Fiat 124 Spider, an ND MX 5-bodied Italian sports car

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_124_Spider_(2016)

Ah, the revival of a classic moniker, that captivates car enthusiasts from 1966-85. The Fiat 124 Sport Spider was a roadster that appealed to the enthusiasts looking for a basic top-down sports car during that juncture. Fast forward to 2016, Fiat Chrysler Automobile (FCA) has brought back the 124 nameplate, christened as the 124 Spider. 

Unlike the Pininfarina-designed 124 Sport Spider, the modern 124 Spider is not a result of Fiat and Pininfarina's collaboration, but rather a joint venture with a Hiroshima-based manufacturer who subscribes to the Jinba Ittai philosophy in sports car design. If you can guess what I am alluding to, kudos to you. But in case if you don't, the manufacturer in reference is Mazda. 

The 124 Spider is underpinned by the fourth generation ND Mazda MX-5 (MX-5 Miata in the US). Thanks to findings by Top Gear, the chassis is built in Mazda's Hiroshima factory. The engine, however, is not built by Mazda, but by Fiat instead. In a nutshell, lurking under the 124's bonnet is Fiat's proprietary 1.4 liter turbocharged MultiAir four banger rather than Mazda's 2.0 litre Skyactiv-G naturally aspirated four banger. Result? The 124 Spider makes more power than the MX-5, 160 for the 124 Spider vs 155 for the MX-5. Does not sound much, but every ponies count. Upon completion, the engine is then shipped to Hiroshima where Mazda's engineers marry the engine to the chassis. 

Fiat engineers then applied their own Jinba Ittai to the suspension tuning, with retuned dampers, stiffer springs and anti-roll bar to embarrass the donor car in the twisty bit. 

Taking advantage of the extra low-end torque, Fiat lengthen the gear ratio. The extra grunt at low rev is more than enough to compensate for the longer gearing. 

All these retuning sounds like a recipe for a more unadulterated driving experience. With more power and an uprated suspension, this little pocket rocket may have what it takes to make MX-5 owners clamouring for the 124 Spider.   

Source: Top Gear

Brake Override System

Source: http://www.nissanusa.com/blog/brake-override-system

You have just bought yourself a brand spanking new car. You flip through its specification and inevitably come across the term Brake Override System. Wondering what it means? Wonder no more.

Brake Override System is a safety feature that allows the ability to stop a car even with the accelerator pedal depressed at the same time with the brake application.

Why such feature is introduced on modern cars? One notable example that became fodder to the system's introduction is the fatal crash involving Mark Saylor, a California Highway Patrol officer, and his family, when the accelerator pedal of their Lexus sedan became stuck, leading to a deadly runaway car. Investigators blamed the accident on ill-designed floor mat that obstruct the accelerator's movement, meaning the risk of the accelerator not fully releasing is hazardously high. In light of the accident, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an executive branch of the US government under the Department of Transportation, has mandated the system to be implemented by every manufacturers in a bid to protect vehicle occupants in an event of stuck accelerator pedal.

Source: http://brainonboard.ca/safety_features/active_safety_features_brake_override.php

How does it work? When the system detects that both pedals are depressed at the same time, it gives the brake more precedence. In a nutshell,even with the accelerator depressed, the system will make it feel like the accelerator is fully released, enabling your brake to slow the car down effectively. This should in theory prevents you from roaring down the highway with a death note sticking on your forehead.

Should this system be featured on every new cars? Like every safety features, one must know how to use it and remain responsible on the road. It is not a great idea to fall into a false sense of security thinking you can drive around like you are in Too Fast Too Furious movie scene. Nevertheless, any features with life-saving potential make great sense as an extra protection to keep you out from a wreck.