Gntx 140 on 2040-parts.com

Beanz Meanz More Eco-Friendly Future Fords

THE car industry is full of interesting and unusual business partnerships, but this latest tie-up between Ford and Heinz promises to be one of the more intriguing. Far from seeking to produce 57 varieties of any particular new Ford model, the two firms are exploring the use of tomato fibre to develop a sustainable composite materials for use in vehicle manufacturing. For example, boffins believe that dried tomato skins could become the wiring brackets in future Ford vehicles or the storage bin a customer uses to hold coins and other small objects.

Renault Initiale Paris stars at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show

It may seem like a strange idea for Renault to launch its Initiale Paris premium sub-brand at a German motor show, but it could turn out to be quite an astute move. The French brand is hoping to take on the Germans with Initiale Paris, so showcasing this rather wonderful concept in Frankfurt is a clear signal of intent. Renault says this Initiale Paris concept previews the next generation Espace, but we can't help but see a massive dollop of Renault Avantime when we take a wander around the car.

80mph limit plans 'to be revisited'

SHELVED PLANS to raise the motorway speed limit to 80mph will need to be revisited, a transport minister said as he declined to say whether he ever broke the current law to drive at that speed. Stephen Hammond said ministers were split on the move - which was unveiled with a fanfare by Philip Hammond in 2011 but then axed from the agenda by successors as transport secretary. Polling suggests a 10mph increase in the maximum allowed on the network would be extremely popular among motorists - and the transport minister recognised "a lot" already drove at the higher speed.