Black Bell Custom 500 Dot Helmet on 2040-parts.com

Ford takes to Facebook to sell special model

FORD HAS TAKEN the unusual step of selling 500 examples of its EcoSport crossover on the social networking site Facebook. Based on the Fiesta, the EcoSport combines elements of the small supermini with a raised ride height, taller body and chunky details to create a compact crossover. Underneath the tough exterior the EcoSport comes with a choice of the impressive 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol or 1.5-litre 90bhp diesel unit.

UK new car average CO2 now under 140g/km

UK motor industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) claims 56% of new cars sold in the UK during 2010 boasted carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions figures below 140g/km. New car emissions of CO2 continued to fall at an increased rate year-on-year, dropping 3.5% over 2009’s figures and representing a cumulative drop in new car CO2 emissions of 20.3% since 2000.  The data comes from the release of the SMMT’s annual New Car Carbon Dioxide (CO2) report for 2011, out today. UK vehicle fleet CO2 continues to fall The presence of lower-polluting new vehicles in the overall UK vehicle parc (the total fleet of new and existing vehicles on the roads) has driven parcwide CO2 levels down 7.8% since 2000, and 2.7% since 2009.  This is partly thanks to new vehicles, and also due to reduction of higher-polluting vehicles via legislation and scrappage incentive schemes. The overall reduction also comes in spite of an increased number of vehicles on the road, and greater average distances travelled compared to 2000. Diesel’s rise continues One notable trend has been market penetration of diesel-powered cars. In 2000 petrol powered cars held 85.9% of the market, with 14.1% diesels.

Lexus RC F & RC F Carbon price and specs – costs from £59,995

The Lexus RC F (pictured) costs from £59,995 The Lexus RC F Coupe arrived earlier this year at the Detroit Motor Show and now, following the end of IS F production to make way for it, the RC F is going on sale in the UK, with prices starting at £59,995. Whether the RC F offers enough to prove a challenge to the BMW M4 remains to be seen, but on paper it all looks very promising – and good-looking. In the UK, the RC F will come in two guises – RC F and RC F Carbon – with both models getting the same 5.0 litre V8 with ‘more than’ 450bhp and 383lb/ft of torque driven to the back wheels through an eight-speed Sports Direct Shift gearbox.