Taylor 1149 18in Tuff End Inflatable Vinyl Buoy on 2040-parts.com

Concept Car of the Week: Ford 021C (1999)

As Australian-born designer Marc Newson this week joined Apple, we can only wish that he brings with him the same smart-yet-playful approach as he did with his radical Ford 021C concept. Presented at the 1999 Tokyo Motor Show, the project began when Marc Newson was commissioned by Ford global design director, J Mays, to create an innovative interior. Their mutual passion for design and their enthusiasm led to a much larger project and Newson eventually delivered a complete working prototype.

BMW X7 SUV confirmed to top BMW’s X Range

The BMW X5 Plug-in Hybrid will be built at Spartanburg along with the new BMW X7 The idea for BMW to build an SUV bigger than the X5 was put on ice when the world’s economy went in to meltdown in 2008, but the idea of a range-topping BMW X7 was back on the cards as long ago as 2010. Now, four years on, BMW has confirmed that they are planning an X7, that it will be built at their Spartanburg Plant in South Carolina and that it will arrive in 2017 or 2018. BMW aren’t prepared to divulge what platform the X7 will use, but it looks likely it will arrive on a revised version of the platform used for the next generation BMW 7-Series, a platform that will likely also be utilised for the new Rolls Royce SUV when that arrives, with the announcement of the X7 making a Rolls Royce SUV even more likely.

MINI Coopers recalled in US over fires

The MINI Cooper is being recalled over fires Following an investigation started in October, BMW in the US has issued a recall for 88,911 MINI Coopers built between 2007 and 2011. Back in October we reported that the MINI Cooper S was under investigation in the US after a spate of fires. ‘Spate’ may be a bit strong as, at that time, there had been a total of just 12 fires reported.