Boat Compass Ritchie B-51g Lighted on 2040-parts.com

Michelin Challenge Design 2014 winners revealed

The winners of the Michelin Challenge Design 2014 have just been revealed at a private event in Detroit's Renaissance Center following the first press day of the NAIAS. Chris Luchowiec of Poland was awarded first place for his ‘BOT' design, a completely autonomous transportation solution for relatively low populated areas. His concept is designed to address the issue of lone car commuters, traffic congestion and the generally poor experience of mass transit use.

Chicago auto show: Ford Transit Connect van targets businesses

The demise of the Freestar (more commonly remembered as the Windstar) minivan left Ford without a small cargo carrier it could pitch to business and fleet customers who didn't need the hugeness of the E-series van. That gap in the product lineup gets filled this summer with the front-drive Transit Connect van--a product Ford has been selling in European and Asian markets for six years. Ford rolls out the U.S.

Phone use penalty 'could double'

THE PENALTY for using a mobile phone while driving could be doubled under proposals being examined by the Government as part of a safety drive, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has called for offenders to be handed six points on their licence rather than the present three, meaning a ban from getting behind the wheel if caught twice in three years. Mr McLoughlin said it was an "interesting suggestion" that he was considering in an effort to end the "appalling" number of people killed and seriously injured in accidents where a phone was being used in the hand.