Driving

The smart money is on electric cars these days. North America's smallest car, the Smart ForTwo, is poised to jump on the bandwagon as well, with plans for an electric drive version - the Smart ED (Electric Drive) - sometime this fall.

The race is on for the all-electric crown. The 2012 Leaf is Nissan's entry into this new automotive category. It follows hot on the heels of the Chevrolet Volt, which debuted in September.

Nissan aims to deliver the first all-electric car to a retail customer in Victoria within the next few weeks after 18 years of development.

The newly-redesigned 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 with the BlueTEC diesel is the quietest diesel-powered vehicle I have ever driven - it's even quieter than my gasoline-powered BMW X1.

Nissan Canada will begin to accept pre-orders for the first allocation of its all-electric Leaf beginning at noon on Saturday, October 22. The company is releasing 350 vehicles in the coming months.

The first official pictures of the sixth-generation BMW 3-Series are out. BMW boasts new model, internally known as the F30, is larger, roomier, yet more fuel-efficient than the current car. The new car will be offered with a new turbocharged 2.

Chevrolet has just introduced the 2012 Sonic , their first Made-in-the-U.S.A. subcompact in decades. In fact it is the only subcompact manufactured in North America. It is available either as a five-door hatchback (shown) or a four-door-sedan.

The 2012 Hyundai Veloster offers an unique twist on two-door coupes - an extra door. While the driver's side has one door, there are two on the passenger side. Hyundai's out-of-the-box design is sure to put it at the top of the shopping list.

Nissan has just launched the 2012 Nissan Versa sedan that sells for $11,798 - the lowest-priced four-door sedan in Canada.