A weekly wrap of motorsport from around the world.

A weekly wrap of motorsport from around the world.

HYUNDAI has stunned the European motor industry by topping the August sales results in Britain. The Korean company topped the traditional British powerhouses, Ford and Vauxhall, with sales which were up by 323 per cent over the same month in 2008.

SUBARU is working flat-out on a new type of battery that can be recharged in less than a minute. The design is lithium-ion manganese battery with a capacitor system for faster charging and a bigger electric burst when it is discharged.

PRODUCTION of Toyota-group hybrid vehicles has just topped two million vehicles. The third-generation Prius has given a significant kick to Toyota sales but the brand has also been boosted by its range of petrol-electric Lexus models, from the RX SUV to the LS600 luxury limousine.

EARLY orders are being taken for the first Australian deliveries of the open-air Fiat 500 in January. The 500C is priced from $28,990 and Fiat Australia is expecting a summer sellout of the first shipments.

A built-in breathalyser is undergoing trials in Japan as Toyota prepares for large-scale production of the device. The system uses an ignition interlock, with a digital camera to prevent cheating, and is being trialled in Hino trucks ahead of more widespread introduction across the Toyota range.