1955 Mercury Monterey Glove Box Door on 2040-parts.com

New Ford Kuga: Titanium and Titanium X make up 87% of sales

The new Ford Kuga is now hitting UK showrooms, and Ford has revealed that 87% of buyers are opting for the range-topping Titanium and Titanium X models. But what’s most interesting – in what is supposed to be a cash-strapped economy – is that a full 87 per cent of all the new Kugas ordered so far have been the range-topping Titanium and Titanium X models, and the average up-spend on options is another £1,000 on top of that. That means that although the Ford Kuga range starts at £21,000, 87 per cent of buyers are actually spending between £25-30k on their new compact SUV, which must warm the cockles of Ford’s heart.

2015 Aston Martin Vanquish, Vanquish Volante & Rapide S updated with new 8-speed ZF gearbox

The 2015 Aston Martin Vanquish (pictured) upgraded It really is astonishing how Aston Martin keep managing to upgrade their cars despite a platform and engine that are more than a decade old. But they do, and the tweaks for 2015 for the aston Martin Vanquish (and Vanquish Volante) as we ll as the 4-door Rapide S are all quite impressive. Most notably, Aston Martin finally ditch their ancient 6-speed auto ‘box in favour of a new 8-speed ZF auto shifter - Touchtronic III – which cleverly adds an extra pair of cogs without needing a new housing (and all the work that would entail), improves economy and boosts performance.

Next Kia Forte sedan is wider, lower

Kia will introduce the next Forte sedan in 2013, and we have pictures, straight from the office in Korea. The sedan sports a wider and lower version of the front clip from the Kia Rio. The body is stretched, and the roofline looks lower.