Auto Express is reporting that the European Union's End-of-Life-Vehicles (ELV) directive is now in full force. The biggest direct effect on motorists is that it makes the last registered owner of a car responsible for its proper disposal at an approved facility that uses environmentally friendly measures.

Here's how it works in Britain: An authorized dismantler will offer you a certificate of proof that your vehicle has been properly destroyed. In taking your car to an unauthorized dismantler, there's a possibility that the vehicle will be put back on the road in which case you'd be responsible for any fines or parking tickets incurred thereafter. In addition, those who fail to follow the proper guidelines and fill out the necessary paperwork will be forced to pay a £200 (about $380 US) fine while illegal dumpers risk facing a £2,500 (about $4,755 US) fine and a prison sentence.

According to Britain's Environmental Agency, the ELV directive also mandates the following:

• Limited use of certain hazardous substances in the manufacturing process
• Subjection of ELVs to de-pollution prior to dismantling
• Dismantlers operate according to environmental standards.

If you'd like to learn more about the ELV directive, click here.

[Source: Auto Express]

It looks like the diminutive urban commuter segment is about to get a little more crowded. Auto Express is reporting that Toyota will be releasing a small, high-mileage, city car based on the futuristic Endo concept that was first unveiled at the 2005 Frankfurt Auto Show.

With dimensions of 118 inches long and 66.5 inches wide, the little Toyota is clearly aimed at competing directly with the Smart ForTwo. The Japanese variant will supposedly be 12 inches longer and 3.5 inches wider than the new ForTwo, though, the Toyota will allow seating for four. Auto Express says it should hit U.K. dealers in 2007.

As for whether or not the Endo will follow the Smart ForTwo to American shores, your guess is as good as ours. The timing is certainly right. Perhaps, Toyota will let Smart do the heavy lifting in marketing super-small transportation to Americans and then start distributing the Endo through its Scion brand. And maybe we'll even see a hybrid version. Call me an optimist, but it could happen.

[Source: Auto Express]

If we had an exact launch date for the official state-side introduction of the Smart ForTwo in 2008, you can be sure we'd be counting down the days one by one with a big fat, red marker. Needless to say, we're pretty excited, so any tidbits of new information immediately get flagged for discussion.

Two new items on today's Smart front. First of all, the picture you see above, taken by Auto Express, is the best we've seen yet of the new model that's scheduled to make its official debut on November 9 in Stuttgart. There's still a smattering of black tape, but you get a pretty clear idea of what the soon-to-be Smart will look like.

Secondly, The Car Connection's Paul A. Eisenstein got a chance to sit with Smart USA's president Dave Schembri to get a few questions answered. During the Q&A, Schembri revealed that the introductory ForTwos should get around 40 miles per gallon with a starting price of $15,000. He confirmed that American consumers will initially be getting three models (a base, a well-equipped coupe and a top-of-the-line cabrio) and when asked about a hybrid version he did not discount the possibility. He also said that a diesel could be an option down the road, so those of you who were praying we'd get DaimlerChrysler's 800cc, three-cylinder diesel (as we were), you're in for an indefinite wait. And lastly, Schembri added that the ForTwo may very well become the lowest-cost-of-ownership vehicle in America.

Despite the lack of a diesel offering, we're still eagerly awaiting the diminutive commuter's arrival.

[Source: The Car Connection]

Looks like John over at Autoblog was right. The new Smart ForTwo will boast larger dimensions. Juergen Zoelter from Auto Express is able to confirm this as he was invited by Smart to ride along in a heavily masked version of the new ForTwo which is scheduled to debut on November 9 in Stuttgart, Germany.

The new car measures 20 centimeters longer and 9 centimeters wider than its predecessor. Zoelter says it's still one of the smallest city cars you can buy (remember Auto Express is a British publication), but it's clearly larger. With all four wheels spread farther apart, it's also more stable. Smart's engineers assure him it's a better drive. In covering 2,500 miles across the Arizona landscape, you can bet that Zoelter appreciated the benefits of the new seats and longer wheelbase.

The ForTwo's interior bore black tape as well, but Zoelter says that the layout remains similar. There's a noticeable difference though, he says, in improved quality and a sense of spaciousness in the larger cabin.

As for the engine choices, Zoelter says there are three 3-cylinder, 1.0-liter, gas-powered units that pump out 61, 71 and 84 bhp. The flagship model is turbo'd. However, what really gets our adrenaline running is the 800cc, 3-cylinder diesel in which the test drivers regularly saw a 60 mpg return. Of course, we're not sure just which power plants will eventually make it state-side, but we can certainly hope for Mercedes' diminutive compression-ignition power plant.

[Source: Auto Express]

Auto Express is reporting that Citroen has introduced a working prototype of a consumer diesel-electric hybrid vehicle in the form of a converted Berlingo called the Efficient-C. This unique drive train is presumably what French Prime Minister David Mendibourne had in mind when he pledged to support the concept, though, Auto Express states it is the outcome of a collaborative British government-funded project that includes PSA Peugeot Citroen, Ricardo and QinetiQ.

The Berlingo Efficient-C's 92 bhp 1.6-liter turbodiesel and electric motor achieve a combined 75 mpg as well as a 30 percent improvement in CO2 emissions over a comparable diesel-only drive train as it emits just 99 g/km. In comparison, Toyota's Prius spews 104 g/km of CO2.

Auto Express predicts that Europeans should see the drive train hit the market in the next-generation C4 in 2010. As for the infamous dual-impact premium that has driven other automakers away from developing the concept, Citroen estimates that the Efficient-C adds £3,000 to the price of a standard Berlingo, but hopes that by the time it's ready for release the cost of the technology will wither to about 50 percent of that.

[Source: Auto Express]

Over the past month, GM and Honda have relished in the fuel cell spotlight. Enough is enough, says DaimlerChrysler. To get in on the media blitz, they've started taking automotive journalists on ride-alongs in their Mercedes F600 Hygenius fuel cell prototype which was first introduced to the public at last year's Tokyo auto show.

Auto Express was the first to be granted the passenger seat of DaimlerChrysler's hydrogen car. Journalist Paul Bailey comments on the futuristic lines of the vehicle and says that "the most spectacular achievement is the space." It's a bit humorous to hear that quote come from someone who's sitting inside one of the most technologically advanced vehicles in the world.

The F600 features an advanced lithium-ion battery which complements its fuel cell stack somewhat similar to a hybrid. At low speeds, the motor pulls power from the battery leaving the higher performance work for the stack. The car also offers what Mercedes calls a "hydrogen turbocharger." Bailey says it "forces more gases through the engine," but from what I understand, it uses a compressor to stream more hydrogen through the fuel cell stack creating a higher electrical output for use by the motor.

As for performance, the F600 will do 0-60 in 11.7 seconds with a top speed of 105 mph and an average range of 248 miles.

[Source: Auto Express]