1999 - 2005 Saab 9-5 Center Console Grey Shifter Trim Panel on 2040-parts.com

Four in 10 'driving damaged cars'

MORE THAN four in 10 UK motorists admit they are getting behind the wheel of vehicles that are damaged, according to shocking new research from Kwik Fit. From chipped windscreens to balding tyres, the 43% figure equates to more than 16 million cars on UK roads with potentially dangerous faults or damages. Damaged body work is the most common vehicle issue, as cited by over half (56%) of all motorists who admitted to driving damaged cars.

Ford Focus Facelift price and spec – costs from £13,995

The new Ford Focus will be in dealers in November 2014 The facelift for the Ford Focus was revealed back in February, but only now are Ford getting their act together with prices and specifications, and the new Focus won’t be in Ford’s UK showrooms until November. Key changes for the new Focus include the new family grill (well, the ‘Aston’ family grill), some tweaks to the lights and alloys and a less cluttered, more upmarket interior, new engines and chassis changes. Ford has retained the same model line-up for the new Focus – and the same starting price – with the Focus Studio ((from £13,995), Style (£16,795), Zetec (£18,295), Zetec S (£20,045), Titanium (£19,795) and Titanium X (£21,795) which means the starting price stays the same and the top-end Titanium models drop by £100.

Lexus IS Coupe arriving in 2014 & IS F V8 on the way

Now it looks like Lexus is going to bring the LF-CC to production life in 2014 as the Lexus IS Coupe (although there are rumours it could be the RC, but that may be for a production version of the even more appealing LF-LC as a range-topping Lexus Coupe) and equip it with the same petrol engine and hybrid options as the IS saloon. What is also in prospect is a return of the IS F – complete with sizeable V8 power – which, if it does arrive, will see the IS Coupe coming with the F engine option and making a very promising foray in to the powerful V8 Coupe market. What doesn’t seem likely is that Lexus are going to bother with a diesel option for the IS or Coupe, despite conventional wisdom saying they need a diesel option to compete in Europe because - as they’ve already demonstrated with the IS 300h – they can deliver an appealing and competitive hybrid with decent performance and price, and bring it in with under 100g/km emissions – perfect for the business market.