3m Finesse It Film Rolls on 2040-parts.com

Europe trailing on ESP safety

NOT ENOUGH new cars in Europe are being specified with an electronic stability programme (ESP) that is proved to be most important safety system in prevent collisions. Research by Frost and Sullivan has found Europe is lagging behind North America, where there is almost 100% success with fitting news cars with ESP. Despite ESP being included in the European New Car Assessment Programme since 2011, the study shows there has been only a minimal increase in the number of cars sold that have ESP.

VW Polo GTI (2010): first news and photos

Volkswagen has just issued these first photos of the new 2010 Polo GTI. It uses the 1.4-litre TSI engine with turbo- and supercharging to liberate a stocky 178bhp – enough to make the Polo GTI into a proper little pocket rocket.The first hot Polo was the supercharged G40 of 1986, but that developed a relatively weedy 112bhp. The new 2010-spec Volkswagen Polo GTI is powerful enough to hit 62mph in 6.9sec and reach a 142mph V-max.

Fiat 500XL spied undisguised – it’s not a looker

The Fiat 500 range has already expanded from the very successful recreation of the original 500 in to something bigger and more family friendly with the 500L, and now we have the joy of an even bigger version on the way – the Fiat 500XL. The 500L managed to lose almost all of the chic retro appeal the 500 managed so convincingly, and it looks like the 500XL goes a step further, with looks that only its mother could love. Grafting an extra 200mm on the back of the 500L perhaps seems like a good idea, but the execution doesn’t sit well.