Blog on 2040Parts

Increase in crashes linked to mobile phone use

As many of us admit to taking selfies at the wheel, researchers have noticed a rise in the number of rear-end shunts on UK roads – despite many manufacturers now offering cars with collision avoidance systems that can brake automatically. According to new research by Accident Exchange, crashes involving one car hitting the back of another have increased by 7% in the last three years. Rated: self-braking cars that avoid a crash Nearly 1 in 10 admit to taking selfies at the wheel With each rear-end smash costing insurers £2,000 on average, premiums could rocket until driverless cars hit our streets.

Ford introduces Defender/Wrangler fighter for Brazil

Ford introduced a spiritual successor to the universally loved Bronco in Brazil this week. The styling is based on the 2012 Troller R-X Concept. Ford bought the Brazilian off-road manufacturer in January 2007.

One Lap of the Web: New Zonda, Euro-spec Porsches and a Gordini R17

-- The Pagani Zonda just refuses to die. World Car Fans is reporting the company is working on the Zonda X, based on the 760LM version. Like the 760LM, power is expected to come from a 7.3-liter AMG V12, and some sort of sequential gearbox.

'Rat run' short cuts make journeys slower

DRIVERS taking "rat-run" short cuts could actually be making their journeys slower, according to a survey. Congestion at the busiest times on local roads is twice as bad as on main highways, the poll from traffic information company TomTom found. It also revealed that traffic congestion in cities across the UK has got significantly worse over the past year.

Mitsubishi's 600bhp EV to tackle Pikes Peak

By Damion Smy Motoring Issues 03 June 2014 17:11 Mitsubishi will enter the 2014 Pikes Peak International Hillclimb – the 92nd running of the prestigious event – with its specially built electric racecar, it announced today. The team finished second and third in the electric class at the 2013 event, and will use the same drivers – former motorcycle class winner, Greg Tracy, and Dakar-rally winner Hiroshi Masuoka – for the 12.42-mile climb to the 14,110ft summit. The bewinged Mitsubishi i-MiEV Evolution III is 4.7m long and 1.9m wide, with an electric motor at each corner to send a total of 600bhp through all four wheels.

Toyota recalls 370,000 Sienna minivans for spare-tire problem

Toyota is recalling certain Sienna minivans manufactured between 2004 and 2011 and sold in 20 northern and Midwestern states and the District of Columbia. The problem is a spare-tire carrier cable that may disintegrate over time due to rust, causing the tire to fall away. A total of 370,000 Sienna models are a part of this recall.

2015 Honda Pilot line to get SE trim

Honda is spicing up its 2015 Pilot line by adding a model between the EX and EX-L trim levels. The LX model starts at $30,700--a bump of $200 over the previous year--and the two-wheel-drive SE model starts at $33,950. The eight-passenger Pilot SE comes with pewter gray aluminum-alloy wheels, SE badging, a one-touch moonroof, satellite radio and a DVD player.

Alfa Romeo Celebrates Giulietta Anniversary With Retro Price Tag

ITALIAN car maker Alfa Romeo has made one customer very happy, after turning back the clock to 1954 prices for a brand new Giulietta. The original Giulietta Sprint was first unveiled to the public on April 19 1954 at the Turin Motor Show, and later sold for the princely sum of just £1,250. To celebrate the iconic model’s 60th anniversary, Alfa Romeo UK entered all customers who ordered a new Giulietta during the 60th anniversary event (April 7-22, 2014) into a prize draw, offering one customer the chance to be refunded the difference between the 1954 and 2014 prices.

The Fixed parking-ticket app: Not so great?

Remember Fixed, that shiny new app that was supposed to be for parking tickets what Uber was for taxicabs and a microwaved burrito was for fast-food convenience? It might not be so great, says the Los Angeles Times, citing statistics that show you might be better off putting in your own legwork and taking on the courts themselves, like a petty-crime Mr. Smith Goes To The Los Angeles Parking Violations Bureau.

Audi Q3 pop-up tent (2014): perfect for a murder mystery?

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 03 June 2014 14:56 It might look like something you'll see on Waking The Dead or any other crime-scene investigation TV drama. But Audi did indeed show an integrated Q3 pop-up tent at the 2014 Worthersee motoring festival. Developed under the Audi Original Accessories brand, the pop-up tent clips on to the tailgate of a Q3 and erects in seven minutes flat.

Mitsubishi returns to Pikes Peak with all-new MiEV Evolution III

Mitsubishi is back again with an all-new version of its electric hill-climbing machine, the MiEV Evolution III. A pair of the fully electric race cars will compete in the 92nd running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 29, held just outside of Colorado Springs, Colo. Replacing the MiEV Evolution II that came in second in the EV division in last year's, “Race to the Clouds,” the MiEV Evolution III comes with a full force of upgrades that look to bump it to first place.

Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV Evolution breaks cover

This is the Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV Evolution Vision Gran Turismo, and if you think it looks as if it’s from a computer game, you’d be exactly right. The Concept XR-PHEV Evo is a special digital concept that has been engineered for the driving game Gran Turismo 6 – and far from being limited to bedroom gamers, this could potentially one day become the next Mitsubishi Evo. Please click on the image above to read more about the Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV Evolution Vision Gran Turismo

UK commuters spend 10 days a year in traffic

We’re now wasting more time stuck in traffic than ever before, as last year the average car journey took 27% longer than it would have done if the road was clear. That’s a rise of 1% compared to 2012, while the report by TomTom also found that 10 of the UK’s biggest cities now have more congestion than they did 12 months ago. Europe’s top 10 most congested cities Fewer people commuting but distances on the up London, Brighton, Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester, Birmingham, Portsmouth, Cardiff, Belfast and Southampton have all seen traffic levels increase, while Edinburgh, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and Glasgow failed to improve.

Mitsubishi XR-PHEV Evolution for Gran Turismo 6 brought to life (video)

The Mitsubishi XR-PHEV Evolution for Gran Turismo 6 brought to life The lines between reality and virtual reality are becoming ever more blurred as so much of our lives play out on line, and nowhere more so than with concept cars. The latest virtual reality car brought to some sort of real world life is the Mitsubishi XR-PHEV Evolution Vision Gran Turismo concept (much like the VW GTI Roadster we saw recently) which is being made available for Gran Turismo 6. Sadly, the XR-PHEV Evolution is just a concept and isn’t intended to proclaim the future of the Mitsubishi EVO, even though it’s an enticing thought.

US DoT makes rear-view cameras compulsory

The US Department of Transportation (DoT) has issued a new safety standard for rear visibility that requires mandatory fitment of rear-view cameras. The ruling applies to all new vehicles, excluding motorcycles, weighing under 10,000 pounds (4,536kg) sold from 2018. The ruling has been introduced to cut backover crashes, caused when the victim strays into the blind zone 10-40 feet (3-12m) behind the vehicle that the driver can't see using their mirrors alone.

Supercars Accelerate Ahead Of Family Motors In The Used Market

DREAM machines, like Ferraris and Lamborghinis, out-performed every other vehicle on Britain's roads when it came to secondhand values over the past 12 months. That’s the view of independent car information experts CAP Automotive. According to the firm’s research, increasing demand from wealthier motorists kept average used values in the Supercar sector almost unchanged on a year ago - while every other sector fell by as much as ten per cent.

Ariel Atom police car (2014) revealed: Plod's anything but

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 03 June 2014 16:35 Somerset sports car specialist Ariel has come up with a shock for any would-be crooks or speeders: the Ariel Atom police car. Avon and Somerset Constabulary has taken delivery of an Atom 3.5R fitted with the Honda supercharged engine good for 350bhp. Even with the addition of police livery and blues-and-twos lights and sirens, Ariel director Simon Saunders is confident it'll hit 0-60mph in just 2.5 seconds.

Elemental RP1 sports car (2014): is this the world’s lightest sports car?

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 03 June 2014 09:57 The history books of British sports cars are littered with failed attempts to build low-volume hot-shots to challenge the sporting establishment. But newcomer Elemental hopes to launch a focused track car to survive the test of time: the new RP1. It’s built around a carbonfibre tub and is claimed to weigh just 450kg in its lightest iteration.

Audi RS7 Sportback facelift (2014) first official pictures

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 02 June 2014 12:16 Audi has unveiled the new 2014-spec RS7, with a modestly refreshed wardrobe and a sprinkling of tech changes to keep it honest in the face of the soon-to-be-fettled CLS 63 AMG. The 2014 Audi RS7 is marked out by new LED headlights wrapped around the company's dominating black-honeycomb grille, a fresh design of 20in wheel, four new paint choices and, at the rear, redesigned LED tail lamps. Not much.

Crash Fraud At Record High

CAR INSURANCE fraud is at a record high of £1.3 billion says the Association of British Insurers (ABI). This is a 34% increase over the previous year’s figures and is costing every household in the UK an extra £50 a year on their premium. Much of the fraud is due to ‘crash for cash’ incidents, where criminal drivers deliberately cause a collision with an innocent driver to claim for damage to their car and whiplash.

Queen’s hat causes car problem in France

Renault | AP The French president has a problem: it turns out none of the Citroen cars currently at his disposal are large enough to accommodate the Queen’s customary hats. So for Her Majesty’s state visit on 6 June, in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of D-Day, president Francois Hollande has ordered an old Renault out of retirement to make sure the Queen has the necessary headroom. On Bing: see pictures of the Queen’s cars60 years of Royal cars President Hollande is generally seen in a Citroen DS5, as this is the most prestigious French-made car currently available; alternatively he also has routine access to the slightly more limo-like Citroen C6.

The Designers Pt4 – Anne Asensio, Dassault Systemes

Car Design News launched its first ever Car Design Review yearbook at the Geneva motor show, featuring the award-winning Production Car and Concept Car Designs of 2013. If you're interested in buying a copy of the 160-page yearbook this interview appears in, alongside trend reports, bespoke car design infographics and a special feature on Marcello Gandini, our inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Car Design Review can be purchased here. Name Anne AsensioRole VP design & brand experience, Dassault Systemes (3DS)Age, nationality 51, FrenchLocation Vélizy-Villacoublay, FranceEducation CCS & Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts Appliques "When I see concepts like the Kia GT4 Stinger I realize OEMs know how to make beautiful cars.

Police launch summer World Cup drink-drive crackdown

As the weather improves it might seem tempting to spend some time in the beer garden, but police have warned that you will get caught if you get behind the wheel while over the limit. The Association of Chief Police Officers is launching a month-long drink and drug enforcement campaign, which will see an increase in roadside tests across England and Wales. New summer drink-drive crackdown Drink driving deaths UP by 25% In last year’s crackdown, 100,892 drivers were breathalysed – with 5,170 found to be over the limit.

Vast Private Collection To Go Under The Hammer

AN AUCTION of more than 1,000 lots all from the same collection is due to go under the hammer later this month. The collection belongs to Michael Banfield, who has amassed a huge collection covering the history of the car in the UK. Among the earliest cars for sale are a 1904 Mors Roi de Belges, which is in perfect working order, ready to be used and is estimated to make £500,000.

Jaguar owners 'vote Conservative or Ukip'

JAGUAR owners are extremely happy with their cars, don't mind the firm's Indian ownership and are likely to vote Conservative or Ukip in the next general election, according to new statistics released today. A survey by WeLoveAnyCar.com among nearly 3,900 Jaguar owners found that 84% rated their motors an eight out of 10 or higher, with 32% rating theirs the perfect 10. The firm apparently has some way to go to shake off its 'old man's car' image, though, with 86% aged 50 or more and a whopping 94% being male.

2015 Audi RS7 facelift revealed

2015 Audi RS7 facelift (pictured) revealed It’s not much more than a year or so since the Audi RS7 was revealed at the Detroit Motor Show, but it’s already getting a bit of a facelift. The changes aren’t enormous, but with the A7 and S7 getting a tweak for 2015 there’s no way Audi could leave the RS7 to struggle on with the ‘old’ look. Changes pretty much mirror those on the A7/S7 with a single frame grill and slightly different front bumper changing the nose (although you’ll probably need them side by side to spot the changes) with standard LED headlights and the option of Audi’s new matrix headlights on offer with darker graphics to set them apart from those of the A7/S7.

Majestic Bentley to be auctioned for charity

A SUPREMELY elegant 1987 Bentley 8 is to be auctioned for charity as part of a sale including more than 150 cars. The majestic Bentley will take its place amongst the myriad other fine classic cars at the Historics at Brooklands auction in Surrey on Saturday, June 7, following the sad news of the death of the car’s current owner’s sister. Significantly, this much-loved and well-travelled Bentley – presented in fine condition inside and out – is offered at no reserve, with all proceeds from the sale donated to charity at the request of the vendor, plus Historics’ sellers and buyers’ commissions.

Jag designers light up London’s Clerkenwell Design Week

Clerkenwell Design Week might not mean much to car designers more used to motor shows like Tokyo or Geneva. But the five-year-old event is fast becoming a fixture in the broader design calendar, and has been sponsored by Jaguar for the past four years for good reason. In simple terms, Jaguar wants to be seen (and respected) beyond the automotive realm: "We want to connect with other designers and have our designers learn from designers in other fields," advanced design director Julian Thomson told Car Design News.

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.

Autodesk Alias AutoStudio 2015 webinar on 25 June

Registration for Autodesk's latest webinar is now open. The webinar will cover its next-generation AutoStudio 2015 software, including how it can be used to speed up the design process using its new and improved workflows. The webinar will be presented by Autodesk's technical marketing manager, Rex Sellentine, who has over 20 years of experience of design software implementation.