You know, I am mightily impressed by the Tata Nano. It’s a strange attraction because, as a gearhead, any soulless reduction of the car down to a minimalist representation of its function makes me wince.

However, while the Nano may look boring to the desensitised Western eye, to the Indian chap who can just about afford [...]

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Sergio Marchionne, Fiat’s Chief Executive Officer, famously averred that car companies need to sell 5.5 million vehicles a year, and one million units employing each platform, to keep their noses above water.

This is a bold and interesting statement because it gives a keen insight into the typical vehicle manufacturer’s calculus of long-term profit maximisation.

Where [...]

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I want to talk to you about iDrive, which of course is BMW’s in-cabin computer system that provides an interface for its creature comforts – the satellite navigation, various entertainment options, the vehicle’s settings, your telephone, and so on.

I rather liked it even when it first appeared almost a decade ago on the 7 Series.

Then, [...]

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I was waiting yesterday for a pathologically indolent friend at a suburban restaurant when I decided to divert myself by flipping through the one item of literature they had on offer – a community newspaper.

Ordinarily I’d rather closely examine the weave on the toilet paper than read one of those, but I was drawn in [...]

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Right then, who’s up for an experiment in the name of scientific discovery and intellectual edification? Come on.

It really is uncomplicated - all you need is a rubber band (and you can nick one of those from just about any unsuspecting schoolgirl).

Step 1: Double up the rubber band to give it some strength and stretch [...]

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The economic concept of ‘opportunity cost’ is one that was never more relevant than in these hard times.

It essentially says that the scarcity of resources necessitates a choice.

If it takes an egg to make a cake or a pie, you cannot have the cake and eat the pie as well. If you have one, you [...]

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