Petrol prices reach three-year low

PETROL PRICES are at a three-year low, with Yorkshire and Humberside remaining the cheapest area, according to figures from the AA. But the good news for drivers is offset by a real-terms dip in earnings which has pushed wages back to 2002 levels adjusting for inflation, the AA added. Petrol forecourt prices across the UK averaged 129.46p a litre in mid March compared to 129.63p in mid February.

Global Vehicle Architecture opens new fully-equipped 3D Design Studio in Beijing

Global Vehicle Architecture (GVA) – a specialist independent design company encompassing all forms of transportation design – has opened a fully-equipped design studio in Beijing to cater for the growing  demand for design support services. GVA is unique in that it is the first European automotive designer led facility of its kind in China offering complete in-house modeling capabilities. The 2,000 square-meter studio, situated only 10 minutes from the 798 Art district and in close proximity to Beijing's airport, boasts extensive facilities including an 18-meter plate area, and prototype car build capabilities.

BMW M5 F10M (2011) track test video

BMW M has released new video footage of the upcoming F10M M5 performance testing at the BMW Miramas test centre in southern France. Is this BMW M5 video worth risking a sneaky peek at the office? If you like the M5 or fast cars in general, yes. Compared to previous entries in the M5 teaser video campaign this one shows the BMW M engineers creating enough wheelspin and oversteer to make us think that they're auditioning to work in the motoring media. The video, at nearly four minutes long, shows M5 prototypes largely stripped of camouflage sheeting being put through their paces on the test circuit, as well as undertaking some low speed incline testing on a 32 degree gradient. What we can see conforms with the M5 Concept shown at the 2011 Shanghai motor show.Apart from the aforementioned tyre abuse, you also get clear shots of the new M5's instrument panel, showing the M-DCT transmission's shift mode selector and adaptive damping display.