Schumacher takes pole in Monaco – but starts sixth

Schumacher was quickest in Monaco qualifying Turn the clock back a day or two at the 2012 Monaco Grand Prix and all the clever money would have been on Lotus dominating proceedings. But 48 hours is a long time in a 2012 season of tyres that dictate performance seemingly based on which way the wind’s blowing. So instead of Lotus dominating proceedings we had Mercedes qualifying strongly, with Michael Schumacher taking pole and team mate Nico Rosberg in third.

Aftermarket Car Plug-In Hybrid system developed (video)

The Department of Engineering Technology at the Middle Tennessee State University has developed a plug-in hybrid retro-fit system for cars. As hybrid cars show the world that we can get more miles to the gallon from fuel by adding in an electric motor to the mix (depending on just how that electricity is generated, of course), it was inevitable that aftermarket solutions would eventually surface. Now, the Department of Engineering Technology at the Middle Tennessee State University has popped up with what they claim is an after market plug-in hybrid system that can be added to just about any car and would cost – assuming it gets to market – around £2,000.

UK new car registrations beat 2012 total – a month early

New car registrations rose by 7% last month, the best performance in almost a decade – and a rise that has seen the total registrations for 2012 already beaten with a month still to go. 159,581 new cars were registered last month, taking the year to date total up to 2,111,819. This easily tops the 2,044,609 new cars registered in 2012.