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"Carry-on" engine will power Le Mans racer

NISSAN will this year compete in the famous Le Mans 24-hour race using a revolutionary 1.5-litre, 400bhp engine that’s small enough to qualify as carry-on luggage. The astonishing new technology produces more power per kilogram of engine weight than the 2014 Formula 1 engines, and what’s more it’s set to lead to road car technology. And while the engine block is too heavy to take onto a plane as hand luggage, its 50cm height, 40cm length and 20cm width makes it small enough.

Chrysler recalls Wrangler, Compass and Patriot

Chrysler Group said today it will recall more than 220,000 units of the Jeep Wrangler to fix a transmission flaw and 409,000 units of the Jeep Compass and Patriot worldwide to fix a software glitch that could stop airbags and seatbelts from working in a crash. The recalls add to a growing list of safety problems at Chrysler, which stunned the auto industry this week by taking the rare step of rebuffing a recall request from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. On Tuesday, Chrysler refused to recall 2.7 million units of the 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-07 Jeep Liberty, claiming that the vehicles were built in compliance with safety standards and are not more accident-prone than other vehicles of the time.

Honda unveils Insight Hybrid

Honda has released the first official images of the Prius-fighting Honda Insight, which is due to launch in the New Year at the Detroit Motor Show, and be in UK Car showrooms in the Spring of 2009. Honda has been sceptical about the future of the Hybrid/Electric car, and has expressed the view that it believes the long term future lies in Hydrogen powered EVs, rather than EVs per se. But this is a sensible move by Honda to take away sales from the Toyota Prius.