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Honda launched the City and Motocompo together in Japan in 1981. The Motocompo was a small petrol-powered scooter designed to fold down and travel inside the City’s luggage compartment. The two
A block heater often needs only a few hours before you leave. Natural Resources Canada suggests switching it on two hours before starting, while the Ford system discussed below has a three-hour operat
The BMW E1 was a purpose-built electric prototype unveiled at the 1991 Frankfurt Motor Show. Designed for urban driving, it combined four-seat accommodation with lightweight construction. It remained
Parking sensors can give false alerts when accessories obstruct their detection area. Number-plate brackets, bicycle racks, large tow hitches and bumper covers are among the examples manufacturers ide
The Toyota WiLL Vi was a compact car launched in Japan in January 2000 as part of WiLL, a shared brand created by companies from several industries. Its carriage-inspired body was unusual enough. The
New U.S. rear seatbelt warning requirements apply to covered vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2028. The original rear-seat deadline was September 2027, but NHTSA extended it in April 2026. Exis
Objects on the front passenger seat can trigger the seatbelt reminder in some cars. Remove the bag or other belongings and check whether the warning stops. If it continues with the seat genuinely clea
On a Mercedes W123 diesel, a vacuum leak can prevent the engine from switching off. The central locking uses the same vacuum supply, so a leaking door-lock circuit can affect engine shutdown. It is on
The Peugeot 806 race car was a competition-prepared minivan entered by Peugeot’s Belgian operation in the 1995 Spa 24 Hours. With nearly 300 hp, it qualified 12th among 46 starters, an extraordi
New windshield wipers can still smear if there is residue on the glass, the blades are the wrong fit or the rubber is not sitting against the windshield properly. Cleaning the glass and checking the i
What was the Renault Safrane Biturbo? It was a high-performance version of Renault’s luxury flagship, developed with Hartge and Irmscher. A twin-turbo V6 drove all four wheels, while the body re
What did Volvo’s PremAir radiator do? Its catalytic coating converted some ground-level ozone in the air passing through the radiator into oxygen. Volvo reported conversion of up to 75% in tests
Why does car AC smell bad even when it blows cold? The smell may come from a dirty cabin filter or contamination around the evaporator, where moisture collects. A refrigerant recharge won’t clea
Why did Volkswagen make Harlequin cars? The multicoloured Polo began as a promotional demonstration of Volkswagen’s modular ordering system. Customers wanted the display cars, prompting the Polo
What was the 1996 Toyota Classic? It was a limited-run sedan inspired by the 1936 Toyoda Model AA, built on a Hilux pickup chassis. Toyota produced 100 examples, combining period-style bodywork and ca
Why are my tires turning brown? Protective ingredients in the rubber can work their way to the surface, leaving a brownish film known as blooming. Road dirt and brake dust can look similar. Blooming i
What was the Mercedes braking bag? It was an experimental underbody airbag shown as part of the ESF 2009 safety programme. When sensors judged a collision unavoidable, the device would deploy a high-f
What was the Saab Toppola camper? It was a removable living module fitted into a compatible hatchback after its rear hatch was taken off. Developed in Sweden in the early 1980s, it gave a passenger ca
Why does the low-fuel light sometimes come on early? Some vehicles base their warning on estimated driving range, so higher fuel consumption can trigger it with more fuel still in the tank. The warnin
Does Nissan’s self-healing paint actually work? Scratch Shield can help fine scratches in its clearcoat recover over time. Nissan says recovery depends on temperature and scratch depth, sometime
