Toyota Prius 2001-2003 Gen 1 Hybrid Battery on 2040-parts.com

US DoT makes rear-view cameras compulsory

The US Department of Transportation (DoT) has issued a new safety standard for rear visibility that requires mandatory fitment of rear-view cameras. The ruling applies to all new vehicles, excluding motorcycles, weighing under 10,000 pounds (4,536kg) sold from 2018. The ruling has been introduced to cut backover crashes, caused when the victim strays into the blind zone 10-40 feet (3-12m) behind the vehicle that the driver can't see using their mirrors alone.

Jaguar XF Sportbrake & New Mercedes A Class UK debut at MotorExpo

MotorExpo London 2012 The Jaguar XF Sportbrake, new Mercedes A Class, BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe and new Kia cee’d get a UK debut at London’s MotorExpo. Traditional car shows have died something of a death in recent years, with just a handful of car shows round the world still attracting big numbers. Car ‘Events’ have become the order of the day with stuff like Goodwood and Salon Prive offering car lovers a proper petrolhead experience instead of static displays of untouchable cars in industrial units.

Seat Leon X-perience (2015): first photos of Seat’s Allroad

By Jonny Edge First Official Pictures 23 June 2014 12:18 Seat has become the latest member of the Volkswagen family to unveil a stylised off-road version of a small estate car with the introduction of its new Leon X-Perience, coming to showrooms in 2015. Based on the existing Leon ST, the X-Perience is perhaps better thought of as a trim level more than an entirely new model. In essence, it’s Seat’s answer to the Audi Allroad.