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Into the Breach: The future of in-car infotainment

In-car infotainment is broken. The best that can be said of the finest systems on the market is that they generally do what one asks of them and don't induce fits of rage. At their worst, they're actively dangerous, spiking the driver's blood pressure, forcing tentative or aggressive behavior at intersections and interchanges—and generally taking the driver outside the flow of traffic.

Catalytic converter thefts double in three years

Associated Press Thefts of catalytic converters from cars have more than doubled in less than three years, according to an investigation by the BBC. Data compiled from 40 police regions across the UK reveal that in 2012 a total of 8,947 catalytic converters thefts were reported, compared to 3,957 similar cases recorded in 2010. On Bing: see pictures of catalytic convertersStreet sweepers to mine UK roads for precious metals A car’s catalytic converter reduces its harmful exhaust gas emissions by initiating a chemical process to neutralise many toxic substances emitted from the engine.

Renault Kwid Concept is a bonkers baby SUV

The Renault Kwid Concept (pictured) comes with its own flying drone There are concepts of new cars where you can clearly see they’re heading for production, and then there are concepts that look like the designers have been allowed to go berserk with little though to an eventual production car. The new Renault Kwid falls firmly in the latter. Said to be aimed at younger buyers in emerging markets – and designed with Renault’s designers in India – the Kwid Concept comes with a conventional 1.2 litre petrol engine and dual-clutch box – and can take the ZOE’s EV powertrain – but that’s seems to be where any connection with reality ends.