Diesel drivers 'pollution penalty'

DRIVERS OF DIESEL CARS could have to pay more in road tax or face additional levies to travel into city centres in an effort to tackle pollution, it is reported. Major cities around the UK are considering bringing in low emission zones to force out older diesel vehicles that are responsible for higher levels of fumes, The Times said. Almost all diesel vehicles driven into central London will trigger a £10 charge under plans being considered by mayor Boris Johnson, who will also reportedly lobby the Government to increase road tax on diesel cars to encourage motorists to move to cleaner vehicles.

BMW M7 coming after all?

Despite BMW’s stating they will never make an M7, BMW’s American boss Ludwig Willisch says it will happen. Three years ago the BMW ‘M’ anoraks got excited when they thought BMW was about to produce a range-topping M7, but it turned out the photos that elicited their excitement were simply a 7 Series with an M Sport pack bolted on. In answer to the M-anorak’s disappointment BMW pointed out – very sensibly in our view – that the market for an M7 would be tiny and that you could already have a 760i M Sport with a stunning V12 and 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds.

Semi-autonomous driving system reduces accidents by 75% [w/video]

Scientists from MIT have developed a semi-autonomous driving system that is proven to reduce acccidents by 75 per cent. A front-mounted camera and laser range-finder identify the car's surroundings while making realtime updates to distances, mapping out the car's movement into 'safe zones'. The system also asseses the vehicle's limits, such as grip, and corrects the car.