Racing Go Karrt Durometer on 2040-parts.com

BMW axes B-class rival

By Georg Kacher Motor Industry 07 August 2006 09:26 BMW has put on ice plans for a mini-MPV based on the 3-series, to rival the Mercedes B-class. Instead, it will focus on a bigger, Mercedes R-class challenger, due in 2009. 'Originally, we looked at two different space-functional concepts: one was based on the 3-series, the other one on the 5-series,' said a source.

Lotus has a PR meltdown on Facebook

Lotus Facebook PR Lotus has responded to the rumours flying around about their possible demise by posting a PR statement on Facebook. Badly. Earlier today we addressed the rumours flying around about Lotus – which range from administration to takeover via the disappearance of CEO Dany Bahar.

Petrolhead spiders cause Mazda recall

Mazda has had to recall 42,000 vehicles in the US after it emerged that a species of spider had been weaving webs in fuel vent hoses, increasing the risk of fuel leaks and fires. The yellow sac spider’s curious domestic activities cause a build-up of pressure in the evaporative fuel vent that – in theory at least – could result in a cracked fuel tank and therefore an increased risk of fire. This isn’t the first time that the Mazda 6 has received the unwanted advances of a gas-guzzling arachnid, either – three years ago Mazda had to recall over 50,000 cars for precisely the same reason.