Hot Rods Crankshaft Assembly H124 on 2040-parts.com

Call for reform over road repair funding

FUNDING patterns mean most road maintenance is being carried out in "less-efficient, cold and wet" times, a report from a Government spending watchdog has said. The current pattern of funding, combined with the need to spend money within the financial year, means that most maintenance work goes on between September and March, said the report from the National Audit Office (NAO). It went on: "Although this is less disruptive for road users, it is less efficient than carrying out the work at other times of year because materials can be more difficult to handle in cold and wet conditions, and daylight hours are shorter." The report went on: "As a result of the additional funding for emergency repairs, which is made available at the end of the financial year, almost all highways authorities need extra capacity from the market at the same time, which makes it less likely that they will get value for money." The NAO report said there was a "lack of predictability" over road spending adding that historically, local highway authorities spent more revenue on maintenance, but were now carrying out fewer routine activities such as clearing gullies which are essential to preventing water seeping into roads' sub-structure.

Tesla recalls Roadster for short in power cable, fire risk

Tesla Motors is recalling its electric Roadster 2.0 and 2.5 models because a power cable may short and catch fire. The 12-volt cable, located behind the right-front headlight, could rub against the carbon-fiber paneling causing the cable to short, begin smoking and possibly catch fire, Tesla said. The cable is part of a backup system that powers the headlights, taillights, turn signals and airbags if the primary 12-volt cable fails.

New Lotus Esprit cancelled? Not according to Lotus

The Interwebs are rife with rumours that the new Lotus Esprit has been cancelled. But Lotus say it’s not and the claims are made up. Dany Bahar was finally ousted from Lotus after the new owners of Lotus managed to remove the flamboyant former Ferrari man from his role at Lotus and ditch his fantasy plans to turn Lotus in to a cross between Aston Martin and Ferrari.