Suzuki Gsxr 1000 05-06 Rear Wheel on 2040-parts.com

Fewer people commuting but distances on the up

The average commute has increased in distance, but more people working from home means there are actually fewer cars on the road at rush hour today compared to 10 years ago, according to statistics from the most recent Census conducted in 2011. Figures show the average commute has increased from 8.3 miles in 2001 to 9.32 miles in 2011. People living in the east of England travelled the furthest to work at an average distance of 10.34 miles – while those in London had the shortest commutes averaging 6.83 miles.

Alfa Romeo to launch 8 new cars in next 4 years – Alfa MiTo to be dropped

The Alfa Romeo Gloria (pictured) could point to a new Giulia Alfa Romeo has been stuck in the doldrums for quite a while, and is now in the sorry state of having just two cars on sale – the Alfa MiTo and Alfa Giulietta – both compact cars and both with front wheel drive. Not really Alfas, although they’re better than you might expect. But in a brave plan to turn Alfa Romeo in to a proper force again – a plan we reported was on the cards a year ago – Sergio Marchionne has revealed that Alfa is planning to launch eight new cars in the next four years and concentrate on proper RWD cars with proper driver appeal.

Le Mans regulations for 2014 announced

The organisers of the Le Mans 24-hour have announced a raft of radical new rules on the eve of the 2012 race - including the less restricted use of hybrid power for the top-flight LMP1 racers from 2014. The governing ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest) unveiled the major changes due in two years' time as the teams start the 80th 24 Heures du Mans event which runs from Saturday 16 - Sunday 17 June 2012. In order to stay in tune with our environmentally-conscious, economically-chastened times, the focus of the alterations is to improve the efficiency of the elite LMP1 cars' technology and cement a link with roadgoing hybrids, as well as making the race cars safer.