Despite the fact a rollover strength test for the roof of cars is not yet an Australian Design Rule (ADR), a group of researchers from the NSW Injury Risk Management Research Centre took the matter into their own hands and will begin testing the roof strength for localy-built cars in the next year.
The new test is not yet part of the official Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) crash test operation, but its successful implementation may change that. According to NSW, cited by GoAuto… (read more)
The acclaimed cop-made, purpose-built police car called Carbon E7 is close to enter production, as it already has all the logistics it needs in place. The only problem is that the manufacturer, Carbon Motors, doesn’t really have the money to turn the project into reality. 
A special electric vehicle test program is taking place in London, where a research version of the Mercedes Vito Taxi has been developed by a tie-up between multiple British companies over the last six months. The vehicle, partially funded by the UK Government’s Advantage Niche Vehicle Research & Development Programme, meets the London Carriage Office requirements, can accommodate up to six people and offers a range of over 120 km on a six-hour charge.
For more than 3 years he waited for this to happen, and now it’s finally here. Former FIM World Motorcycle Champion Max Biaggi scored his first double winner in the World Superbike this weekend, ending a perfect weekend for Aprilia at the Portimao circuit.
French manufacturer Renault revealed details and price tag of the Twingo Gordini 133 model for the British market. However, there will be only 200 units of the model developed by Renaultsport available on the UK market. The first deliveries of the Renault Twingo Gordini 133 will begin in June this year and will wear a price tag of £14,500. 
Avis, one of the major players on the international vehicle rental market, has announced that its UK fleet will include over 540 Golf BlueMotion vehicles. The recently-ordered cars will join Avis’ Eco Collection, a division that offers diesel-powered cars that have CO2 emissions lower than 120 grams per km.
The Nissan GT-R is one of the best handling vehicles is the world, thanks to its smart four wheel drive system that is more than a loving mother to each of the car’s wheels. But this also means that the car gets a good standing start, so it is also suitable for drag races.
The 500,000th Fiat 500 rolled off the production line last week at the Fiat Auto plant in Tychy, Poland, where the car is manufactured. The car in question was finished in Funk White and powered by a 69 horsepower 1.2 engine with Start&Stop. 
The general view on how things are going in today’s Formula One is that Red Bull Racing are the team to beat. They have been quick in testing, they scored two out of two pole positions this season and they have taken commanding leads in both races this season, until some engine or mechanical issues have ruined it for them.
The 500,000th Ford Focus rolled off the assembly line at Ford’s joint venture plant, in Chongqing, China, today. The model in question was a 1.8-liter silver, 4-door sedan. The Focus is being built here by Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Company (CFMA) and became Ford’s best selling model in China.
The facelifted version of the Mercedes R-Klasse will debut later this week at the New York International Auto Show, but meanwhile we can enjoy the car through one of the modern media‘s backdoors, a set of leaked images.
An unofficial confirmation of the possible Daimler-Renault tie came over the weekend from the French manufacturer, whose inside sources said Renault will hold a special supervisory board meeting on April 6 to decide on the matter. Basically, if the deal passes through, a stake swap of under 10 percent will take place.
In a race that most have characterized as one of the best in the last decade, Michael Schumacher spent the majority of Sunday afternoon in the rear of the field, battling Virgins, Lotuses and Toro Rossos for a place in the Top 10. And, since his performance on Sunday came only a few days after it had emerged that Schumacher is currently topping the earning classification in F1, the Italian media did not lose the opportunity to criticize the 7-time world champion once again.
Two Japanese carmakers announced today they have partnered to promote the future of hybrid vehicle by expanding the presence of hybrid drives to more vehicles. Simply put, Mazda will piggyback on the R&D made by Toyota and will begin implementing the latter’s hybrid technology into its vehicles.
According to recent reports from Japan, it appears that Lexus is preparing an exclusive version of the LFA supercar, named after the famous Nurburgring race circuit. There will be only 50 units of the total 500 LFAs produced that will feature the Nurburgring package. 
After Lewis Hamilton blamed his team twice for ruining his race in Australia – he didn’t say it like that, but hinted that the pit strategy for him cost McLaren a 1-2 finish – team principal Martin Whitmarsh decided to come in front of the media and defend McLaren’s decision to bring Hamilton to the pits for an additional stop.
A significant event for the electric vehicles took place over the weekend, as the Tesla Roadster became the first electric vehicle to win the three-day Monte Carlo Alternative Energy Rally (VEA) and achieve the first victory for an EV in an FIA-sanctioned competition. 
Earlier this month, Peugeot announced that it will create a Hors-Serie premium division, which will be introduced in June by the RCZ coupe, with multiple models to come in the following years.
A couple of races into the new Formula One season, Mercedes Benz’ motorsport director Norbert Haug finally revealed the reason why the German manufacturer decided to part ways with the Woking organization in the series. 
The effects of the huge recall announced by Toyota in late 2009 and early 2010 still take their toll on the sales figures of the Japanese carmaker. In Europe, poor numbers will drive idling at several European plants, for a total timeframe of nine days.