Chevrolet Master Cylinder 1962-1966 on 2040-parts.com

Vauxhall launches speed limit detectors on Insignia (2008)

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 19 June 2008 07:53 Vauxhall's new Insignia will be the first of a wave of cars to have a forward-facing camera that can read road signs. The optional kit will detect speed limit and no overtaking signs – and flash up a reminder to the driver on the dashboard.GM calls the tech, which will be launched in early 2009, Traffic Sign Recognition and it uses a small, wide-angled camera system supplied by Hella. It sits at the top of the windscreen near the rain sensors and rear-view mirror, scanning the road ahead taking 30 photos per second.It's 1984 all over again...With a range of 100 metres, the camera focuses on circular patterns and then interprets the numbers inside by contour comparison; if a match is found on the software's database, that road sign will be flashed up in the driver's binnacle.The front-facing camera is also used as a lane departure warning system, alerting the driver if they unintentionally swerve out of their lane on a motorway.Cars with cameras: a growing trendMore and more manufacturers are fitting cameras to their cars nowadays and you can expect a flood of systems like the Insignia's to be launched in 2009, including the new BMW 5-series.CAR tried out these new systems on Bosch prototypes in 2007.

Fiat Abarth 500 Competizione Limited Edition surfaces

The Fiat 500 Abarth Competizione has been created for the Dutch market But now comes news that Fiat is launching a limited Edition 500 Abarth in the land of clogs and windmills – Holland. The Abarth 500 Competizione features a one-off exterior with a black roof, black ‘Abarth’ graphics on the doors and 17″ alloy wheels in black. Fiat are also throwing in climate, SatNav, upgraded sound system and leather.

CDN Interior Motives Student Design Awards launched

Registration for the 10th Car Design News Interior Motives Student Design Awards has now opened. This is your chance to take part in one of the most important events in the design calendar, and to display your talent and fresh thinking to the world's top vehicle designers and automotive press. The theme of this year's competition is ‘What Comes Next?