Ford Explorer Tan Sun Visor Clips 2002-2005 02-05 on 2040-parts.com

Bridgestone reinvents the wheel

THE WHEEL is being reinvented with the development of an airless tyre for cars that could put an end to punctures and be kinder to the environment. Currently being developed by Bridgestone, the Air-Free Concept Tyre has an exterior tread that looks normal but inside there are plastic spokes that support the outer casing. This does away with the need to pump up the tyres, which means a puncture is no longer a problem as the tyre cannot deflate.

Toyota & Lexus: Hybrid sales in Europe hit 20%

The ‘Green’ evangelists want to get us all driving electric cars to save the planet, but in the real world car drivers want a car that offers them all the practicality of a normal ICE car, but without the penalties of the poor range, high cost and inconvenience of an EV. So, with ever-rising fuel costs, it’s no wonder car buyers are willing to pay a little more for a car that offers better economy at the pumps – which plays straight in to the hands of Hybrid pioneers Toyota. The result is that Toyota and Lexus now see a full 20 per cent of their sale in Europe being hybrid cars in the first quarter of 2013, with sales of hybrid cars up a massive 82 per cent year-on-year.

Win a tour of F1 champ Jody Scheckter’s farm

In the new February 2010 issue of CAR Magazine, we join 1979 F1 champion Jody Scheckter for a tour of his biodynamic farm. He’s swapped four star for four-crop rotation in his new life as an organic farmer – and we’ve got the inside line on his Farmula One project. It’s an illuminating feature and the former Ferrari ace still keeps some of the pivotal race cars from his career – including his championship-winning ‘79 Ferrari – near Laverstoke Park Farm, in Basingstoke Hampshire.