Alpine Sws-124 on 2040-parts.com

New Nissan Note production starts in Sunderland

The New Nissan Note goes in to production The new Nissan Note arrived at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and has turned in to a proper compact hatch – with plenty of kerbside appeal – instead of the rather bland small MPV it used to be. With better looks, some nice styling detail and lots of technology on offer – like Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Departure Warning and Moving Object Detection, the new Note looks set to have much more impact when it arrive’s in Nissan’s showrooms than the old Note ever did. That point of view is given extra credence by the 14,000 orders Nissan has received for the new Note in Europe since it went on sale in July, and now the first Notes are ready to start rolling off the production line at Nissan’s plant in Sunderland.

Vauxhall Adam price from £11,255: Paris 2012

The Vauxhall Adam – Vauxhall and Opel’s MINI competitor – will start from £11,255 when it goes on sale in January 2013. And with prices announced from £11,255 it looks like the Adam may just have a fighting chance of taking a piece of the market dominated by MINI and the Fiat 500. Of course, GM are hoping that no one who goes in to a Vauxhall showroom will go out with a basic car – a vast array of style and customisation options are the order of the day with the Adam – but the headline starting point is a decent one.

Button issues Triathlon challenge

Formula 1 star Jenson Button is challenging his McLaren team-mates to down tools and race him - in the annual triathlon he organises. The 2009 world champion driver is signing up his mechanics to take part in the challenge being staged in July for the third year. Button is a keen athlete who has taken part in a number of triathlons over the years.