Mychron Rotax Water Sensor Go Kart on 2040-parts.com

Extreme sports safety kit to inspire Volvo technologies

SWEDISH car maker Volvo is aiming to develop new safety technologies based on processes used to make extreme sports safety gear. The firm has announced a partnership with POC, another Swedish company, which designs lightweight, strong and high-tech safety equipment for climbers, snowboarders, mountain bikers and other extreme sports fanatics. The initial focus will be on the relationship between cars and cyclists, with the specific aim of developing a one-way method of communicating that the driver has seen the cyclist.

One Lap of the Web: Mock the Week Edition

-- Mazda Europe designer Peter Birthwhistle talks about the future of Mazda: potential hybrid and electric powertrains for the Skyactiv-obsessed company, and how we'll all be driving Mazda-branded pods in the 22nd century. But he also mentions, rather interestingly, how certain Mazdas capture a quintessentially long-hood, RWD look -- and not just the Miata, either, which is RWD. No, it's the exhaust systems on those Skyactiv engines that force a longer, larger hood compartment, and the "long, flowing looks" not usually found on FWD engines.

No Macan Can-Can ahead of Los Angeles debut

Our deeply absurdist, kitchy-kitsch streak wishes that Porsche would've seen fit to score this video with Jacques Offenbach's “The Infernal Gallop” in lieu of Some Generic Lux-Teuton 'Lectronic Track™. Maybe the automotive footage might've been intercut with Dutch camel racers wearing vintage Rijkspolitie outfits and libidinous dancing French girls. Zuffenhausen rarely accedes to our flights of fancy.