Studebaker Dip Stick, 25 Inch. Price Each One. Item: 2402 on 2040-parts.com

Toyota Prius with added noise: The Prius Vehicle Proximity Notification

Prius Vehicle Proximity Notification We’d much rather see a hybrid car than an electric one, but with plug-in hybrids starting to proliferate more car makers are having to address the issue of silent running endangering blind – and distracted - pedestrians. Step forward the Toyota Prius Vehicle Proximity Notification System. The US Senate signed off the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act at the end of 2010, which requires the makers of cars with the ability to run silently to make them run noisily instead, completely negating about the only benefit there is for electric cars.

2013 Subaru Forester revealed

The new Subaru Forester – a 2014 Forester for the US – has been revealed ahead of a debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show this month. The Forester still looks like a Forester although it is a bit longer, wider and taller and gets a longer wheelbase which, say Subaru, means more space in the back seats and more room ion the boot. There are cosmetic tweaks with a crease running down the flanks under the window line, a new grill and bumpers, new alloys and a more slick feel to the looks. There’s extra toys too with a new Infotainment centre with smartphone integration, SatNav with reversing camera and a nice upmarket Harmon Kardon sound system.

Jeep’s ‘Ugly is the new appealing’ Cherokee costs from £25,495

The new Jeep Cherokee (pictured) is now on sale in the UK The new Jeep Cherokee debuted at the New York Motor Show in 2013, giving Jeep a new, smaller SUV with ‘good to be ugly’ looks to mop up the still growing demand for SUVs of all sizes. And now it’s going on sale in the UK. Based on the same underpinnings as the Alfa Giulietta, the new Cherokee comes in at a more affordable price than its big brother, but if you want the entry-level  2.0-litre Longitude 140 you’ll have to make do with front-wheel drive.