Kestrel Drop D1 Smart Temperature Data Logger - Red -0710red on 2040-parts.com

Volvo confirms big production increase for V60 Plug-in Hybrid

Volvo has been building around 150 V60 Plug-ins a week at its facility in Torslanda – alongside the regular V60, V70, S80 and XC90 – but that is now set to be upped to 282 cars a week for the rest of 2013, with plans to build at least 10,000 in 2014. The fact is that the V60 is a very appealing estate car already, and bolting a plug-in hybrid setup has turned it in to a big hit in showrooms because the barking mad official economy and emissions system bestows the V60 plug-in with emissions of just 48g/km, making it a real no-brainer in countries where governments blindly tax cars based on their official emissions. That means countries like Holland, where Volvo has received more than 3,000 orders for the V60 Plug-in, and the UK are lapping up the hybrid offering from Volvo as a way to escape big taxes and still have a swift (0-62mph in 6.1 seconds), appealing and stylish car.

UK gamer turned racer signed by Red Bull

When Nissan and PlayStation got together to develop the GT Academy, and started offering Gran Tursimo gamers the chance to become real-life racers, surely no-one expected the programme to be so incredibly successful. GT Academy graduates have raced all over the world, competing in all kinds of cars and succeeding in many famous events – including at Le Mans. Now 2011 GT Academy winner Jann Mardenborough could well be on his way to Formula One.

London cabs voted 'world's best'

LONDON has been voted the world's favourite city for taxis, as long as cabbies do not take "the scenic route". The capital topped a global list in five out of seven categories in a Hotels.com survey involving more than 2,600 respondents from 30 countries. The overall result meant London taxis were considered the world's best ahead of second-placed New York, with Tokyo third and Berlin fourth.