1986 Honda Fourtrax 250 Trx250 2x4 Left Handle Handlebar Control Switch Switches on 2040-parts.com

MIT develops self-transforming materials that behave 'like robots without robots'

A cross-disciplinary research lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has developed a suite of programmable materials, including carbon fiber, printed wood grain, textile composites, rubbers and plastics, that self-transform when exposed to an external stimulus. Director of the Self-Assembly Lab, Skylar Tibbits, presented a TED talk on 4D printing in 2013, where he demonstrated how a flat sheet of material could effectively build itself when exposed to water, like a robot without a robot. Following positive feedback from industries including aviation, automotive and manufacturing, his lab has been working on developing materials that change according to different activation sources, including heat, light, and air pressure, in addition to water – all of which have automotive relevance.

Cluttered-up cars failing MOT test

CLUTTERED-UP cars are causing thousands of drivers to fail the MOT test. Some vehicles are not passing the test as the screenwash is not topped up, the survey by Whatcar.com found. Test centres are also failing vehicles as they have stickers on the windscreen that block the driver's view, while some drivers even turn up for a test sporting no number plates.

2013 Porsche Cayman debut at Los Angeles

The 2013 Porsche Cayman has been confirmed by Porsche to debut at the 2012 Los Angels Auto Show later this month. The new Porsche Cayman has been on the way for quite a while. As long ago as October 2011 we ran a video of Porsche’s new 911, new Bosxter and new Cayman out on the sleepy streets of San Francisco  but now it appears the last of the three to be revealed - the new Cayman – is heading for this month’s L.A.