Arias Pistons 12.5:1 Compression 82mm Bore Honda B-series on 2040-parts.com

Half of all used cars go wrong ‘within a month’

With over seven million secondhand cars purchased in 2012, you’d expect one or two to develop a problem soon after purchase. But rather shockingly, as many as half of all used cars sold develop faults within a month of changing hands. That’s according to a report by the Citizens Advice Bureau, which helped with over 84,000 problems with secondhand motors in the past 12 months.

MINI Goodwood Rolls Royce Tribute parks up in Harrods’ window

MINI Goodwood sets up shop in Harrods The MINI ‘Inspired by Goodwood’ has taken up residence in Harrods’ window to celebrate the first customer deliveries. The MINI ‘Inspired by Goodwood’ is another of MINI’s marketing moves to fill every niche for MINI it can; the Goodwood for those who want a MINI trimmed out like a Rolls Royce. For those prepared to fork out £41k – that’s £18k for the Cooper S donor car and £23k for the Rolls Royce bit – you get a Cooper S with the bonnet off a MINI One, Rolls Royce coloured paintwork, posh alloys and an interior that takes more than an average herd of cows to cover.

Essen Motor Show 2013: in pictures

After the corporate seriousness and Germanic efficiency of the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Essen Motor Show is an altogether more relaxed affair. Albeit one delivered with the same level of German efficiency. It's the perfect show for the run-up to Christmas, with wild concepts and weird creations from the custom and tuning industry.