2003 Audi Station Wagon, Bose Amplifier #809 on 2040-parts.com

Into the Breach: The future of in-car infotainment

In-car infotainment is broken. The best that can be said of the finest systems on the market is that they generally do what one asks of them and don't induce fits of rage. At their worst, they're actively dangerous, spiking the driver's blood pressure, forcing tentative or aggressive behavior at intersections and interchanges—and generally taking the driver outside the flow of traffic.

Renault-Nissan and Mitsubishi to join forces

MITSUBISHI and the existing Renault-Nissan alliance are set to work together on a series of new cars. Discussions aren’t finished but as part of the deal Mitsubishi will get hold of a Renault chassis large enough to use as a base a full-size saloon for the North American market. The firms will also further develop an electric version of a Japan-only ‘kei car’.

Toyota GRMN Sports Hybrid concept

Toyota is set to unveil its GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept II at the forth-coming Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race taking place this weekend. GRMN is an abbreviation of 'GAZOO Racing tuned by MN'. Gazoo being the Japanese motorsport specialist that has a loose affinity to Toyota following a collaboration on the iQ city car, whilst MN makes reference to ‘Meister of Nürburgring' or Hiromu Naruse; the Toyota test driver tragically killed behind the wheel of a Lexus LFA last year.