2006 Infiniti M35 M45 Speedometer Instrument Gauge Cluster Odometer on 2040-parts.com

Crunch watch Feb 09: the auto industry in crisis

By Tim Pollard, Ben Pulman and Ben Whitworth Motor Industry 02 March 2009 18:11 Monday 2 March• The Volkswagen Group announces a 5% rise in sales revenues in the 2008 tax year and a 3% increase in operating profits, up to €6.3 billion. Chairman Martin Winterkorn said the group's multi-brand strategy and low CO2 cars had helped sustain sales, although he admitted that 2009 would see a fall in demand and revenues (Volkswagen) Friday 27 February• Jaguar Land Rover announces a significant order for 13,000 cars from a Chinese business. It's a morale boost for JLR which has been hit by a slump in demand with the global slowdown (BBC News)• Opel this afternoon agreed to a restructuring plan designed to save as many jobs and factories as possible – but it needs a €3.3 billion lifeline from the state.

2014 Kia Sportage gets a mild facelift

2014 Kia Sportage (pictured) gets a mild facelift The Kia Sportage is Kia’s best-selling model in the UK, and Kia are keen to keep things that way so they’ve given the Sportage a bit of a tweak for 2014. The changes are quite modest – just enough to mark this Sportage as a 2014 model – with a new version of the ‘Tiger Nose’ grill with added chrome and restyled mesh, better back lights, new 16-18″ alloys and LED tail lights on the top-end models. The interior has been given a bit of a lift too with new soft touch trim on the doors, nano paint finish on the dashboard and centre console, heated steering wheel and electric driver’s seat on top-end models and repositioned audio tweeters for better sound.

Button wins in Barcelona – another Brawn 1-2

Button wins for Brawn GP in Barcelona - with Barrichello in second place [ad#ad-1] Brawn’s fairytale season continues, with Jenson Button taking the win in Barcelona, with team mate Rubens Barrichello in second place. Button lost first place to team mate Barrichello off the line but, after a safety car on the first lap, strategy genius Ross Brawn moved Button on to a two-stop strategy, which proved a master stroke as Button cruised in to an 11 second lead by mid-point, and ended the day 13 seconds ahead of Barrichello at the finish. Ferrari had a better day than they’ve had of late, and Massa looked good for a strong finish, but an error at his last pit-stop left him short of fuel, and he had to back off and let Vettel in the Red Bull through in the dying laps of the race to have a chance of making it to the end.