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HondaVAC was a factory-installed vacuum offered on selected Honda Odyssey versions. Stored in the rear cargo area, it cleaned up dry dirt and debris using a pull-out hose and attachments. Despite bein
The first-generation Citroën C4 used a steering wheel with a rotating rim and a fixed central section. Keeping the centre stationary meant its controls stayed upright and allowed an airbag design
Some Volvos have grocery-bag holders built into the luggage compartment. Depending on the model and equipment, these may include side hooks, an upright folding floor panel or holders and an elastic st
The Citroën C3 Pluriel had a sliding fabric roof and removable side arches. With the arches fitted, owners could enjoy an open roof and close it again. Removing them created a more completely ope
A Mercedes G-Class costs a fortune, but in India, you can get a massive, ladder-frame SUV for a fraction of the price. Meet the Mahindra Bolero Bold Edition, a new version of the long-running off-road
The Golf GTI’s plaid upholstery was created by Volkswagen designer Gunhild Liljequist, who drew inspiration from checked fabrics she admired in Britain. She also suggested the golf-ball gear kno
The Autech Zagato Stelvio was a limited-production luxury coupé introduced in 1989, combining Nissan-based engineering with Zagato bodywork. Its unusual front wings incorporated the exterior mi
On Škodas equipped with a door umbrella compartment, the holder is designed to accommodate a wet umbrella and let water drain outside the car. Availability and location vary by model, so check
The Peugeot 1007 had two electrically operated sliding side doors, designed to make getting in and out easier in tight spaces. Launched in 2005, it brought the practicality of a van-style entrance to
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
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 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 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
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
How did a Mercedes taxi reach 4.6 million kilometres? Gregorios Sachinidis kept his 1976 Mercedes-Benz 240 D working in Thessaloniki for decades. Its recorded distance came with substantial mechanical
The Ford Nucleon looks as though someone moved the passengers forward to make room for a very important piece of luggage. Its cabin sits near the nose, leaving an enormous rear section between the fin
Among the cars in Citroën’s heritage collection sits something that makes even the company’s stranger experiments look quite sensible: a helicopter. Two seats, a bubble-like cabin and
The car has stopped. Your foot is on the brake, the selector says P, and everything feels settled. Then you release the pedal and the car shifts slightly on its wheels.On a slope, that little move
A photograph of a Citroën DS traveling with one rear wheel missing looks as though someone has caught the car halfway through a mechanical disaster. The body sits unexpectedly level. The front wh
Approach a BMW Isetta with the keys and the usual question comes first: where is the door handle? The answer is on the front of the car. Open its single door and the windshield, dashboard and steering
