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Petrolhead spiders cause Mazda recall

Mazda has had to recall 42,000 vehicles in the US after it emerged that a species of spider had been weaving webs in fuel vent hoses, increasing the risk of fuel leaks and fires. The yellow sac spider’s curious domestic activities cause a build-up of pressure in the evaporative fuel vent that – in theory at least – could result in a cracked fuel tank and therefore an increased risk of fire. This isn’t the first time that the Mazda 6 has received the unwanted advances of a gas-guzzling arachnid, either – three years ago Mazda had to recall over 50,000 cars for precisely the same reason.

Ford Focus (2011) prices start at less than £16k

The new Ford Focus range will start at less than £16,000 when it hits UK showrooms in March 2011, the company has announced. The base Edge, with a 1.6-litre 102bhp petrol engine, is the cheapest Focus at £15,995, with the £25,095 2.0-litre TDCi Titanium X topping the range. There will be seven engines to choose from: three petrol and four diesel.

Porsche Panamera revealed at Shanghai Motor Show

Porsche has finally officially revealed the Porsche Panamera at the Shanghai Motor Show As we’ve said before, the Panamera is not the most stunning looking of cars, and is left in the wake of the Aston Martin Rapide in the style department. But it would seem to us that Porsche is going to have another Cayenne-like success on its hands with the Panamera. As with the Cayenne, its looks are criticised, but it does everything else so remarkably well, and has the kudos of the Porsche badge, and it’s hard to see how it will fail.