1992 Ford Taurus Air Bag Front Driver Side Steering Wheel Oem Cranberry Maroon on 2040-parts.com

Smart For-Us concept unveiled at 2012 Detroit show

Smart made a splash with its world debut at the 2012 Detroit auto show: its For-Us concept car provides a vision of the Smart as an American icon, a pick-up. The diminutive truck - just 3547mm long - is longer than a Fortwo, and is supposed to be based on the running gear of the next-gen Smart Forfour, aka the new Renault Twingo. So if the For-Us doesn't look so much like a Smart any more, from the front at least, that's why.

Mini 5 Door

We don't normally cover the addition of new variants to an established model range, but the five-door version of the latest, third generation Mini is an exception. In terms of pure numbers, the new model is 161mm longer than the Hatch, at 3,982mm, and has a 72mm-longer wheelbase, at 2,567mm. Standing 1,425mm high makes it 11mm taller.

Threat to rural road maintenance

TOTAL ROAD CLOSURES may be necessary as the extreme winter weather has left councils struggling to maintain routes, according to a local government chief. One council - Cornwall - said it was being "starved of resources" and was considering stopping maintenance of rural roads. But the Department for Transport said billions of pounds were being provided for local highways maintenance and it was the responsibility of authorities to cope with severe weather.