Convertible Sun Visor Brackets on 2040-parts.com

Ford announces new Silicon Valley research laboratory

Ford has announced plans to open a new R&D center in California's Silicon Valley with a view to creating a hub for collaborative technology projects. With neighbors including Google, Microsoft, facebook, Apple and Stanford University, it's certainly setting up shop in the right part of town. Its location also connects Ford's Advanced Design Studio in Irvine, CA and Ford employees working with connectivity platform partner Microsoft Corp.

BID TO SLOW TRAFFIC ON M3 STRETCH

FIRST it was a stretch of the M1 and now the same speed reduction plan has been announced for a stretch of the M3 motorway in Surrey and Hampshire. The Highways Agency (HA) has proposed that a three-mile section of the M3 between junction 3 at Lightwater in Surrey and junction 4 near Farnborough in Hampshire be subject to a 60mph restriction. This section is part of a 13.4-mile stretch that is being upgraded in a £174 million scheme, with the 60mph proposal, to operate between 7am and 7pm daily so air quality levels can be met.

New BMW 2 Series M Performance Parts revealed

The new BMW 2 Series (pictured) gets a range of M Performance Parts The opposite side of the coin from debadging your high-end BMW so no one knows you’re packing a big punch is adding M Performance parts to turn your lowly diesel in to something that looks like it will win every traffic light grand prix going. And when the new BMW 2 Series Coupe – the replacement for the 1 Series Coupe – arrives in the UK in March 2014, buyers will have a wide range of options from the BMW M Performance Parts offerings to tweak the interior and exterior looks, suspension and the engine. Power upgrades are available for the 220d Coupe which increase the output of the 4-cylinder diesel by 16bhp and adds an extra 29lb/ft of torque for a new output of 197bhp and 310lb/ft of torque, despite which official economy figures remain unchanged.