60141 Factory, Oem Reconditioned Wheel 13 X 5; Black Full Face Painted on 2040-parts.com

MINI JCW Cabrio at Monte Carlo Rally +video

MINI JCW Cabrio with Paddy Hopkirk and Rauno Altonen in Monte Carlo So MINI thought it would be a great idea to get these two Rally greats together and take them back to the scene of their former triumphs. Only this time they sent them to Monte Carlo in a brand new MINI John Cooper Works Cabriolet to drive round part of the Rally stage. This is properly good video from MINI, with some great cutting between the classic Mini in action and the legendary pair driving and reminiscing.

2013 Nissan LEAF updated

Nissan has updated the LEAF EV in Japan for 2013 with better range, less weight and a new LEAF S entry-level model. Revealed in Japan – but likely to come to the UK from 2013 when the LEAF starts rolling out of Nissan’s Sunderland factory – there are significant upgrades to the powertrain which result in both less weight and better range. Nissan has had a play with the electric powertrain and made it both smaller and lighter with a new motor that uses 40 per cent less dysprosium (a rare earth metal) than before, and comes in 30 per cent smaller and 10 per cent lighter, and a new streamline battery case and a few other tweaks drops the LEAF’s weight by 80kg.

One Lap of the Web: a diesel Audi, a mint Alfa and a Honda-powered Peugeot

-- Ever wondered how a Peugeot 106 with a Honda CBR900 engine sitting midships would perform at the track? Well, we have. A number of times just today before lunch, in fact.