Acura Tl 2002 on 2040-parts.com

Ford at CES: Charge your car with science and wash your dishes while you sleep

Ford's C-Max Solar Energy Concept is a "plugless plugin," said Donna Bell, which initially sounds silly -- as if the carefully structured chaos and noise of CES may have finally gotten to her. But as someone who has been managing Ford's electric vehicle infrastructure for the past 20 years, she isn't being facetious. Solar panels on the roof of a car aren't anything new -- the Fisker Karma used them to power the radio and other in-car accessories, to cite a soon-obscure example.

BMW M7 coming after all?

Despite BMW’s stating they will never make an M7, BMW’s American boss Ludwig Willisch says it will happen. Three years ago the BMW ‘M’ anoraks got excited when they thought BMW was about to produce a range-topping M7, but it turned out the photos that elicited their excitement were simply a 7 Series with an M Sport pack bolted on. In answer to the M-anorak’s disappointment BMW pointed out – very sensibly in our view – that the market for an M7 would be tiny and that you could already have a 760i M Sport with a stunning V12 and 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds.

Nissan Note Boat makes a splash (video)

Nissan Note Boat makes splash Before you get carried away the the thought that Nissan has somehow turned out a new Note that can turn itself in to a boat, they haven’t. Instead, Nissan’s PR has decided to bolt the new Note to a floating platform to demonstrate the versatility and some of the technology of the new Note. Nissan went of to Eton Dornay Lake – scene of some of our remarkable rowing feats in the 2012 Olympics – with a modified Note with a sliding single stroke seat for a rower to allow the Note – with its wide opening doors – to accommodate an oar poking out of each side.