The latest articles to keep you informed. Interesting articles on motoring and car ownership.

5 tips for customizing your car interior
Coming soon - cars that can tell the speed limit
Want To Avoid Car Theft? - Here Are The Secrets

5 tips for customizing your car interior	Back to top ^
1. The seat is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of the interior of your car. Using a seat cover, you can bring a difference in the look of the car interior from time to time. However, those who want a more sophisticated look can go for leather upholstery. These days, vinyl materials are used extensively as a cheaper alternative of the leather. 2. To make a lavish statement consider using customized door knobs, dashboard covers and console. Fiber glass can help you to create a color coordinate look for the dash and door panels along with a customized audio system. 3. Now choose a carpet to complement the other accessories. If you like a sporty look, you can choose from several neon color shades which have become hugely popular these days. 4. However, the final magic is done by lighting. Light emitting diodes or other small lights are a good item to create a stylized look; to make a trendier statement, make use of colored lights, colored LEDs and mood lights in strategic places of your car. For more enhanced effect, place the lights in the headliners and cupholders. 5. To make your car interior even more comfortable and relaxing consider using orthopedic cushions, different types of customized storage solutions, steering wheel covers and sun shades.

Coming soon - cars that can tell the speed limit	Back to top ^
A new car that reads speed limit signposts and variable speed limit signs and shows the limit in the instrument cluster has been unveiled by BMW. Speed Limit Display ensures drivers always know what speed zone they are in when driving. This is especially important on roads which may have several different speed zones, or variable speed limits depending on traffic flows. The new BMW Speed Limit Display will significantly reduce the risk of drivers exceeding the speed limit by mistake, especially on roads with multiple speed zones, says Tom Noble, General Manager Marketing, BMW Group Australia. A camera fitted near the interior mirror permanently monitors the signs by the road as well as variable speed limit signs and compares this with the data saved in the navigation system. Even when the speed limit has changed on account of temporary conditions for example in the case of roadworks priority is given to the data recorded by the camera. The speed allowed is presented to the driver in the instrument cluster, or in the head-up display on the cars windscreen, significantly reducing the risk of breaking the speed limit by mistake. The BMW Speed Limit Display is an information system only. It does not intervene in the control of the vehicle or its speed in any way. The responsibility for maintaining a correct and safe speed will always rest with the driver. The long-standing BMW head-up display system allows drivers to view a range of safety related information on the windscreen in their line of sight. This includes navigation directions, cruise control speed settings as well as actual road speed and vehicle system warnings. The new BMW Speed Limit Display system will add another dimension of safety and information for the driver. This will be especially useful in areas of New Zealand where a proliferation of speed zones on a single road, or within a neighbourhood, make it difficult for drivers to know what the prevailing speed limit is. The Speed Limit Display is able to read painted metal signs as well as dynamic digital displays. The new BMW 7 Series will be the first production car available with Speed Limit Display when it is introduced in Europe later this year.

Want To Avoid Car Theft? - Here Are The Secrets	Back to top ^
Step1 Park your car in an area that is well-lit and near lots of people. Step2 Keep the windows rolled up and the car locked, even if it's parked at your own house. Step3 Keep valuables in your car hidden. Consider buying a removable stereo face to keep in your trunk or carry with you. Step4 Consider buying a visible mechanical locking device to lock the steering wheel, and/or an auto theft alarm system. Step5 Install locking lug nuts to prevent your custom wheels or externally mounted spare tire from being stolen. Step6 Keep in mind when purchasing a new car that some makes and models have a higher incidence of theft than others. Step7 Keep your car registration and insurance card with you instead of in the glove compartment so that thieves cannot produce these documents if stopped by police. Step8 Disconnect either the battery or the coil wire from the distributor cap if you have to leave your car unattended for an extended period of time. Car thieves will often not have the time or the desire to diagnose why the car won't start. Step9 Take your ignition keys to a locksmith or car dealer to remove the key number, which thieves can use to have the keys duplicated (jot down the number for your records first). Step10 Etch the vehicle identification number (VIN) onto the doors and fenders of your car with an electric engraver for extra protection. This helps to discourage professional car thieves, who will have to remove the markings to resell the car.