1953 Oldsmobile Dome Light on 2040-parts.com

Top Gear 'for inner nine-yea-old'

THE BOSS of BBC hit Top Gear says the presenters' childish antics are a success because they are a "release valve" for the increasing stresses of our working lives. Executive producer Andy Wilman said the programmes helped viewers to reconnect with their nine-year-old selves because life for adults is "bloody hard". In an interview with Radio Times, he also bemoaned the constraints of the workplace, which could be seen as a swipe at the strict levels of compliance which apply to BBC TV shows.

Fiat 500L launches

The Fiat 500L – a larger Fiat 500 based on the Punto – has launched in Italy ahead of going on sale in the UK in early 2013. We had the official arrival of the Fiat 500L at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and now we get the 500L’s official launch in Turin – together with lots of new photos and a video – before the 500L goes on sale around the world. The 500L is actually based on the underpinnings of the Punto to create a 500 MPV and, sensibly, Fiat has done with the 500L  what MINI did with the Countryman and slapped an iconic badge on even though the 500L bears scant resemblance to its cute little sibling.

Hyundai i30 GT with 1.6 Turbo planned?

Are Hyundai planning a hot hatch i30 GT? (5-door 2012 i30 pictured) It’s reported that Hyundai are planning a hot hatch GT version of the 3-door i30 due in 2013 with a 200bhp 1.6 litre turbo. With all the progress Hyundai has made in the last few years to become a credible threat to mainstream cars from Europe and Japan, the next step must be in the performance and luxury realm.