835913 Alternator Bracket, Volvo Penta on 2040-parts.com

First Sight: Ferrari 599 GTB

Ferrari have announced the first details of their latest V12 berlinetta at the North American International Auto Show - the new 599 GTB. The new model is a direct replacement for the 575M Maranello and represents the latest interpretation of a theme that has seen such classics as the 250 GT, the 275 GTB, and the 365 GTB4 (Daytona).   According to Ferrari, the new car is a concentration of their most innovative and technologically advanced engineering solutions applied to a mid-front engined two-seater coup?.

Porsche Panamera convertible plans uncovered

A series of European and U.S. patent applications obtained by AutoWeek show that Porsche remains committed to building a four-door convertible version of its flagship Panamera, despite recent comments from Zuffenhausen insiders indicating the car had been canceled. The new car, depicted in official drawings that accompany the latest Porsche patent applications filed in February, eschews the two-door route taken by all of its upmarket rivals for a practical four-door body.

Rear-end collisions increasing, says study

REAR-END shunts on the road are getting more common despite the advance of new anti-crash technology, according to new research by accident management firm Accident Exchange. Rear-end shunts – when one car drives into the back of another – have risen by 7% in the last three years as a proportion of all accidents. Each accident causes damage costing an average of £2,000 to repair.