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Automakers trail in the great gizmo race

A customer at Rockland Toyota in suburban New York recently asked why he couldn't recharge his cell phone through the USB port built into the otherwise sophisticated Toyota Venza crossover. Evan Kuperman, the dealership's assistant general manager, took a deep breath. He shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

McLaren P1 gets 903bhp

McLaren has revealed that their new supercar – the McLaren P1 – will deliver 903bhp and have emissions below 200g/km. The McLaren P1 will get 727bhp from its 3.8 litre V8 with an additional 176bhp coming from an electric motor for a combined power delivery of 903bhp, with the V8 contributing 531lb/ft of torque and the electric motor an instant 192lb/ft for a combined torque of 664lb/ft at 4000rpm. The boost from the electric motor is instantly available at the flick of a button on the steering wheel – McLaren call it Instant Power Assist System (IPAS) – which instantly throws more additional power to aid the McLaren’s V8 than a pair of Fiestas can manage.

Self-balancing electric unicycle – would you commute on this?

Going straight in at number one on the list of things we didn't expect to read today, the SBU V3 unicycle is coming to the UK. Thanks to London 2012 and Sir Side Burns, cycling has never been more popular in the UK. Now Eddyline Ltd - the sole UK distributors for the SBU V3 - is looking to…er…ride on the back this popularity by importing something with one less wheel.