Blog on 2040Parts

Styling kit for XK

By James Mullan Motor Industry 29 January 2007 12:12 Slinky XK too boring for you? Jaguar has launched a new exterior styling pack for its coupe and convertible. The XK is given a butch makeover with a new front spoiler, rear valance and chunkier side sills.

BMW M5 manual mess-up

By Chris chilton Motor Industry 27 January 2007 01:34 North American customers were delighted when BMW bowed to their demands for a full three-pedal manual version of the current V10 M5 super saloon, but aren’t quiet so enamoured with the finished product. The issue is not with the gearbox itself – BMW successfully replaced the European model’s seven-speed SMG box with the old-shape M5’s six-speed manual – but with the compromises that were needed to get there. Without the benefit of computer control for the opening and closing of the clutch plates, M division’s engineers couldn’t eliminate axle tramp under hard take-offs.

Who's Where: Walter de'Silva appointed Head of VW Group Design

Volkswagen has just announced that Walter de'Silva, 55, has been appointed Head of Volkswagen Group Design. Since March 2002, de'Silva has been Head of Design at the now discontinued Audi brand group. There, in addition to supervising the Audi brand design, he was also in charge of Seat and Lamborghini.

Dodge Hornet nears reality

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 25 January 2007 06:56 Isn’t the Dodge Hornet just another look-at-me concept car? The waspishly named – and styled – Hornet concept was shown at last year’s Geneva Motor Show, but it’s edging closer to a showroom near you. Thomas Hausch, Chrysler group’s international director for sales and marketing, told CAR Online that plans were moving apace for a production version of the butch supermini.

Dodge Viper gets more power

By Tim Pollard Motor Shows 23 January 2007 05:07 An even more powerful Viper SRT-10? What's new? The revised V10 super-coupe was shown at this month's Detroit Motor Show in new 2008-model year spec; a trip to the muscle clinic has liberated an extra 90bhp, taking the 8.4-litre's power output to a heady 600bhp.

Compulsory emissions laws leaked to CAR Online

By Tim Pollard Motoring Issues 23 January 2007 05:53 Every performance car, MPV and large saloon on sale today is under threat from proposed legislation limiting CO2 emissions to an average of 120g/km by 2012, CAR Online has learned. EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas is expected to announce the shock new directive in the next few days - it's designed to force companies to meet tough targets or face big fines. CAR Online has uncovered details of the proposals before they are published.

Skoda Octavia Scout (2007): first official pictures

By Jack Carfrae First Official Pictures 23 January 2007 12:27 The new Skoda Octavia Scout… yet another soft-roader? Sort of. Skoda isn’t kidding itself into claiming that the Scout would win if it took on a Defender; think of it as a slightly chunkier alternative to the current 4wd Octavia estate, or a cut-price rival to the Audi Allroad and Volvo XC70.

Mercedes design boss speaks out

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 22 January 2007 09:40 We spoke to Mercedes design boss Peter Pfeiffer at the recent Detroit Motor Show – and asked him about the future strategy at the Stuttgart company. We had a discussion last year about the current Mercedes-Benz line-up. Mercedes has a very strict design and the idea came up to do a forward-looking car.

Mercedes C-class (2007): first official pictures

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 18 January 2007 07:00 Mercedes-Benz C-class: the lowdown This is the most important launch in Merc's diary this year - the all-new C-class. It's charged with bringing the compact exec bang up to date and giving it (Mercedes hopes) the edge over the BMW 3-series that's snatched class honours in recent years. There's a sharp new look, that's definitely pilfered some design cues from the S-class limo, plus a raft of new engines and some pretty nifty gadgets.

Peugeot 107 Sport XS (2007): first official pictures

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 18 January 2007 09:30 Is this the 107 GTI, then? Nope. Peugeot's new 107 Sport XS is aimed squarely at younger drivers who want racy looks that won't break the bank.

Mini One and Cooper D (2007): first official pictures

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 17 January 2007 09:25 What's this, a hot-hatch diesel version of the new Mini? Hang on a minute, the new Mini Cooper D is faster than the old One D - but it's not exactly going to threaten the turbocharged Cooper S hot hatch. But the advent of a 109bhp turbodiesel means that BMW has dropped the One badge and upgraded the oil-burner to Cooper status this time.

BMW 1-series (2007): first official pictures

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 15 January 2007 11:53 What's this? A BMW 1-series facelift? Sort of.

Detroit Auto Show 2007

The 2007 North American International Auto Show has opened its doors with the media preview days. Concepts include the  Jaguar C-XF, Chrysler Nassau, Toyota FT-HS, Volvo XC60, Nissan Bevel, Ford Airstream, Lincoln MKR, Chevrolet Volt, Mazda Ryuga... Go to the Detroit Auto Show 2007 show index  

GTM 40TR (2007): first official pictures

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 12 January 2007 04:02 What's this? A Meccano car? Niche car producer GTM has unveiled this new track-day special: a pared-to-the-bone flyweight two-seater powered by Honda's Civic Type-R engine.

VW boss Bernhard quits

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 12 January 2007 09:57 Volkswagen boss Wolfgang Bernhard has quit the company as part of a shake-up at Europe's biggest car maker. The news comes as little surprise after months of uncertainty and change at the top of VW. Bernhard built a reputation as an abrasive operator in his short stint as CEO of the Wolfsburg company and had numerous confrontations with unions as he pushed through more modern working practices.

Jaguar XKR GT3 (2007): first news and photos

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 12 January 2007 10:26 Jaguar XKR GT3: the lowdown The Jaguar XK coupe has been sent on a course of steroids for its race-car transformation. The XKR GT3 was unveiled at the Autosport International Show and will compete in this season's FIA GT3 European Championship. It keeps the 4.2-litre supercharged V8 of the Jaguar XKR road car, but has been tuned to produce at least 475bhp in race trim.

Peugeot 207 GTI

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 11 January 2007 01:35 Peugeot's online webzine has accidentally let slip two images of the new 207 GTI, spilling important details of its new hot hatch two months ahead of its launch. The 206 GTI never recaptured the fizz that made its 205 predecessor one of the iconic pocket rockets, but Peugeot hopes to fix that this time round. For a start, the 206 gets the same turbocharged 175bhp 1.6 as in the Mini Cooper S; Peugeot-Citroen PSA collaborated with BMW, which builds the four-cylinder engines at its Hams Hall plant in the Midlands, UK.

Car Design of the Year Awards 2006

Only four more days until the contest closes! Make sure you get your vote in for the Car Design of the Year 2006. Here's a way to blow away those holiday hangovers before getting too drawn into 2007.

BMW M5 Touring, 5-series facelift (2007): first official pictures

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 09 January 2007 01:03 BMW M5 Touring? This must be the fastest estate in the world? It certainly is.

Mazda Ryuga concept

By Gavin Green Motor Shows 09 January 2007 03:38 Mazda Ryuga: is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, but it’s inspired by nature – including birds – and it’s as smoothly surfaced as any jet fighter.

Jeep Trailhawk (2007): first official pictures

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 09 January 2007 04:14 Looks pretty mean. Will they build the Jeep Trailhawk? Not in this motor show flight-of-fancy guise, but the new Detroit show concept informs us of how the new Cherokee could look.

Cadillac CTS (2007): first official pictures

By Ben Oliver First Official Pictures 09 January 2007 04:39 New CTS: no mistaking this for anything other than a Cadillac The all-new CTS compact exec saloon is Caddy's big news from the Detroit show, and they were never going to muck about with a distinctive design direction that has won them praise and younger customers since it began in 2001. The new CTS exaggerates it further with yet-more vertical lamps and grille, plus plenty of bling, using chrome for the air vents, window surrounds, the three-inch exhaust tips and 18-inch rims. No high-performance V version of the new car has been announced yet, but until it arrives the range will be led by a new direct-injection, 3.6-litre V6 with variable valve timing putting out 300bhp and 270lb ft.

Cadillac CTS

By Ben Oliver Motor Shows 09 January 2007 04:39 New CTS: no mistaking this for anything other than a Cadillac The all-new CTS compact exec saloon is Caddy's big news from the Detroit show, and they were never going to muck about with a distinctive design direction that has won them praise and younger customers since it began in 2001. The new CTS exaggerates it further with yet-more vertical lamps and grille, plus plenty of bling, using chrome for the air vents, window surrounds, the three-inch exhaust tips and 18-inch rims. No high-performance V version of the new car has been announced yet, but until it arrives the range will be led by a new direct-injection, 3.6-litre V6 with variable valve timing putting out 300bhp and 270lb ft.

Kia Kue concept

By Ben Oliver Motor Shows 09 January 2007 04:47 A Kia concept car. How exciting! More exciting than you might suppose.

Kia Kue concept (2007): first official pictures

By Ben Oliver First Official Pictures 09 January 2007 04:47 A Kia concept car. How exciting! More exciting than you might suppose.

Dodge Avenger

By Tim Pollard Motor Shows 09 January 2007 04:52 It's the new Dodge Avenger. A Mondeo rival, you say? That's right.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe

By Ben Oliver Motor Shows 09 January 2007 05:53 Drophead Coupe makes waves in Detroit CAR Online brought you the first pictures of the new open-top Phantom and exclusive video footage last month, but this £260,000 monster still stole the Detroit show when Rolls-Royce chairman Ian Robertson officially unveiled it in what will be by far its biggest market. The 100EX concept on which the production car is based stole the 2004 Geneva show too, and features which we all thought would only be seen on the concept, such as the teak ‘decking’ on the hood cover and the rear-hinged suicide doors, have made it to the finished car. Production starts at Goodwood this summer.

BMW 3-series Convertible

By Ben Oliver Motor Shows 09 January 2007 06:04 A folding hard-top? On a BMW? Yep - BMW has followed arch-rival Mercedes' lead and developed its first folding tin-top for the new 3-series Convertible.

EDITOR'S BLOG: Detroit Motor Show 2007

By Tim Pollard Motor Shows 09 January 2007 06:15 The covers are off all the new cars at the Detroit Motor Show. CAR associate editor Tim Pollard makes sense of it all. It's been quite a motor show.

Lexus IS-F (2007): first official pictures

By Ben Oliver First Official Pictures 08 January 2007 09:22 So Lexus reckons it can do quick as well as quiet? The IS-F is the first in a series of F-badged performance cars with which Lexus hopes to take on Merc's AMG and BMW's M division. It was one of the few cars at Detroit that hadn't been seen before its unveil slot.