1997 Nib Attwood Combination Sidelight 6375d7 ( Red/green ) on 2040-parts.com

Budget 2014 – what it means for the motorist

Chancellor George Osborne today addressed parliament with his 2014 Budget statement. There was plenty in there to talk about, but what we were desperate to find out was how Osborne’s financial plan for the next 12 months was going to help the average motorist in the UK. Here, we’ve got everything you need to know about the 2014 Budget when it comes to cars. From the fuel duty freeze to Vehicle Excise Duty road tax reforms, company car tax to classic car tax, this is what Budget 2014 means for drivers in Britain.

Kia Naimo concept

As the Seoul Motor Show starts today, Thursday 31st March, Kia is debuting the Naimo all-electric concept. The concept takes its name from the Korean word ‘Ne-mo' meaning square shape - something that lends itself to the Naimo's aesthetic. The crossover utility vehicle, or CUV, was conceived by Kia's international design team in Seoul and is characterized by its ‘simple lines and solid, muscular stance.' The simple overall design sports such interjecting details as the wrap-around windscreen and asymmetric sunroof.  This mixture of simple and complex is a reference to the common traits of many traditional Korean arts and crafts.  The Naimo's interior was designed to evoke a strong sense of tranquility and features hand-crafted materials throughout such as Korean oak on the floor and door cards, with "Han-ji" paper being used for the head lining. Juxtaposing these traditional elements are modern features such as the transparent organic led display instrument panel.

Ford announces electric car plans at the Detroit auto show

Not to be left out of the electric car party, Ford announced Sunday at the Detroit Auto Show that it was developing a line of electric powered vehicles. In addition to its already announced hybrids and plug-in hybrids, Ford is working with Magna International to bring fully electric cars to market with lithium-ion battery packs. In the works is a Focus and Fusion-based vehicles that will be available in with all three powertrains.