Feuling Chr Oil Clr/fltr Kit 2002 on 2040-parts.com

Like it or not, autonomous cars are here -- almost

One of the odder things about living in "the future" is that things develop so gradually, hardly any of the really amazing things we're exposed to every day seem amazing or futuristic. If the iPhone had just appeared from nowhere in 2007, there would have been riots, demonstrations and legislation. But since we had a Blackberry first, and dedicated cellphones before that, the iPhone and its progeny were never quite shocking.

BMW i8 Concept (2011) first official pictures

This is the BMW i8 Concept, a near-production preview of Munich’s new plug-in hybrid supercar. Audi and Mercedes might have stolen a march on BMW with the R8 and SLS respectively, but while its rivals prepare limited-run electric versions of their supercars, BMW is putting this i8 into proper mass production in just two years time. The BMW i8, and its i3 EV sibling, will be revealed at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show in September. So this BMW i8 supercar is a plug-in hybrid?

Police get tough with Ariel Atom supercar

ANYONE with a taste for speed might fear the sight of flashing blue lights in their mirrors, but nothing could be more frightening than this! British supercar maker Ariel has created this police-specification version of its new Atom 3.5 in order to support the Avon and Somerset Constabulary’s Safer Rider campaign. The Atom PL1 has the same 350bhp supercharged 2.0-litre Honda engine, sequential gearbox and spectacular performance as the regular car – with a 0-60mph time of 2.5 seconds it can match most superbikes – but with the addition of Avon and Somerset Constabulary livery, aerodynamic pursuit lights and safety equipment.