01-08 Skoda Fabia Sunvisor Right on 2040-parts.com

SEMA Pasadena: Public show in SoCal raises money for charity

Though we weren't at the very first SEMA show 42 years ago at the National Guard Armory in Los Angeles, the inaugural SEMA Cares Show and Shine last weekend must have been a lot like that first show four decades ago. SEMA Cares was held in the Pasadena Convention Center in Southern California. Organizers sold out all 155 spots for cool cars and all 25 booth spaces for vendors.

Exhibition: Taxis of the World

The 'Taxis du Monde' exhibit recently held at the Paris Motor Show displayed a total of 40 taxis from 20 cities around the world, illustrating the evolution and diverse needs of the past, the present and even the future. Renault’s Type AG from 1913 is one historical example. One of the first Parisian taxis, it became known as the “Taxi of the Marne” after 1300 examples transported 6000 men to head off the German army in the first world war.

BMW Concept X5 eDrive (2013) plug-in hybrid at Frankfurt motor show

Sharing the stage with the BMW i3 at the Frankfurt motor show is the BMW Concept X5 eDrive. The plug-in hybrid X5 is set to re-write the SUV rulebook with its four-cylinder petrol-electric drivetrain producing claimed figures of less than 90g/km of CO2 and a tree-hugging 74.3mpg, smashing the Lexus RX450h which produces 145g/km and 44.8mpg. What’s more, it’s better than the most efficient 3-series currently on sale, and far more frugal than the V8-powered BMW X6 Active Hybrid that was axed in late 2011.