The car uses the same...
The car uses the same 256bhp 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine found in the larger 6 MPS, and will also feature that model"s sporty six-speed manual gearbox. As well as a Subaru Impreza-style bonnet scoop, the 3 MPS will get a beefy bodykit to set it apart from lesser models.
Called Auto-txt, the...
Called Auto-txt, the equipment identifies drivers via their telephones and detects instantly if their car is stolen. The latest Thatcham 5 device is alerted that something is wrong when a vehicle is started with its correct keys, but the owner"s Bluetooth-enabled mobile is not present.
Selwyn Rowley, of maker Richmond Design and Marketing, based in Banbury, Oxon, said: "The unique thing the new technology offers is extra security, because it means the driver of the vehicle needs to have something else with him apart from the regular keys. Of course, everything can be beaten by the thief in the end - but the point is to make stealing a car as difficult as possible."
Auto-txt allows police to track a stolen vehicle using global positioning system (GPS) signals, then immobilise it and prevent it restarting by remote wireless technology if necessary.
The designers admit that, although the set-up would offer better protection for cars by incorporating a second "key", it could also turn into a nightmare for a motorist who loses or forgets his or her mobile phone. In that circumstance, the vehicle would then be identified as stolen by the technology and fail to restart once the engine is switched off.
The phone system costs between í‚á£279.99 and í‚á£349.99, with installations starting at í‚á£149.99. The company charges í‚á£159.99 per year for subscriptions, or í‚á£449.99 for a three-year package.