When you think of Leica, you probably think of cameras which are built like a tank and feature that famous red dot. But if you were to take a photo of the iconic red logo with the latest rangefinder camera from the German firm, it might not come out as you'd expect … because the Leica M-Monochrom is the world’s first digital rangefinder which only shoots in black and white. Read More

It hasn't been around long, but the sixth (F30) generation of BMW's 3 series is already regarded as a stand-out version of the perennial top-seller. Hence the first release of images and details of the new Touring estate version will no doubt interest a lot of people seeking a practical compact executive car. Highlights include a full-color Heads-Up Display, twin turbo engine, automatic stop-start, and optional eight-speed automatic gearbox and M Sport package. Read More

The MINI John Cooper Works GP will be unveiled at the MINI United festival in France later today. The limited edition (2000 only) will be the fastest MINI ever, capable of lapping the Nürburgring-Nordschleife circuit in 8 min 23 seconds. Read More

Automotive legend Carroll Hall Shelby passed away yesterday at age 89. Born in Texas on January 11, 1923, Shelby was a leading race car driver, then race and performance car designer who became a household name for his exploits. Read More

While we wait for the official Fiat 500 electric - a car that makes all kinds of sense given the 500's small, fuel efficient build - two German manufacturers have teamed up to give us an alternative. The 500 E from Karabag and Linde trades its gas engine for an electric forklift motor. Read More

If you’re a fan of things retro and an electronics do-it-youselfer, this might might be just the thing for you – it’s a kit that lets you built your own clock, that displays the time using wonderfully outdated nixie tubes. Read More

If you were using a smartphone projector to shine an image onto an uneven surface, or onto a flat surface but at a diagonal angle, parts of the image would end up out of focus ... unless, that is, your phone featured a new prototype LED projector developed by Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering. Inspired by the compound eyes of insects, the device can reportedly display crisp, bright, distortion-free visuals onto irregular surfaces, and at non-perpendicular angles. Additionally, users can manipulate that display by reaching in and touching the projection surface. Read More

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has detected infrared light emanating from 55 Cancri e, a dark, blazing-hot planet only twice the size of Earth and eight times as heavy. This marks the first time that light has been detected from a planet of such a small size, and the find is telling astrophysicists where to look in their search for signs of life on planets beyond our own. Read More

Peavey Electronics and Muse Research have partnered to develop the MuseBox, a rather nifty software-powered, digital sound module, vocal processor, guitar processor and effects processor all-in-one. The half-rack-sized unit features a mind-boggling number of presets, comes supplied with a software package valued at over US$900 and benefits from two pro-grade guitar/mic inputs at the front of the unit with phantom power, stereo, 24-bit, 48 kHz 0.25-inch rear-panel inputs and outputs, Gigabit Ethernet, full-size 5-pin DIN MIDI and four USB 2.0 ports. Read More