216/235 Chevy Connecting Rods on 2040-parts.com

Fiat Americanizes its 500, complete with cupholders

The Fiat 500 subcompact might be Italian through and through, but the U.S. version that arrives in dealerships late this year will cater to American tastes. The American car will have a more powerful engine than the European version, a slightly softer ride and--most important--more substantial, American-style cupholders.

Flip-flops most dangerous shoe to drive in

Driving in flip-flops is more dangerous than heels, with the flimsy footwear responsible for an estimated 1.4 million car crashes or near misses per year. A study commissioned by car insurance company Sheilas’ Wheels found that one third of motorists wear the not so supportive shoe behind the wheel, topping a poll of the top five summer footwear Brits struggle to drive in. 98% fear UK road safety not improving Find a used car on Auto Trader As many as 51% of drivers surveyed admitted struggling to drive in flip-flops, while 49% said they’d found it difficult to drive in bare feet.

Ford B-Max (2012) goes into the great wide open

Ford hopes a less-is-more approach will lure punters to its new B-max MPV, unique in the supermini segment for having a big hole in the central cockpit instead of a structural pillar. The result is a flexible people mover that's a doddle to load with kids or cargo, Ford claims, thanks to its pillarless opening and sliding rear door. The novel doors landed the £12,500 people mover in the same must-see company as Bentley's grotesque SUV concept and Ferrari's beautiful F12.