Cable Pull, Parking Brake Oe Fiat 51900393 For Fiat Panda (312_, 319_) 1.2 2012-- on 2040-parts.com

Gales and rain hit Christmas travel

PEOPLE WANTING to get home for Christmas face major disruption as strong gales and torrential rain threaten to cause travel chaos. Severe weather warnings are in place for much of the UK today until 9am on Christmas Eve, threatening to cause localised flooding across southern England and Wales. Strong winds are expected across much of the UK, with winds of up to 80mph in coastal areas of southern England, while Scotland is braced for sleet and snow storms and icy roads, the Met Office said.

Design Essay: Are smart roads just around the corner?

In order to remain relevant, the car must constantly evolve. But while almost all attention focuses on four wheels, the roads that facilitate an automobile's progress have remained relatively unaltered since Eisenhower formed the National Highway system in the 1950s. With environmental concerns getting ever higher on the agenda, there is an opportunity to think outside the (metal) box and rethink the road, making it as smart as the vehicles and devices that travel upon it.

Audi R8 GT (2010): first news of lightweight R8

Audi has shown the new R8 GT – a limited-edition model to sit atop the R8 supercar family. The GT is 100kg lighter, thanks to some body parts made from carbonfibre and its V10 engine is tuned up to Gallardo-nibbling spec. With 552bhp and 398lb ft, the R8 GT will be considerably faster than the standard R8 5.2 FSI V10.