Toyota starts 'rubbish revolution'

TOYOTA has been talking garbage, with ambitious plans to turn waste gases from a landfill site into electricity for building low-emissions cars. The firm’s factory in the American town of Georgetown, Kentucky, will use the new method of harvesting power to both lower its own fuel bills and reduce the amount of harmful gases escaping into the atmosphere. With the system expected to be up and running within 12 months, Toyota has revealed how it is expected to work.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta facelifted for the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show

Alfa Romeo today only sells two regular cars, the MiTo and Giulietta. The family hatchback Giulietta is its most profitable – and also its best – and so to ensure it still has at least some appeal alongside the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus that outclass it, Alfa has facelifted it for the 2014 model year. It’s a very discreet and low-effort facelift, but the firm still hopes it’s just enough to keep the family five-door ticking over.

Industry pulse: NHTSA administrator David Strickland talks distracted driving

Editor's note: In an exclusive interview with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration administrator David Strickland, Melanie Batenchuk of Be Car Chic asked about distracted driving and the agency's combined efforts with the Department of Transportation to curb this bad behavior. David Strickland has been championing safer, distraction-free driving since the beginning of his tenure at NHTSA in January 2010. Strickland has been working tirelessly toward this goal alongside stakeholders such as Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, private-sector executives, automobile manufacturers and safety advocacy groups.