Smile, You’re On Camera

A COUNCIL in east London has rolled out the first unattended CCTV enforcement system for moving traffic offences, in a bid to curb drivers from making illegal turns or stopping in yellow-box junctions. Redbridge council has placed cameras at four trouble spots, which can also catch drivers ignoring restricted access signs. Redbridge council's environment, transportation and crime committee head, Shoaib Patel, said: "The system was installed to counter the high number of drivers that were ignoring the traffic restrictions that were in place, causing severe safety hazards to pedestrians and other drivers.

Jaguar hybrid cars due in 2013-14

Jaguar will launch its own hybrid vehicles soon after Land Rover, CAR can confirm. Parent company Jaguar Land Rover is developing battery-assisted hybrid versions for both brands but its strategy puts part-electric Land Rovers first on the launchpad in 2013.Hybrid Jaguars – set to include the XJ and XF, but eventually every model – are therefore likely to be on the market by 2013-2014, using a similar eight-speed ZF hybrid transmission to petrol-electric BMWs.The staggered roll-out of battery Jags and Land Rovers makes sense: heavy 4x4s have come in the firing line from green protestors who label them Chelsea Tractors. Hybrid Land Rovers will trim emissions and – in plug-in hybrid mode – enable even big bulky Range Rovers to drive in zero-emissions mode into central urban areas emitting nothing more unsaintly than an electric whir.So which Jaguars will go hybrid first?It's likely that the largest models such as the XJ will receive the hybrid power packs first; large cars reap the greater benefit and can more easily swallow the additional cost, put at around £10,000 in today's money.JLR's Midlands engineering bases in Whitley and Gaydon now employ 100 engineers in the expanding hybrid powertrain business unit launched 18 months ago.

Nissan beefs up the Rogue in an effort to attract male customers

Nissan will introduce an accessorized version of its Rogue compact crossover in hopes of attracting more male buyers. The Krom Rogue, on sale Dec. 9, will sticker for about $23,000 in its two-wheel-drive version and about $25,000 as a four-wheel-drive.