Honda Fl 350 Odyssey Steering Shaft Tree--used on 2040-parts.com

New Range Rover Hybrid targeted at Europe: Frankfurt 2013

The new Range Rover Hybrid (pictured) has diesel power to target Europe It’s not the biggest news at Frankfurt, but the arrival of the Range Rover Hybrid and Range Rover Sport Hybrid is big news for Land Rover, and for buyers running cars who are subject to taxation on benefits. Surprisingly, Land Rover has gone the diesel route with the hybrid, coupling the 3.0 litre diesel engine to a 46bhp electric motor which, when working together, offers the same sort of performance as the V8 diesel engine but with much better economy and emissions – 44mpg and 169g/km. Logic would perhaps have dictated that the new hybrid should have a petrol engine, rather than a diesel, as the biggest hybrid markets in the world – the US and China – have no real appetite for diesel engines.

2010 Astra – the advert

Vauxhall / Opel are pushing the boat out with an advert for the 2010 Astra The 2010 Astra – whether it’s an Opel or a Vauxhall - is a very big deal for GM in Europe. So it’s probably just as well that it’s got a lot going for it. There’s something for everyone from the entry level Astra (the Exclusiv 1.4i) with 86bhp and a decent spec which includes Aircon, to the replacement for the old Astra 1.8 SRi – the SRi 1.4 Turbo.

The Future Role of the Vehicle Designer

The vehicle design department at the Royal College of Art hosted the second in a series of five lectures looking at the future of the profession last week. Moving on from the previous week's topic of sustainability, this debate explored the future roles and responsibilities of the vehicle designer. Head of department Dale Harrow began by posing the question "Is it time to rethink – do we still need the car?" Although still relevant, Harrow's ultimate answer to this was that the profession was about to see marked change, with the end to an era where "designers are locked behind closed doors in studios".