Subcompacts are about to get the kind of overhaul we usually reserve for a trip to Auto Glass. Following in the recent trend of the major U.S automakers revamping the image of a compact, Chevrolet’s 2012 Sonic sedan has hit the market, brandishing 14.1 inches of additional trunk space over its predecessor the Sonic hatchback. General Motors has now released its third major competitive subcompact, after the Malibu and the Cruze, and can brag that the Sonic is the only subcompact built in the U.S.

You’re forgiven if you’ve already forgotten the Vygor Opera, a crossover coupe that makes the BMW X6 andAcura ZDX look sensible. Now, the Tuscany-based operation has unveiled a second take on the concept: the Opera.2.

It’s not an early replacement for the Opera.1. The Opera.2 offers buyers (at whatever stage of psychotherapy they might currently stand) a slightly different design that does away with the previous version’s hideous cartoon-bunny front end in favor of a (relatively) more subtle treatment. So now it looks like a moderately restrained Chinese concept car instead of a hilariously ugly one.

In addition to the new front end, we get more details on the Vygor’s mechanicals, which are borrowed from the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo. The turbo four is reportedly available with 300, 350 or 420 horsepower, propelling this 3,500-lb mess to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.9 seconds and on to a 155 mph top end. The car has all-wheel drive (obviously), and a tubular steel frame draped in aluminum and composite bodywork.

This is where we tell you that pricing starts at the Euro equivalent of around $192,000. Once you stop laughing, you’ll also be thrilled to know that a third design is apparently in the works to give Vygor’s theoretical customers an even broader range of style choices.

General Motors is recalling around 38,000 Pontiac G8 sedans from its 2008 and 2009 model years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the cars may have a passenger-side airbag flaw that might prevent proper deployment in certain scenarios.

According to NHTSA, the airbag might not adequately protect a fifth percentile woman – that is, a woman around four-foot, 11-inches weighing 108 pounds. The New York Times indicates that the anomaly was found during a crash test conducted by GM’s Australian branch, Holden, which was testing the G8′s twin (read: Commodore) for head injuries. According to that report, the test in question is specifically tailored to simulate injuries to females, so the results do not apply to men or children.

The issue has been blamed on a seat position sensor that governs airbag deployment rates. NHTSA indicates that when the front passenger seat is moved all the way forward, the faulty sensor may inappropriately trigger a 30-millisecond delay between airbag stages, potentially leading to greater injuries.

With the Pontiac division closed, other GM dealers will reprogram the sensor module of models covered under the recall at no cost to vehicle owners. GM says that no injuries have been reported as a result of this issue. For more information on the recall, click past the jump for the official notice.

You just can’t catch a break in this world if your name is Maybach. The superlux Daimler division has had trouble selling enough vehicles to seriously challenge the likes of Bentley and Rolls-Royce – divisions of arch-rivals Volkswagen and BMW, respectively. It can’t seem to broker a viable deal with Aston Martin to produce a new range. Even that one-off Exelero wasn’t paid for in full after being purchased by a certain hip-hop artist. Now the last ambitious project by the double-M marque appears to have floundered, too.

As you may recall, a German coachbuilder called Xenatec recently launched an initiative, with Maybach’s blessing, to produce a series of hyper-exclusive million-dollar Maybach coupes. The idea stemmed from Xenatec’s existing business producing armored luxury cars for those with the means. Unfortunately, the program doesn’t seem to have attracted enough buyers to make it viable, and the associated costs have reportedly now bankrupted the company.

All-in-all, eight or so Maybach Cruiserio Coupes are reported to have been sold, with another three in various states of build seeking buyers. We’re not sure who would complete them even if they were sold, however, as the bulk of Xenatec’s workforce has apparently either quit or been laid off.

With more and more automobile manufacturers producing electric cars here we have a look at whether they are a good idea and which are the best.

Firstly let’s consider what you would need if you were to buy an electric car. Here are the basics:

1. Do you have access to off street parking?
2. Do you drive less than 100 miles a day?
3. Are you in the market for a new car?

The third is a given.

If you are looking at selling your car and buying a new car you may be pondering over the need for a gas guzzling petrol or diesel engine compared to an electric car. The first two questions are more in line with if you are actually considering buying an electric car.

Off street parking is currently needed to charge the car. This could be a garage, drive or other form of off street parking. Trailing the cable across the pavement to charge your car could be dangerous and may need the proper provisions by local authorities.