KEY POINTS:
Norway's HyNor (Hydrogen Road of Norway) will buy 30 hydrogen-fuelled Mazda RX-8 carsfor delivery next year. HyNor is a Norwegian joint industry initiative to demonstrate real-life hydrogen fuel infrastructure along a 580km route from Solo to Stavanger. Buses, taxis and private cars will take part.
Back in the day
We're getting used to satellite navigation now, but spare a thought for the pioneers. Back in the 1980s, a German system used a network of electronic transmitters. You input a code for the region you wanted and the system used the transmitters to navigate. The in-car equipment was affordable - but fitting the electrical equipment into the roads proved prohibitive and the system was scrapped.
Goggo you good thing
Who says the Aussies don't have a sense of humour? A Goggomobil Dart will front up to the start line of this year's Aeromil Pacific Classic Adelaide Rally. Based on a German Goggomobil microcar, in original format it used a rear-mounted 239cc two-stroke engine producing 11kw, weighed only 380kg and could reach 110km/h depending on gradient, wind and how reckless its driver was.
Jaguar with growl
Forget its stuffy old image. Jaguar has released its latest XJ update in New Zealand and it comes with high-tech active suspension and bluetooth connectivity. Choose from a 4.2-litre V8, a supercharged V8 or a frugal 2.7-litre turbo diesel V6. All get cosmetic tweaks inside and out plus more interior space thanks to redesigned seats.
BMW goes for enduro
BMW is launching a new range of off-road motorcycles. The G450X is a competition-bred sports enduro bike with a single-cylinder engine and a low centre of gravity achieved by keeping the fuel tank under the seat. BMW is serious about taking the bike off-road racing - it's entered it in the 2008 German enduro series, starting as the bike goes on sale here.
Ramping up the classics
What started out as a weekend classic car display and a 1950s-type race around the streets of Waiuku has mushroomed into a fair-dinkum festival for the heritage town. It began yesterday with an arts festival and picks up speed on Wednesday with a display of 30-odd veteran and vintage cars. Things really hot up next weekend. Events include a classic car pursuit, a motor scooter relay, a display of more than 200 classic British cars, a Lotus 7 50th anniversary celebration and a Concourse Euro Exhibition. One of the highlights is a demonstration of historic racing.
Single and happy
Ford CEO Alan Mulally says the carmaker doesn't need a global partner. Any kind of a link-up would be a distraction, he told reporters at the Los Angeles Motor Show. Mulally said Ford's biggest opportunity was to take better utilise its wide-flung assets around the globe. The real synergy for Ford was to integrate Ford, Mulally said. "Up until now, it hadn't been the plan. but its the plan now." Mulally said he believed Ford would still be independent in five years.
