Vbl3z1663812l Kit Rear Seat Cover 11 F150 on 2040-parts.com

Nissan’s new lightweight philosophy revealed

The leaked official drawings of the new Nissan Micra might have revealed the conventional styling of the company’s new supermini, but they gave little clue to the dramatically lightweight new platform that underpins it. The new Micra will be significantly lighter and more fuel efficient than the outgoing car due to a ruthless pursuit of weight reduction on the new V-platform (V = versatile), which on average has slashed 50kg from the new car's weight, and up to 70kg on some models. Project leader Noritaka Tsuru described the new package as a 'breakthrough car' that required a complete 'change in mentality' in how Nissan makes cars.

Hyundai i-Flow Concept at Geneva

The Hyundai i-Flow Concept will show at Geneva Hyundai – as we never tire of saying – is the new Toyota (which is a big compliment – despite the current Toyota Recall woes). It’s having the same impact on car markets worldwide as the Japanese car revolution of a few decades ago. Hyundai – and its sibling Kia – are making more and more convincing cars at relatively bargain prices and pushing both design and quality further upmarket all the time.

One Lap of the Web: Mister Kei-terham

-- This Maybach 62 -- which sold for new at the eyeball-detonating price of $467,600 -- has driven around our fair planet a total of one million kilometers. For those who don't believe in Commie measurements, that's 621,000 miles -- or a trip to the moon and back and then halfway there again. Josef Weikinger, from Lichtenstein, loved his 2004 Maybach 62 so much that he found himself watching the odometer click upwards instead of replacing it for something newer and flashier.