Vintage Stevens Ignition Tester St-75 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.

Who's Where: Wulin Gaowa appointed design director of GM China Advanced Design

Wulin Gaowa has been appointed to fill a newly-created role as GM China Advanced Design's first Design Director. She will start her new role with immediate effect. Gaowa, who was most recently the Advanced Design Director of Exterior Design and Interior at the Beijing Automotive Technology Center, will be based at GM China's Advanced Technical Center in Shanghai, due to open later this month.

Small but safe: the Fiat 500

By Ben Pulman Motor Industry 31 August 2007 10:29 Fiat’s new baby, the 500, has just achieved a full five-star Euro NCAP rating for adult safety. The 500's score of 35 points puts it ahead of cars like the Mini and Renault Clio while the 500’s closest rival, the Renault Twingo, only achieved four stars in the latest tests. The 500’s 35 points bettered the Twingo’s 28, as did its 14 point to the Renault’s 11 for pedestrian safety (though both ratings are equivalent to two stars).