HYUNDAI has become the first manufacturer to fit a rev-limiter to reverse gear on its recently launched Atoz city car to prevent the 'one-in-a-million' chance that it could be involved in a high-speed reverse-gear roll-over.

Autocar magazine discovered during high-speed reverse manoeuvres that the stability of some cars could be compromised if the driver put the vehicle under demands and stresses for which it was not designed or intended. Testing by the manufacturer confirmed that reversing at speeds of above 18mph the Atoz could be unsettled by sudden and severe steering movements.