Blog on 2040Parts

Toyota and GM recall nearly 1.3 million vehicles over airbag issues

Toyota is recalling certain RAV4, Yaris, Highlander, Tacoma, Corolla, and Matrix models in the U.S. market, part of a larger global recall campaign, for an issue that could prevent the airbag from deploying in the event of an accident. General Motors is recalling Pontiac Vibe vehicles for the same problem; the Vibe is mechanically similar to the Matrix because the two shared a platform and were built at the same plant.

Introducing the 1985 Saleen Mustang GT

Steve Saleen has never been a tuner. Sure, he made his name picking cars off factory production lines and modifying them -- heavily -- for enthusiasts craving something a little bit different. But what he does is more akin to remanufacturing than mere hopping-up, as this review of the 1985 Saleen Mustang GT from the Aug.

Lexus NX (2014) first official pictures

By Damion Smy First Official Pictures 11 April 2014 09:04 This is the production version of the Lexus NX compact crossover, which will sit below the Lexus RX in the Japanese brand’s line-up as it chases the BMW X3. Based on the Toyota RAV4, the NX features the Lexus spindle-grille up front but has lost the jagged styling that repulsed many when the concept car was shown at the 2013 Frankfurt show. The showroom edition has been toned down significantly, but still keeps the same stance and two-piece LED headlamps that ape the IS saloon’s face.

2015 Nissan Versa to debut at New York auto show

Nissan revealed the first images of the 2015 Versa sedan on April 11. The car goes on sale next week after its debut at the New York auto show for the seriously low price of $12,800 including destination. Improvements include new front and rear fascias, interior upgrades and new packaging content.

Ferrari launches 12-year Power Warranty

Have you managed to save enough pennies for a new Ferrari 458 Italia, only to find yourself reluctant to take the plunge? Perhaps you’re fearing the ongoing cost of running such a thoroughbred supercar, you know, should things go wrong. But worry no more, because Ferrari has launched a new ‘Power Warranty’.

Lexus NX 200t F Sport first look

We got an early look at the Lexus NX 200t F Sport in production trim 10 days ahead of its world debut at the Beijing auto show April 20. The luxury compact crossover will also be on display at the New York auto show but only during the public days. The Lexus NX 200t is a slightly less racy looking version of the LF-NX Turbo concept shown at Tokyo.

First Lamborghini Huracans making £30k premiums

Lamborghini Huracan (pictured) fethcing premiums of up to £30k Tim Marlow, Director of Magnitude Finance, has revealed that two of their clients are amongst the first UK buyers due to get their car, and despite financing the purchase they’ve already decided to flip their car as soon as it arrives for a quick return. One has already secured a £27k premium for the car – which he won’t even bother to drive before he sells it on – and the expectation is that premiums could hit £30k in the first months after the Huracan arrives, such is demand for Lamborghini’s new supercar. But with UK dealers expecting just 4 cars each in 2014 (although Lamborghini London are getting a few more) those buyers who got in quick for an early delivery are sitting on a near 20 per cent profit as the less organised seek to get behind the wheel.

Theory driving test cost to be cut

THE COST of the written part of the driving test is to be reduced, the Government has announced. Under Government plans, which are now out for consultation, the cost of sitting the theory section of the test will be reduced from £31 to £25 from October 2014, with a further drop of drop of £2 planned in October 2015. The proposals could save learner drivers in excess of £100 million over the next nine years.

The complete idiot's guide to drag racing

First, get yourself a car. A 550-hp dragster will do nicely. Sure, you could run what you brung, but a Miata's stock 1.8-liter would look mighty silly making a pass, and we don't have all day anyway.

Biker attempts to beat London marathon record... in traffic

AS BRITISH favourite Mo Farah prepares to challenge the British record at the London Marathon this weekend, an enterprising biker has decided to try it himself – in the thick of London traffic. On closed roads a man vs machine race would be a bit one-sided, but with the average speed of a fast marathon runner being 12.43mph and the average speed of a motorbike in London traffic being 12.5mph, the result turned out not to be so clear-cut – the biker missing out on the record by a full five minutes. Using the same BMW F800GS Adventure as is loaned to the marathon organisers, Michael Mann of online community Bike Social followed the route as closely as possible, albeit with a few extra loops where the runners will take advantage of closed one-way streets.

Ford Skyliner Concept debuts ahead of New York auto show

To call attention to its coming 2015 Transit full-size van, which arrives in midsummer, Ford commissioned a concept version of the big people mover. And when you say “Ford,” “concept” and “it better be done right,” there's only one place you trust to do it: Galpin Auto Sport, or GAS. Those with discriminating taste and the right cable TV package already know that GAS was the home of the seminal reality series "Pimp My Ride" for several seasons.

Car spending 'more than holidays'

NEARLY HALF of drivers in the UK spend more disposable income on their car than anything else, according to a survey. Spending on cars (47%) easily outweighs the amount spent on holidays (21%) and socialising with friends (13%), the poll from Halfords Autocentres showed. But the survey also found that 10% of drivers were cutting back on car maintenance to save money.

1975 JC Whitney catalog: A bonanza of aftermarket Volkswagen goodies

Back before there was the Internet, or even big car-parts chain stores, there was the JC Whitney catalog. Printed on cheap, pulpy paper and featuring tens of thousands of tiny, hand-drawn illustrations, these thick books gave me many hours of enjoyment in the early 1980s, as I fantasized about how I'd modify my incredibly sketchy and hooptified '58 Beetle. Now I've picked up a 1975 JC Whitney catalog, and the Volkswagen section is even better than I remembered!

Kia Gives Its Compact Crossover More Soul

KOREAN car maker Kia has released an updated version of its Soul. With attention focused on improving the driving experience and boosting cabin space, it’s hoped the improvements can reboot the compact people mover’s appeal. The new model arrives to take advantage of the boom in the compact crossover market.

Jaguar tells drivers to ‘F’ the meeting in a new billboard campaign for the F-Type

Jaguar tells you to ‘F’ the meeting We’ve all thought it – F*** the meeting, lets go for a drive. And Jaguar are positively encouraging that thought. In a new billboard campaign as part of the F-Type Coupe’s #GoodToBeBad promo Jaguar are telling drivers to ‘F the meeting’, with an image of the new F-Type Coupe roaring off in to the distance alongside to add encouragement.

Breaking: 2015 Corvette Z06 drops its top for New York auto show

This is the new 2015 Corvette Z06 convertible, the Stingray for owners who want it all, shown a little earlier than we expected. Buyers get the Z06 engine, racing suspension and brakes, and now, for the first time since 1963, they can get that package with a convertible top, as we'll see at the New York auto show. “Until recently it was not possible to create a lightweight, open-roof structure strong enough to cope with the braking, cornering and acceleration of Corvette's top performance models,” said Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter.

Lexus NX Compact SUV: OFFICIAL

The Lexus NX (pictured) revealed in standard and F Sport guise Last weekend Lexus teased the production version of their new compact SUV – the Lexus NX – ahead of its debut, and this morning we get the official reveal and details of specification and powertrains. Aimed at compact SUVs like the BMW X3 and Audi Q5, the production version of the Lexus NX may have been toned down somewhat from the LF-NX Concept, but it’s still a bold design and keeps a degree of the angularity of the concept; it’ll stand out in the sector – no bad thing. As you’d expect, the big, bold Lexus grill makes its presence felt, with slim LED headlights, big wheelarches, statement alloys (17″ or 18″), sculpted bonnet, sharp creases on the flanks and a back end that’s as angular as the front.

Kia Sedona suits up for New York auto show

Kia teased its new Sedona minivan on Thursday, a week before it debuts at the New York auto show. We instantly noticed its new sheetmetal duds, which are a long way from the plain-Jane style of the old car. Information is scarce for now, but Kia did say the MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle) will ride on a new chassis powered by Kia's 3.3-liter direct-injected V6.

Film Friday: A Wonderful New World of Fords has descended from the heavens!

In a day when every automaker seems to be eager to latch on to the smallest details -- a few pounds of weight shaved here and there, some silly feature designed to keep you and your family protected in an accident, a flashier infotainment setup -- to sell their product, this 1960 Ford spot is a breath of fresh air. There's none of this oh-so-carefully hedged “our cars are pretty OK!” nonsense in this spot for the 1960 Thunderbird, Falcon and Galaxie. There's nary a world about fuel economy (OK, one mention -- the Falcon supposedly gets up to 30 mpg).

Microsoft demos Apple CarPlay rival

The battle between Microsoft and Apple is being fought on the desktop, on the smartphone and now in the car. At its Build 2014 developer conference, held earlier this month in San Francisco, Microsoft demoed an early version of Windows In The Car, its response to Apple's CarPlay system we saw at the Geneva Show back in March. As you'd expect, In The Car's design follows the look of Microsoft's latest Windows and Window Phone operating system pretty closely.

Ferrari Power Extended Warranty can run for 12 years

Your Ferrari can now be warrantied for up to 12 years It used to be that once your twelve months warranty on a car was done and dusted you were on your own. But things have changed massively in recent years. From Kia’s 7 year warranty to Vauxhall’s ‘Lifetime’ warranty, owning a car for an extended period is now much easier thanks to new warranties offering fixed-cost liabilities – no more nasty surprises.

Concept Car of the Week: Honda Kiwami (2003)

As part of Honda's exploration into new, clean-performing technologies, the Kiwami concept was created to test public acceptance of the idea of a large, fuel cell-powered luxury sedan.  Unveiled in 2003, the simple yet striking design seemed like a Japanese twist on the Renault Vel Satis concept, which shared a similar wedge profile, wide stance and minimalist approach.  However, the Kiwami found its own interpretation of modern luxury, expressed through elegantly integrated technology rather than with crystal champagne glasses.  Up front, a full-width LED strip headlamp sat flush with the flat bonnet and the rectangular bumper to create a design of primitive beauty.  Further examples of the same simple Japanese aesthetic are found around the car, including the uncluttered body panels and a full-width tail-lamp graphic that matched the front theme.  The dramatic proportions of the interior were closely related to the package of the hydrogen power plant. Unlike other manufacturers at the time, Honda engineers did not create a 'skateboard' fuel cell chassis below the cabin. Instead, a sideways H-shaped layout for the control unit, ultracapacitor, fuel cell stack, hydrogen storage and other components was used, helping to create a lower center of gravity.

White Van Man numbers booming

THE ADVANCE of White Van Man is accelerating, according to figures highlighted by the RAC Foundation. Between 2002 and 2012 the number of light vans on the roads increased by 29% to 3.3 million. During the same period, the increase in cars was 11%, with one in 10 vehicles on the roads now a light commercial vehicle.

Lacklustre Pothole Performance Highlighted By Survey

THE GOVERNMENT has got a long way to go to convince drivers that they have the pothole problem in control. That’s the view of 67 percent of motorists polled by road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). According to the IAM’s survey, those respondents believe the government is doing a bad or a very bad job of maintaining the nation’s roads.

Shark-inspired Peugeot Exalt set for Beijing

This is the new Peugeot Exalt concept – a sleek, new sporty saloon that's set to make its debut at the Beijing Motor Show later this month.   A suitable follow-up to the Peugeot Onyx? The turbo petrol plug-in hybrid drivetrain provides 340hp The Exalt builds on the equally stunning Peugeot Onyx concept from the 2012 Paris Motor Show, and the Peugeot Exalt is set to make its debut at the 2014 Beijing Motor Show, with the Chinese market increasingly important for Peugeot and its rivals.

Bugatti Veyron Vitesse ‘Black Bess’ Legends Edition (2014) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 10 April 2014 13:01 Bugatti’s latest ‘Legend Edition’ Veyron Vitesse is this black and gold creation: the ‘Black Bess’. It’s inspired by the Bugatti Type 18, built from 1912-14, and nicknamed Black Bess for its all-black paintwork. Oh yes – 24-carat gold in fact.

Campaigners oppose CCTV parking camera ban

CAMPAIGN groups have joined local authorities in warning against plans to ban CCTV parking cameras. The Local Government Association (LGA) and the groups are opposed to Government plans to stop councils from using CCTV to tackle dangerous parking outside schools. The cameras are being used to prevent drivers blocking bus lanes and loading bays and to stop pavement parkers posing a risk to disabled pedestrians.

Car insurance cost at four-year low

THE COST of insuring a car has fallen to a four-year low as motorists benefit from a record 19% drop in average premiums compared with a year ago. The Confused.com car insurance price index, in association with Towers Watson, reveals the average cost of comprehensive car insurance in the first quarter stood at £596, a drop of £140 against this time last year. The figure, including a reduction of 7.5% on the previous quarter, means that average premiums have dipped below £600 for the first time since late 2009.

Cost of driving theory test to drop by 25%

Mercedes-Benz The government has announced that the cost of the driving theory test is to be cut by 25%, saving learner drivers in excess of £100 million over the next nine years. How much does the driving theory test cost? Under the new plans the cost of a car theory driving test will drop from £31 to £25 in October 2014, with a further drop of £2 more planned in October 2015.

Smart car tipping strikes San Francisco

The Smart ForTwo: brilliantly designed to be safe, compact transport for two people and easily manoeuvred around the city. Although perhaps a little too easily manoeuvred, if what happened to four of the little blighters in San Francisco earlier this week is anything to go by. That’s not a standard parking procedure: ‘Smart car tipping’ has suddenly become a thing.