The good oil: Wheel in the fools

Carmakers and their suppliers had fun with April Fools Day pranks. British company Auto Windscreens claimed a breakthrough in prescription windscreens, "which can be curved to correct short-sightedness and will bring welcome news to drivers who need glasses or contact lenses to drive." Nissan's luxury arm Infiniti said it had developed sensors to detect "tummy rumble"and reduce the dangers of driving while hungry. "The system will not only alert the driver of the need to stop for food but will also navigate the car to the nearest restaurant that suits the driver's taste and pocket." VW Group company Seat said it had re-engineered a car to include a 545-litre fuel tank. It gives the "ultra-green Leon Ecomotive the unique ability to cover a full 16,000km between fill-ups." Said Seat PR man Mike Orford: 'Clearly, you'd be a fool not to see the benefits of this new Leon Ecomotive."

Alcohol limit set to go lower

The British treat of driving to the local pub for a pint before the Sunday roast could be off the menu if a new drink-drive recommendation becomes law. A report commissioned by the Labour Government is expected to urge a cut in blood alcohol levels from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood. That'll cut out the buffer zone that allows the average male to drink a pint of beer and still be comfortably within the limit. But the Conservatives' shadow transport secretary Teresa Villiers says she was "not convinced that a change would be justified". Villiers could become transport secretary after the British election on May 6.

Supercharged XR8 Falcon

Ford Australia is expected to offer a supercharged version of its XR8 Falcon as part of the nameplate's 50th birthday celebrations this year. Word is that the carmaker has received formal Australian Design Rule approval for a Falcon sedan and ute using a supercharged 5-litre V8 delivering 315kW, or 425bhp. The naturally aspirated version of the engine powers Ford's new Mustang in the US. The move would almost certainly allow Ford Australia to build a born-again Falcon GTHO. The 5-litre Mustang engine replaces the current 5.4-litre Boss unit, which does not meet upcoming emissions laws across the ditch.

Mercedes test rapid-boost unit

Mercedes-Benz is testing a four-cylinder engine that uses a new type of rapid-boost unit without the limitations of turbochargers or superchargers. A report says the system is a "unique" Swiss design that pulses to force air into inlet ports to produce the power of a six-cylinder engine and the efficiency of a four. It says it provides a four-cylinder unit with the same characteristics as a big-displacement naturally aspirated engine. Benz is likely to use it on V6 engines. But its AMG performance arm is eyeing the system for a go-fast model based on a shortened version of the C-Class platform. It will slot in below the C63 sedan but be aimed at the Audi S3, BMW 1-Series and VW Golf R.

We are the world

Local government councils in greater London have been so determined to crack down on parking laws that they have issued tickets to vehicles registered to ... themselves. Two councils went to traffic court to pursue fines, but only in one case did the adjudicator actually require the council to hand over a fine to itself.

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A sheriff's deputy in Naples, Florida, broke his ankle when he and a colleague accidentally locked wheels while patrolling on their Segways.

alastair.sloane@nzherald.co.nz