It"s called Park Assist...

It"s called Park Assist Stop (PAS), and uses ultrasonic technology to judge how near the vehicle is to an object front or rear, just like normal sensors. However, the new device has one important difference - rather than simply sounding an alarm when you are getting close, it automatically applies the car"s brakes. Dan Need from Bosch UK explained: "Sometimes people ignore the warning sounds of current sensors, hoping to get a few extra millimetres closer and end up reversing too far, having a bump. This system prevents this by applying the brakes. Also, current parking sensors are no help if you accidentally slip and press the throttle too hard. Our set-up stops that as well."

In extreme cases, the...

In extreme cases, the damage can be so severe that scars similar to those pictured in this week"s mag are left on the side of the rubber. Even if the tyre appears to be unharmed, microscopic perforations may still be present, which can weaken the tyre and cause a blow-out.