Blog on 2040Parts

IAM Highlights Concerns Of Driving With Dementia

THE Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has revealed through a new survey that a decline in cognitive abilities – for example the onset of dementia – is the greatest concern that families have about elderly relatives driving. Forty-two per cent of people who have concerns about an older relative driving have tried to discuss this with them. According to the IAM, people with dementia may still be able to drive safely for some time after it has been diagnosed, but because of the progressive nature of the disease, there will come a time when they have to give up.

The best new-car discounts and deals: April's biggest savings

New car sales are continuing to boom with latest figures showing 24 consecutive months of growth. With the March 14 registration plate change traditionally proving popular at driving buyers into dealerships, there’s nothing to suggest that won’t continue. Car makers are certainly doing their bit as this list of healthy incentives for April 2014 demonstrates.

Quirky finance deal for anniversary Alfa Giulietta

CHECK this out for inflation: to celebrate 60 years since the launch of the original Giulietta, Alfa Romeo is offering a finance deposit contribution equivalent to the outright purchase price of the original car. The stunning 1954 Giulietta sold for £1,250, which is precisely what Alfa is offering buyers of the 2014 model if they take out a PCP finance deal and meet a few basic criteria. What’s more, a new £510 Lunar Pearl colour option will be thrown into the bargain for customers taking up the deal in the 60th anniversary celebration window.

European Parliament: electric cars must make noise

The European Parliament has voted in favour of a European Commission proposal to decrease the maximum allowed noise for new cars, vans, trucks, buses and coaches, in an effort to reduce “vehicle noise nuisance” by 25%. At the same time, the EU has voted in favour of a proposal to force carmakers to fit electric and hybrid electric vehicles with a sound generating device, to improve low speed safety for pedestrians and the visually impaired. On Bing: see pictures of electric cars Find out how much a used electric car costs on Auto Trader The proposed changes, which are expected to become law, would see new car noise levels reduced by four decibels, commercial vehicle noise levels reduced by three decibels.

First of five free Suzuki S-Crosses collected

SUZUKI has come over all charitable with the news that it has given away the first of its free S-Cross models that are up for grabs. Entrants to the competition had to nominate someone they knew to receive a free S-Cross car – and well-equipped models, too – with a brief explanation of why the nominee deserved it. The first to pick up their free new 14-plate crossover were a ‘very surprised’ Phillip Southward and wife Sue, who collected their SZ4-spec S-Cross at Suzuki’s RRG dealership in Stockport.

Report Claims Pothole Repair Blackhole Is £12bn

FIGURES from the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) have revealed the extent of the nation’s pothole crisis, with a report claiming the "catch-up" cost of getting roads back into reasonable a condition has soared to £12 billion. The total is an increase on the £10.5 billion figure reported last year, and remains high despite more than two million potholes being filled in England and Wales over the last 12 months. This was despite a 20% decrease in the shortfall in annual road maintenance budgets reported by local authorities, with the shortfall reducing from an average of £6.2 million to £5.1 million per authority in England.

Aston Martin DBS twins emerge from barn

Forgotten Aston Martins still turn up in barns and garages all over with world with some regularity, though rarely are they identical twins. This pair of DBS coupes emerged from more than a decade of storage in a barn just recently, and if it weren't for the license plates, we'd have trouble telling them apart. These two come from a large private collection, but both were tucked away after being acquired in largely original condition more than 10 years ago.

Jaguar F-Type Coupe ‘British Villains’ debuts on UK TV

Jaguar’s F-Type Coupe British Villains launches in the UK With the new Jaguar F-Type Coupe about to hit UK roads in the hands of its first customers, Jaguar is ramping up the marketing for the stunning F-Type Coupe as it seeks to get the message across that ‘It’s Good to be Bad’ (#GoodToBeBad). As we reported in January, Jaguar has enlisted the services of Sir Ben Kingsley, Tom Hiddleston and Mark Strong to play a trio of British Villains in an advert for the new F-Type Coupe, which debuted at the Super Bowl earlier this year. And no it’s the turn of the Uk to get the F-Type marketing onslaught with the first airing of the British Villains advert during last night’s UEFA Champions League match between Manchester United and Bayern Munich on ITV and plans to run it in one minute and 30 second versions during April and May on ITV, Channel 4 and Sky Atlantic.

2014 McLaren 650S drive review

What is it? The McLaren 650S is the third automobile McLaren Automotive has introduced since its relaunch as a road-car manufacturer in 2011. This one slots far below the $1.2 million, 903-hp McLaren P1 hybrid and slightly above the established McLaren MP4-12C.

McLaren P1 sales will double turnover and quadruple profit in 2014 for McLaren

The McLaren P1 (pictured) boosts McLaren’s profits We’re starting to see the McLaren P1 – McLaren’s modern replacement for the iconic McLaren P1 – rolling out to lucky owners, and that will continue apace during 2014. Which means McLaren will see a big rise in its turnover and an even bigger rise in profits – up four-fold – as the £866,000 P1 replenishes McLaren’s bank account. But, although it will take a while to build, deliver and get paid for all 375 P1s, the P1 won’t be a long-term cash cow for McLaren, just a nice little booster as it starts to plan to up production to 4,500 cars a year over the next few years.

Volkswagen Golf GTE Plug-in Hybrid UK debut

The VW Golf GTE (pictured) gets its UK debut at the NEX next week The Volkswagen Golf GTE – which VW see as a plug-in hybrid Golf GTI – was revealed in February ahead of its debut at the Geneva Motor Show last month and is now heading for the Gadget Show Live at the NEC next week for its UK debut. With a 1.4 litre TSI petrol turbo producing 148bhp and a 101 bhp electric motor, the Golf GTE promises decent performance – 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds – daft official economy figures of 188 mpg and the ability to run on electric power only for up to 31 miles. It’s an appealing combination for a Golf that can offer city running benefits with a turn of decent performance when the mood takes, although at a price likely to be north of £30k it’s not exactly a budget buy.

Cabbies test new British-built hybrid Black Cab

LONDON cabbies have seized the chance to test the first in a new wave of low-emissions taxis. At Metrocab's testing facility in Surrey, representatives from the Capital's taxi world met London Mayor Boris Johnson, who after driving the car threatened to turn into Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson. The Mayor joined Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) General Secretary Steve McNamara, and London Cab Drivers Club (LCDC) Chairman Grant Davis to put the Metrocab’s zero emissions capability to the test.

The 1967 Shelby GT350 and GT500 are here!

The 1967 model year saw the introduction of a redesigned Ford Mustang that was slightly larger and heavier than the first pony cars. Bloat, it seems, has been around forever. But it wasn't all bad: '67 'Stangs got those crisp, fastback lines immortalized in "Bullitt" and yes, the remake of "Gone in 60 Seconds." Plus, the Mustang's increased size meant you could wedge a big-block motor under the hood, and that's exactly what Shelby American did with the GT500.

Land Rover Discovery Vision concept car (2014): first glimpse

Land Rover Land Rover has issued the first sneak peek at the new Land Rover Discovery Vision concept car, heralding the newly expanded Discovery range. Booming sales of SUVs have encouraged the British 4x4 specialist to grow its popular Discovery family into a whole range of off-roaders. The next Freelander due by early 2015 will be badged as part of the Discovery lineup, for instance.

Watch a flying Aventador crash in London traffic

Sometimes you just get lucky. In this case, it's you, the Autoweek reader who's doing the lucky-getting. You see, usually, when some weenie dings his flat-black Aventador, the most you can hope for is a photo or two of the carbon-intensive carnage.

One Lap of the Web: We missed April Fools'

-- Yesterday was April Fools' Day, a holiday known in some cultures as "April 1st." We chose to ignore the staid, unamusing fake press releases touting everything from Ford C-Max charcoal grilles to Audi sushi to BMW's annual efforts. ("The Ultimate Sleeping Machine" is what Web commenters will inevitably post in an effort to deride the upcoming 2-series.) But Petrolicious did a tasteful video of a certain moneyed purist's most prized vehicle, a car with all the panache, style, and passione that only its beautiful curves could convey. The folks at Petrolicious begged for a ride in this dangerously exciting speed machine, and by Jove, they got it.

Bonhams' Greenwich auction will show Italian rarities

The biggest star of Bonhams' seventh annual Greenwich auction will be the 1975 Lamborghini Countach LP400 Periscopica shown above, a pristine early example of the legendary wedge with a single owner and less than 10,500 miles -- its roof carried a groove cut into the sheetmetal that allowed light to hit the rearview mirror, providing a still-laughable semblance of rearward visibility. Of course, the door is always preferable. Just 158 LP400 Countachs were ever produced, before the firm moved on in 1978 to the outrageously styled LP400S.

Jeep previews Wrangler and Cherokee Easter Jeep Safari concepts

Jeep has just released the first teaser images of the Cherokee Dakar and Wrangler Mojo concepts, prior to their debut at the 2014 Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. The Wrangler Mojo features an orange and black exterior with a redesigned front bumper, a blacked-out front fascia and high profile off-road wheels that are just the thing for traveling around the rock formations of Moab. No details just yet on how Jeep has tricked out the interior of this one, though we expect it'll carry on the orange exterior and black design theme.

New Jaguar XE will get the V6 engine from the F-Type

The new Jaguar XE (pictured) will get the F-Type’s V6 We’re expecting the Jaguar XE – Jaguar’s new smaller saloon aimed at the BMW 3-Series – to arrive at the Paris Motor Show in September before going on sale in 2015 after Jaguar revealed the first official details on the XE at the Geneva Motor Show this month. Jaguar were a little vague on detail, although they did confirm the XE would come with aluminium underpinnings – a first for the sector and to be shared with the new Jaguar SUV when that arrives – and offer Jaguar’s new range of 4-cylinder diesel and petrol engines. But what Jaguar also said is that there will be a range-topping XE capable of 186 mph, which seemed a bit of a stretch for a 4-cylinder engine, however good.

Aston Martin dealer toasts record March

ASTON MARTIN Works is raising a glass this month after a record March that saw its best monthly sales results yet. The special showroom for the iconic British firm saw the extreme V12 Vantage S and the extremely beautiful Vanquish Volante lead the way in sales, with well-to-do buyers racing to place orders for the earliest deliveries of the two newest Astons. Based at the historic home of Aston Martin in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, Aston Martin Works has for almost 60 years been home to either the factory or, more recently, the brand’s specialist heritage, restoration and servicing operations.

Toyota starts 'rubbish revolution'

TOYOTA has been talking garbage, with ambitious plans to turn waste gases from a landfill site into electricity for building low-emissions cars. The firm’s factory in the American town of Georgetown, Kentucky, will use the new method of harvesting power to both lower its own fuel bills and reduce the amount of harmful gases escaping into the atmosphere. With the system expected to be up and running within 12 months, Toyota has revealed how it is expected to work.

2015 McLaren P13 details revealed

McLaren McLaren is not officially talking about its next car yet, other than to say it’s in the pipeline under the internal codename of P13. But having spent the last few days trying out the new 650S supercar, we have managed to gather a few intriguing details. The P13 – which won’t be called the P13 when it goes on sale – will join the McLaren range as an entry-level model, priced at around about £120,000.

We ride in the Icon Thriftmaster

If you don't know, a stock 1950 Chevrolet "drives like s--t," says Jonathan Ward, the CEO of Icon, who actually met his wife Jamie while restoring a Chevrolet pickup. "Archaic. I restored a few back in the day, back when I was still calling it a hobby." That's why Ward doesn't build stock 1950 Chevrolets.

Public supports 20mph urban speed limits

78% of people think 20mph speed limits should be introduced as the norm in residential areas, around schools and in town centres, according to road safety charity Brake. It comes as the charity introduces its GO 20 campaign, calling on politicians to support changing the default urban speed limit to 20mph. Backlash at increase in 20mph areas predicted On Bing: see pictures of 20mph zones 20mph zones are already widespread in some areas – with Brake claiming these areas have seen significant reductions in crashes.

More drivers opt for speed awareness course

Drivers caught speeding are now more likely to take a driver education course than accept points on their licence, according to the latest government statistics. 953,428 motorists took a speed awareness course last year – a hefty increase over the 500,000 that took part in 2010. New so-called ‘stealth’ speed cameras: don’t panic “Black box” drivers hit by speeding fines from insurers This is partly down to the rise in speeding fines from £60 to £100 – taking a speeding awareness course usually costs around £85 (depending on the area), which means it’s now less rather than more than the cost of a fine.

Public 'right behind' 20mph urban speed limits

NEARLY 80% of people think 20mph speed limits should be the norm around schools, in residential streets and in village, town and city centres, according to a survey. More than four in five people think traffic travels too fast on local roads, the poll by road safety charity Brake and Allianz Insurance found. Of the 1,000 people surveyed, 78% backed the 20mph campaign run by Brake, with 72% saying roads in their town or village need to be made safer for walking.

Mercedes-Benz considering Aston Martin buyout

Mercedes-Benz is reportedly considering a deal to buyout sports car manufacturer Aston Martin, fuelling rumours that the canned Aston Martin Lagonda SUV concept from 2009 (pictured above) could once again be back on. The move would see Merc increase its current 5% stake in the British brand following a deal announced last year to supply AMG engines for Aston’s next generation of sports cars. On Bing: see pictures of the Aston Martin Lagonda SUV concept Find out how much a used Aston Martin costs on Auto Trader It’s no secret the firm has been toying with the idea of a premium SUV following the Lagonds concept, so with Mercedes technical expertise and existing model range, it opens up potential new models to Aston Martin.

New Peugeot 308 GT hot hatch due on sale in 2014

Peugeot The Peugeot 308 GT will be unveiled at the 2014 Paris Motor Show this September, according to company insiders. Speaking at the launch of the 308 SW estate, Peugeot sources told us that the 308 GT will be revealed in its home market and is likely to go on sale before the end of the year. Technical details haven't been announced, but the 308 GT is expected to use a version of the 208 GTi's turbocharged 1.6-litre engine, with a similar power output of about 200hp.

Computer gamers pass test but more likely to crash

PEOPLE who play computer games are more likely to pass their driving test at the first attempt but they are also the most likely to crash within 12 months of gaining a full driver’s licence. Research shows 73% of computer gamers pass their driving test at the first try compared to 58% of the total of test applicants. However, the same study by insurance firm Privilege also showed 77% of gamers had a car accident with the first year of driving when only 27% of the total number of new drivers experienced the same problem.

Peugeot Adds Estate To Acclaimed 308 Range

FRENCH car maker Peugeot had released details of its new medium-size estate, the 308 SW, which should start hitting showrooms in June. Hoping to build on the success of its recently launched 308 hatchback, the SW promises the same level of standard equipment, Peugeot’s newfound bold approach to exterior design and wallet-friendly petrol and diesel engines. Prices will start from £16,895 for the entry-level 110 horsepower 1.2-litre petrol model, while engine stop-start, both manual and automatic gearboxes will be offered along with selected engines dipping to 85g/km CO2.