The world"s first engine...
The world"s first engine with a magnesium block has been unveiled by BMW at the Paris Motor Show. The 3.0-litre 258bhp straight-six petrol unit will appear in the 630i, which goes on sale next month, and will be in the 330i in 2005. Magnesium is lighter than traditional metals, and so gives improved performance and economy
Microfibre is shaking...
Microfibre is shaking up the car care market, with the hi-tech material’s ability to shift grime and absorb water putting traditional cloths to shame. We only tested wash mitts and cloths in Issue 936, but we wanted to try out the newest product to go on sale, the Mibatowel.
Made of 75 per cent polyester and 25 per cent polyamide, the cloth was created for helping golfers keep their clubs clean. But the manufacturer is now marketing it for automotive use – and we tested it on the bodywork of a Nissan 350Z.
You get two shaped towels for ÷£4.97 – the larger, at 56x15cm, is attached to the smaller 30x13cm cloth with Velcro, and there’s a hook for hanging them up to dry. Both glided over the 350Z’s panels, shifting marks with the minimum fuss and retaining plenty of liquid to limit water waste.
To see how much fluid the Mibatowel could hold, we weighed it dry, submerged it, let it drip and then weighed it again. There was a difference of 500g – very good compared to the cloths in our recent test.
It’s also machine washable. But while the fabric impresses, the Velcro panels and hook will scratch your bodywork easily. So it’s a decent first attempt for the car market, but the Mibatowel still needs work.
Mibatowel, price: ÷£4.97 plus 75p p&p, rating 3/5, buy from:
www.mibatowel.com