hybrid version is highly likely but has yet to be confirmed.
autoexpress.co.uk, blog.caranddriver.com

BMW plug-in hybrid: Next to its fuel cell prototype, the German carmaker displayed the 2 Series Active Tourer at French Miramas. It is BMW’s first front-wheel drive model and uses the same platform as Mini. The vehicle is said to have a 23 mile electric range, but will possibly never make it to the U.S. market.
greencarreports.com

Diesel war: Europe’s automotive industry associations are begging Brussels in an open letter to let them have their diesels, which they believe are essential to reduce for CO2 emission. Instead of cutting CO2 through stricter rules, they are betting on fleet renewal. As if new cars would be enough.
acea.be (the letter)

BMW i8 review: Fuel saving is not of (much) concern in BMW’s hybrid sportscar, nor is it practical. But, Tom Voelk says, it does have “visual power.” While being stuck in highway traffic, where the i8 could cruise electrically, Voelk also got some driving in and found the hybrid working “remarkably seamless.”
nytimes.com