Suzuki Hayabusa Rear Wheel on 2040-parts.com

Automakers trail in the great gizmo race

A customer at Rockland Toyota in suburban New York recently asked why he couldn't recharge his cell phone through the USB port built into the otherwise sophisticated Toyota Venza crossover. Evan Kuperman, the dealership's assistant general manager, took a deep breath. He shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

Video: Road & Track presents The Five Minute Car Design with Tom Matano

Tom Matano – designer of the Mazda MX-5 and executive director of industrial design at Academy of Art University – is the subject of Road & Track's second ‘The Five Minute Car Design' video feature. The R&T crew headed to Matano's design studio and asked him to create his ideal sedan in just five minutes before destroying it at the end of the film. This latest video is the second in the series, which started with Ian Cartabiano from Calty Design in California design and destroy his ultimate sports car.

Mercedes proves E-Class hybrid tech with unusual test

IN AN impressive display of performance and economy, Mercedes-Benz has completed a lengthy test of its new E300 Bluetech Hybrid saloon by driving it almost the length of the country on a single tank of fuel with a flat-out speed test at either end. With ex-rally driver Mick Linford at the wheel the standard production E300 Bluetech Hybrid began with a full tank of fuel at Newquay Cornwall Airport, the most southerly airport in mainland Britain. Down the main runway it completed an acceleration test to past 62mph from rest in a little over seven seconds and reached 136mph before braking for the end of the runway.