2007 2008 Suzuki Gsxr1000 Gauges Meter Speedometer Tachometer on 2040-parts.com

Vauxhall Insignia Ecoflex (2009) first pictures

By Ben Barry First Official Pictures 21 April 2009 13:20 Vauxhall has announced its answer to the planet-conscious Volkswagen Passat Bluemotion – the Insignia Ecoflex. Essentially the Ecoflex is a 158bhp 2.0-litre CDTi Insignia, but an army of now-familiar C02-slashing improvements have been swung into action. These improvements include under-car panelling and a lower ride height to help the Insignia cut through air more cleanly (the drag factor falls from 0.27Cd to 0.26), plus lower rolling resistance Michelin tyres.

Best Western Hotels rolling out EV charging points in the UK

We’re electric car sceptics – or at least sceptical about their ability to replace the ICE car as our principal form of personal transport – although EVs do have their place as runarounds in urban areas, where their limited range isn’t really a factor. But taking your EV off for a weekend jaunt does pose logistical problems when the average range is probably no more than 80 miles, and something worth making the effort for a weekend away is almost always going to be further away than that. But a bit of smart marketing by Best Western Hotels – a group of 270 or so independently run hotels round the UK – means EV drivers will soon be able to plot their weekend away on the basis of Best Western Hotels en route, with Best Western planning on fitting EV charging points in their car parks, with half their hotels having free charging points by September.

Porsche Cayenne S V8 Diesel on the way

Porsche Cayenne S V8 Diesel on the way Porsche are planning to launch a V8 Diesel Cayenne S in Europe, expected to be based on the Touareg V8, to take on the BMW X5 M50d. The original Cayenne Diesel always seemed a bit of a let-down for a Porsche, even a diesel Porsche. The market imperative was there, no doubt, but the performance was not exactly stunning.