The good oil: Ford's fast crime-fighter

The all-new Ford Police Interceptor utility (left) and Police Interceptor sedan (right) comprise Ford's first-ever police portfolio. Photo / Supplied

Ford reckons crooks in the US will have a tough time beating its new police Interceptor sedan. The car has just recorded the fastest lap time of any police car tested by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. The all-wheel-drive Taurus-based Interceptor is powered by a 3.5-litre V6 EcoBoost engine delivering 272kW and 474Nm of torque. The car sprinted from zero to 100km/h in 5.5s and turned in faster lap times than rivals from General Motors and Chrysler, said Ford. The Interceptor replaces the long-time US police cruiser the Crown Victoria at the end of 2011.

Risky cyclists run a red

The Good Oil was sitting at traffic lights, waiting to turn right from Mission Bay's Patterson Ave into Tamaki Drive. The lights turned green - and two cyclists sped across the Good Oil's bows, perhaps doing 40km/h through a red light. It happened at 7.35am. A second later and there would have been blood on the road.

Kizashi named Best Buy

Suzuki's mid-size Kizashi has received a Best Buy award from US magazine Consumers Digest. More than 250 vehicles across 12 categories underwent the magazine's assessment. The Kizashi received top honours in the Family Car category and was described by judges as a "home run" and "a family car for the sports-car addict". The Kizashi is a finalist for the Car of the Year gong from the NZ Motoring Writers Guild. The new-generation Swift has won a COTY award in Japan, this one from a body of journalists and researchers. The new Swift will be launched in New Zealand next year.

Three Hondas in top fuel-savers

Three out of the top five most fuel efficient vehicles in the US are Hondas, says the Environmental Protection Agency. The Honda Civic hybrid and Honda Insight tied for third place, and the automatic version of the new CR-Z came in at number four. The manual version finished in 10th place. In addition, the 2000 Honda Insight remains the most fuel-efficient vehicle ever rated by the EPA, with five of the top 10 most fuel efficient cars since 1984 being Honda vehicles.

McLaren surprise supercar price

McLaren has disclosed the last secret of its all-new supercar: the price. The mid-engined MP4-12C will weigh in at £168,500 ($349, 491) when sales start next year - undercutting its closest rival, the Ferrari 458 Italia. The Ferrari starts at £169,545, including British VAT at the current 17.5 per cent, while the McLaren's price includes VAT at January's new 20 per cent rate. The McLaren boasts a single-piece carbon fibre chassis and 3.8-litre V8 engine.

Audi aims to be electric leader

Audi has big plans for its electric vehicle business. "By 2020, we want to be the leading premium seller of electric vehicles," says Franciscus van Meel, Audi's manager for electric mobility strategy. "We will successively bring out a variety of hybrid models and electric vehicles, such as our first plug-in hybrid in 2014." Audi's alternative powertrain plan includes: full-hybrid versions of the flagship A8 sedan and SUV Q5, both due in late 2011; a hybrid A6 likely to arrive in 2012; plus a range of high-priced electric cars starting with the limited-edition R8 supercar in 2012.

We are the world

The robber got away from the store in Phoenix, Arizona, but couldn't get away from a surveillance camera. He entered the store with a plastic bag pulled over his face to distort his features and foil the camera but, half-way through the robbery, he began labouring for breath and yanked off the bag, revealing his face.

alastair.sloane@nzherald.co.nz