Driving

The 1970s and early '80s were difficult times for the American automobile industry as it struggled to meet tightening fuel-economy legislation brought on by two 1970s oil crises, and to comply with increasingly stringent emissions standards.

General Motors is hoping to set the mini-car segment alight with the introduction of the 2013 Chevrolet Spark. At 3,675 mm, the Spark is the smallest car to wear the Chevy bowtie. It's even shorter than the Geo Metro of a few years ago.

Even though Toyota Canada has just quietly made its Prius PHV (Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle) available, the chance to see one in a showroom, let alone on the road, are slim - unless you have already pre-ordered one of them sight-unseen.

It's bigger, more powerful and more fuel-efficient - but is the new 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera better than the car it replaces? With the millions of dollars in research and development that undoubtedly went into revamping the 911, one would assume the

AChevrolet Malibu may the furthest thing from the Batmobile, but it's about to be transformed into a car of the future by University of Victoria engineering students.

The BMW 3-Series has been the benchmark for compact sports sedans almost since its inception. To say the 2012 3-Series has big shoes to fill is an understatement. I drove a 335i to see if this much-acclaimed car should retain its crown.

Electric-car fans often act like kids when they see an EV. Kids used to shout "punch buggy" and whack their siblings (or whoever was close by) whenever they spied the distinctive Volkswagen Beetle. It's the same these days with EVs.

Electric vehicles have been in the news recently. Here are a few of the highlights: ? Just weeks ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games, luxury German automaker BMW has opened its first i store in London.

When the third-generation Smart electric car debuts in Canada next spring, it will be the lowest-priced, as well as the smallest, EV on the market. The Smart ED - the current designation of the electric car - has a starting price of $26,990.

The electric-vehicle market is abuzz with news that Mitsubishi Motors will unveil a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) version of its next Outlander at the Paris Auto Show this fall. It will be the manufacturer's first PHEV.