Blog on 2040Parts

Motorists Get In A Muddle Over MOT

A NEW survey from a major fast fit retailer might have you looking more closely at the condition of the cars you share the road with. Research from Kwik Fit reveals nine percent of drivers admitting they were not aware that an MoT certificate was a legal requirement for cars over three years old. The study also highlighted ignorance with regards to other motoring obligations, with nine percent of drivers admitting they didn’t realise car insurance was compulsory and 10 percent saying the same about a valid tax disc.

Council CCTV like 'Stasi surveillance'

COUNCILS rush to bankroll "Stasi surveillance" to target motorists but sack lollipop men and women as they do not swell their coffers, the Local Government Minister claimed. Brandon Lewis compared town halls' use of "CCTV spy cars" to the tactics of the secret police agency of the former East Germany, as he insisted they raise cash from parking fines on an "industrial scale". He added they target "hard-pressed parents" dropping off their children on the school run.

Seat Leon Cupra 280 breaks Nürburgring lap record (2014)

By Ollie Kew Motor Industry 05 March 2014 11:00 You’re looking at the fastest front-wheel drive car ever to lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife: the Seat Leon Cupra 280. A paddleshift DSG-equipped three-door example has lapped the 12-mile lap in 7min 58.44sec – smashing the previous record of 8min 7.97sec, held by the Renaultsport Megane Trophy. It's a slap in Honda's face too: the Japanese maker wanted its new Civic Type-R to be the first sub-8min hatch.

BMW introduces X4 Sports Activity Coupe

BMW confirmed the rumored new X4 Sports Activity Coupe, sort of a smaller BMW X6. According to BMW, the X4, like the X6, combines the performance and capability of a sports-activity vehicle with coupe styling. U.S.

New baby Jaguar to be called XE

Jaguar has revealed its new small saloon rival to the BMW 3 Series will be called XE. The new Jaguar XE, which will be revealed this year before going on sale in 2015, will be the first all-aluminium car ever launched in the premium small saloon sector – and prices are expected to start from £30,000. Jaguar is promising a range of cars that stretch from a sub-100g/km model (something the BMW 3 Series doesn’t yet achieve) to one that can reach a top speed of 186mph (a speed that’s also faster than every 3 Series).

New baby Jaguar name to be revealed LIVE at Geneva show

Jaguar will reveal the name of its new BMW 3 Series rival LIVE during its lunchtime Geneva Motor Show press conference, CEO Dr. Ralf Speth has confirmed. “We will also show you a first teaser image of the new car,” he added.

McLaren 650S Spider joins 650S Coupe: Geneva Motor Show

The McLaren 650S Spider revealed at the Geneva Motor Show We had the reveal of the new McLaren 650S Coupe just last month, but what we didn’t get is the reveal of the Convertible version. But that’s all changed today with the arrival of the McLaren 650S Spider in Geneva with the same trick folding roof as the 12C Spider and the same cosmetic and dynamic changes as the 650S Coupe. That means open-top motoring with stunning performance – 0-62mph in 3 seconds and 124mph in 8.5 seconds thanks to the 650S’s 641bhp and 500lb/ft of torque from its updated 3.8 litre V8.

Ferrari California T debuts at Geneva motor show

Ferrari is officially back in the turbocharging business, and the first turbo model on offer will be the California T, which the Maranello-based company brought to the Geneva Motor Show this week. A turbo under the hood isn't the only new thing the California T will offer -- the 3.9-liter V8 engine is all new and the car itself has been thoroughly redesigned inside and out. Let's take a closer look at what this new California retractable hard top will feature.

Alfa Romeo 4C Spider drops at the Geneva motor show

The Alfa Romeo 4C Spider debuted at the Geneva motor show on Tuesday. The soft top is scheduled to enter production in 2015, right about the time Alfa says it will return to the United States. The 4C gets Alfa's 1.75-liter turbocharged four, driving the rear wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Maserati Alfieri is a car Maserati MUST make: Geneva Motor Show

The Maserati Alfieri Concept looks a cracker Maserati has a proud history and, even though it makes some very appealing cars once more, it really doesn’t have a proper sports car in its range. But the Maserati Alfieri could change that. Named after Alfieri Maserati – one of the founders of Maserati – the Alfieri  is a beautifully clothed sports car based on a shortened Granturismo MC Stradale chassis taking its inspiration from Maserati’s history but using it not to create a pastiche of the past but a credible view of the future.

Rolls Royce Ghost Series II – the Ghost facelift: Geneva Motor Show

The Rolls Royce Ghost Series II (pictured) debuted at Geneva When Rolls Royce gives one of their cars a rare facelift it becomes the ‘Series II’, and that’s exactly what we get at Geneva today with the reveal of the facelift for the Ghost – the Rolls Royce Ghost Series II. Perhaps the most noticeable cosmetic change is the new headlights which make the front look less square and get daytime running lights round the edge,a revised RR grill with slightly more curved uprights, revised bumpers, extra chrome highlights and a new channel running up the bonnet from the Spirit of Ecstacy. Inside, Rolls Royce has added new electric seats in the back which can be angled towards one another, new voice control,  and a new touch-sensitive controller for the 102″ Infotainment screen. Extra choices of veneer are now on offer as is even more extended leather.

One Lap of the Web: A dashing Debonair, a doppelg

-- We would have to imagine that Bill Hitchens was stuck behind too many people dallying in the left lane on his way to work. Fortunately for him, and every other Georgian who's ever held a deep loathing for the 60-mph rolling roadblock, Hitchens is a Representative in the Georgia House. Hence, House Bill 459, the "slow-poke bill" which would make it a misdemeanor for any driver who doesn't move to the right when a faster car approaches.

Toyota Aygo (2014) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 04 March 2014 07:45 The new Toyota Aygo is chasing a new level of customization, like the Peugeot 108 and the Citroen C1 that it shares it platform and mechanicals with. Like it? The bold face of the Aygo is shows off the brash new hatch that’s chasing a younger audience that its French counterparts, with an interchangeable ‘X’ face that, side strakes and rear diffuser.

Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II (2014) first official pictures

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 04 March 2014 10:30 Rolls-Royce doesn’t facelift or revise its models quite like the rest of the world’s car manufacturers. Instead, mere mortal, you’re looking at the Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II, and the company claims, quite seriously, that the launch of this revised über-saloon ‘consolidates the Ghost’s position as the most popular car in the €200,000+ class.’ And in case you’re not feeling suitably poor or unaccomplished this morning, Rolls would like to point out this car probably isn’t for you either. Customers who’ll buy the Ghost Series II, says Rolls, are ‘the captains of industry, entrepreneurs and successful businessmen and women who are the wealth and job creators in our economies.’ Unless you’re on first name terms with the PM, you’re probably not overly familiar with the Ghost, but those who party with ‘Dave’ should be able to spot the subtle revisions, including sleeker LED headlights with daytime running lights.

Art installation moves 100,000 toy cars an hour

IT'S NO PICASSO, but this installation by conceptual artist Chris Burden certainly has the potential to be moving. Called Metropolis II, this amazing construction took Chris and his chief engineer four years to design and create and expands significantly on Metropolis I - the latest version has 18 roadways including one six-lane carriageway. It also has a rail network with HO-scale model trains, and running at capacity it pumps 100,000 cars around its network at a scale speed of 230mph.

Porsche 919 Hybrid (2014) first official pictures

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 04 March 2014 07:50 This is the new Porsche 919 Hybrid, and it signals Porsche’s return to the world famous Le Mans 24-hour endurance race after an absence of 16 years. The 919 Hybrid was unveiled this morning at the 2014 Geneva motor show – and a switch from Red Bull Racing to Porsche means this is also Mark Webber’s new company car. You’d be safe taking a punt and guessing it’s not a diesel engine like arch-rivals Audi, but it’s not a naturally aspirated V8 petrol like the one that’ll feature in the new Toyota TS040 either.

Geneva Show 2014: High Performance XF Wagon Roars Into Geneva

ORIGINALLY launched as a luxurious but sensible premium estate car, it was always a matter of when not if the stylish XF Sportbrake would receive Jaguar’s famed high performance makeover. The Brit car maker has exceeded expectations, as the newly christened XFR-S Sportbrake packs a considerable 542 horsepower from a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine. Tweaks to the regular car’s suspension, steering and transmission help it reach 60mph from rest in a blistering 4.6 seconds and top out at an electronically limited 186mph.

Over 350,000 drivers 'at risk of £1,000 fine'

THOUSANDS of drivers risk collecting a £1,000 fine or worse by being unaware of the date their MOT expires. Research by MOTA, an independent booking provider of servicing and MOTs suggests that 43% of customers making enquiries already had an expired MOT, and 15% had no idea when their MOT was due. A car without a valid MOT being driven on the road is potentially subject to a £1,000 by the police, and also means that insurers may not pay out in the event of an accident.

Maserati Alfieri concept (2014) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 04 March 2014 09:00 This beauty is the Maserati Alfieri concept. It’s a 460bhp, V8-powered coupe that points to the styling of the next GranTurismo, and Maserati’s soon-to-swell range of sports cars.With Maserati in the midst of a massive expansion programme, we’re getting used to seeing Maserati SUV concepts and diesel saloon cars at motor shows. Refreshing to see Maser take on the Porsche 911 again, isn’t it?

Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge to use Nissan GT-R-style V6 engine (2014) first details

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 04 March 2014 11:30 Infiniti’s BMW 3-series rival is the new Q50 saloon. For the upcoming flagship model, Infiniti has decided to bless it with power from the class above. Yup, the Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge musters a healthy 560bhp and 442lb ft.

Geneva Show 2014: City Car Trio Get A Makeover

IT’S all change at Peugeot, Citroen and Toyota as the trio of manufacturers have simultaneously launched new versions of their popular city cars. The 108, C1 and Aygo respectively have been moved upmarket with higher quality cabins and an exterior design revamp. Keen to keep pace with the likes of Volkswagen’s acclaimed up!, all three car makers have decided to boost cabin ambience, kit and quality.

A4 'winner' of most congested road

TRAFFIC JAMS are getting worse, with London hold-ups increasing despite the congestion charge, according to new figures. UK drivers wasted a total of 30 hours in traffic congestion in 2013 - one hour more than in 2012 - statistics from traffic information company Inrix showed. The London commute zone had the biggest increase in hours wasted, rising from 72 hours in 2012 to 82 hours last year.

Alfa Romeo 4C Spider (2014) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 04 March 2014 09:00 This is the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider. The powertrain is identical to the 4C we know and love: a 237bhp turbo’d four-pot that can hurl the 4C to 62mph in 4.5sec and over 155mph flat out. So, let’s concentrate on what’s new… You get a soft-top roof to cover the Spider’s cabin, which now features more exposed carbonfibre.

Camilla Dallerup

FORMER STRICTLY Come Dancing star, Camilla Dallerup, 40, married to actor, Kevin Sacre What car do you drive? My husband, Kevin and I have gone green! We do a lot of work for green charities and we also tour the country a lot for work and we came to the conclusion a while back that the most sensible thing to do was to get a green car.

Ukraine Crisis Could See Fuel Prices Soar

THE RAC has said that the current crisis in Ukraine will see a rise in petrol and diesel prices in the coming weeks. It said fuel traders had already begun to buy up stocks to guard against being caught out in the event of the situation worsening. Furthermore, this will cause prices to increase due to a tightening in supply.

Geneva Show 2014: McLaren reveals 650S Spider and Coupe

BRITISH MARQUE McLaren has expanded its supercar range at the Geneva Motor Show with the introduction of the 650S. Slotting between the 12C and the spectacular P1, the 650S comes in Coupe and Spider forms and has much in common with its siblings. The structure of the 650S is shared with the 12C, made exclusively of carbonfibre and extremely light.

Geneva Show 2014: High-Tech Focus Bares All

FORD’S new Focus might have already seen the light of day, but now that the car has been given its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show the Blue Oval has released more details on its family favourite. Aside from the enhanced exterior design, key to the car’s revamp is a new suite of in-car electronics to keep you safe and entertained. The main attraction is a new version of the car maker’s Sync 2 telematics system boasting intelligent sat-nav, advanced voice control, integrated music player features and an intuitive colour touchscreen.

Geneva Show 2014: All Change For Renault’s Twingo

FRENCH car maker Renault is set to shake up the city car market with the third generation of its Twingo model. In a bold move, this latest Twingo adopts a rear engine and rear-wheel drive layout. Engineers believe such a plan affords the car more cabin space and, potentially, a more engaging driving experience.

Geneva Show 2014: Mini Goes Large With Clubman Concept

FRESH from launching its all-new three-door hatch range, Mini is keeping up the pressure on its rivals by revealing a concept for its forthcoming Clubman replacement. Aside from some left-field interior design details, the big news is that the car is, well, bigger than its production predecessor. Industry sources claim this latest interpretation of the Clubman is close to being production ready, hinting at a car with more cabin and load space than before.

Geneva Show 2014: High-tech Lamborghini blows in

PRIDE OF PLACE on the Lamborghini stand at the Geneva Motor Show this year was taken by the brand-new Huracan supercar. Tasked with replacing the popular and long-running Gallardo, the Huracan claims to be faster, more efficient and more high-tech than its predecessor. The biggest change is a switch in the construction, which now uses a mix of aluminium and carbonfibre to create a big increase in stiffness but a lighter structure.