Acura promotes movie role with secret-agent kit

Rarely do the lengths to which a carmaker will go in promoting a product raise eyebrows here at AutoWeek, but it still happens from time to time. Case in point: Acura sent us a kit of secret-agent tests showcasing the role of its cars in the movie Thor. Touting the carmaker’s first stint in a major motion picture, the so-called Acura S.H.I.E.L.D.

BMW recalls 132,000 cars for fuel-pump fixes

BMW is recalling about 130,000 cars fitted with its N54 twin-turbo six-cylinder engine to repair a faulty high-pressure fuel pump. The recall covers the 2007-10 335i; the 2008-10 135i, 535i and X6 xDrive35i, and the 2009-10 Z4 sDrive35i. BMW says about 40,000 of those cars will need a new fuel pump.

Diesel pollution affects honeybees senses

DIESEL pollution makes it harder for honeybees to find flowers - by changing the chemical make-up of their scent, scientists have found. Honeybees use floral odours to find flowers that will give the best yields of pollen and nectar. But diesel fumes can affect their ability to locate and recognise the plants, potentially affecting pollination and ultimately global food security, the study published in the journal Scientific Reports found.