Blog on 2040Parts

Insurance interest costs motorists millions

BRITISH drivers are paying £682 million more than they should be for their car insurance by paying monthly. Most insurers charge a high rate of interest for the privilege of spreading payments out over the year, with the average pay-monthly customer hit by an additional £88. Almost a third of people (31%) pay their car insurance by monthly direct debit, market research from Consumer Intelligence has discovered.

World’s biggest classic car auction sells Simon Cowell’s Bugatti!

Ever heard of the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction? No, we hadn’t either, but it’s been dubbed the ‘world's greatest collector car auction’, with the last sale resulting in 1,400 vehicles sold for a total sum exceeding a cool $113 million. The Scottsdale auction is a mecca for classic car nuts and celebrity spotters alike, with six days of live, high-definition auction action played on Fox TV.

Lexus Unveils Cleaner, Greener Compact Exec CT 200H

BUYERS seeking the often-mythical combination of premium ambience and supermini levels of economy can now look to the revised Lexus CT 200h. The Japanese firm has revised its compact exec hybrid for 2014 with a class-leading 82g/km CO2 rating and combined fuel consumption of 78.5mpg. No doubt Lexus hopes the changes will tempt an increasing number of business users to the CT.

Kia reveals VR7 spec for 2014 Kia Picanto, Rio and Cee’d models

Kia reveals new VR7 spec for the 2014 cee’d, Picanto and Rio Kia already offers value for money across its range, but the new VR7 trim level for the Picanto, Rio and Cee’d offers even more for even less. All the Kia VR7 models get the same basic additions to the standard spec – AirCon, Bluetooth, alloys, reversing sensors, heated door mirrors and electric windows – with individual models getting additional extra tweaks. The Kia Picanto VR7 – as a three or five door with the 1,0 litre petrol engine – starts at £8795 and adds better upholstery, chrome door handles and a new front grill whilst the Kia Rio VR7 can be had with either the 1.1 litre diesel of 1.25 litre petrol and adds body coloured bumpers, new door handles and mirrors and more safety features to the list.

UK car manufacturing hits six-year high in 2013

UK car manufacturing hits six-year high in 2013 The car market in Europe may have been a painful place in 2013, but that hasn’t stopped UK car manufacturing continuing to grow, with 2013 delivering a total of 1,509,762 cars – the highest total since 2007 and up 3.1 per cent on 2012. That impressive total is made up from a wide variety of car manufacturers, from the volume producers like Jaguar Land Rover, Nissan, Toyota and MINI to smaller sales volume from supercar makers Aston Martin. In fact the rate of growth and investment is so strong – moire than £2.5 billion in investment announcements in 2013 – that the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) are reporting that analysts believe the UK’s car manufacturing could break all-time records in the next four years.

Shelby Daytona Coupe gains national historic status

As the first car to warrant U.S. Heritage Documentation, Shelby's first-ever Daytona Coupe now merits the same significance as the Chrysler Building, the Apollo capsule, and the USS Iowa. But of course, we already knew that.

Will this Datsun crossover concept be a new Nissan CUV?

We've heard a lot about Datsun in the past few months. The defunct-but-returning brand was part of the inspiration for the Nissan IDx concepts seen at the Detroit auto show, but Nissan has been talking about selling cars under the Datsun brand in developing markets like India, Russia and Indonesia since last July. The company released a concept sketch on Wednesday of a small people carrier, set to debut at the Delhi Auto Expo in February.

CAR Most Wanted of 2014: BMW M3 and BMW M4

By the CAR editorial team First Official Pictures 23 January 2014 07:45 It’s tempting to feel that BMW was actually trying to be controversial with the new hot 3-series. For a start, the M3 Coupe is dead. Just as the two-door Three is now the 4-series (confused yet?), the flagship 4-series wears the new ‘M4’ badge.

Revealed: the popular city cars that FAIL a new crash test

It’s fair to say that drivers are pretty well protected in just about any new car on the market today. It’s rare for cars to get anything below the maximum five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests, and even the most basic of cars come with equipment like ABS and airbags as standard. But America’s Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has devised a new test, which involves a “small overlap front crash” – similar to a head-on crash but only the front corner of a car collides with a solid object.

2014 Lexus CT 200h gets a price cut

2014 Lexus CT 200h (pictured) gets a price cut The 2014 Lexus CT 200h was revealed at the Guangzhou motor show in China back in November, and now it’s ready to order in the UK with a raft of updates and a price cut across almost the whole range. Now starting from £20,995 for the CT 200h S – £1,00 less than before – the S also sees its emissions reduced to just 82g/km and extra visual appeal with a new grill that makes the car seem wider and lower. Further up the CT 200h range, the F Sport gets the new spindle grill the IS F Sport gets as well as a new spoiler at the back with integrated air ducts.

Where to rent a Lamborghini in South Florida

Everyone's fav tween pop star The worst person in the world Justin Bieber got arrested last night in Miami after leaving SET, a swanky nightclub. He was allegedly drag-racing against a Ferrari 16M Scuderia in a—we're assuming rented—Lamborghini Gallardo. He was also allegedly under the influence of both drugs and alcohol, and resisted arrest without violence before he had the cuffs slapped on.

How safe are new minicars?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently tested a total of 11 minicars in its relatively new small-overlap crash test, and the Chevrolet Spark was the only one to earn an Acceptable rating. The small-overlap crash test was instituted in 2012 with the goal of better replicating real-life car crashes, most of which don't follow the pattern of traditional government crash tests. Instead of a car hitting a stationary object with 100 percent of its front making contact, the small-overlap test examines how a car behaves in a frontal impact at 40 mph where only a quarter of the car's front hits an object.

How Mercedes sees into the future

Mercedes' crystal ball is named Alexander Mankowsky. At 56, he's dressed for CES in khaki trousers and a leather vest, with thin glasses perched on a round face; his frizzy white hair resembles what Einstein's would if he were caught in a wind tunnel. He might be a long-distant uncle, or he might be Doc Brown, fresh from the DeLorean.

2015 Lincoln Navigator gets a fresh face

Lincoln has just unveiled a refreshed 2015 Navigator. The Navigator received its last visual updates in 2007, but today steps out with a fresh fascia and improved interior and exterior styling. Seven years is a lifetime in the car world, and the 2015 Navigator will have some pretty stiff competition in the luxury SUV class including the Mercedes-Benz GL and Cadillac Escalade.

First (Snow) Drive: Maserati Q4 system

What Is It? Maserati's very first all-wheel-drive system. Quattroporte and Ghibli, Q4 is mechanically simple but electronically sophisticated.

Sarah McLachlan teases upcoming Audi Super Bowl ad

For all the overt hyper-earnestness Sarah McLachlan ladled upon us during her 1990s heyday, we might not’ve noticed that the Canadian singer-songwriter has a sense of humor. A cameo a couple of years back in the excellent Aimee Mann-as-housekeeper episode of Portlandia suggested McLachlan’s lighter side and now this weirdly-captivating teaser for Audi's 2014 Super Bowl ad sees the Lilith Fair founder futzing around with her own image, imploring that the Doberhuahua is a misunderstood animal that deserves our attention. We assume that the morphologically-perverse Doberman/Chihuahua cross is supposed to suggest that the new A3 is both small and vicious.

Big fall in insurance premiums

DRIVERS are set to be quoted happy after it was revealed that insurance premiums have fallen by more than 14% over the last year. The typical quote for annual comprehensive car insurance cover was £533 in January, which was also a record 4.6% slide on the previous quarter, according to the latest AA Insurance premium index, which takes the average of the five cheapest quotes on the market. The AA British Insurance Premium Index, which has been running for 20 years, found that the North West remains the most costly region to insure a car, with the average premium for someone who shops around standing at £809, although this region also saw the biggest price drop over the past quarter at 6.3%.

Tesla finishes coast-to-coast Supercharger installs

Tesla has delivered on its promise of an all-electric coast-to-coast trip being possible by this winter, activating the 69th and 70th Superchargers in its growing network. But, while it's technically possible to drive a Tesla Model S from New York to Los Angeles, the route itself is a bit... unusual.

Let-off for 29-point takeaway driver

A TAKEAWAY driver found using an unsafe car has been given 18 penalty points in one hit, but is still allowed to get behind the wheel. Ala Udin pleaded guilty to a string of motoring offences when he appeared before magistrates in Aberystwyth, Mid Wales. The 44-year-old father turned up to court with 11 points already on his licence and knowing that getting just one more would tip him over the ban threshold.

Last-of-the-line Rover Mini Cooper for sale on eBay

The second-generation ‘new’ MINI Cooper may have just gone out of production, but you can still pick up a new one for £14,900. Alternatively you could wait for the third-gen MINI coming later this year, with prices starting from £15,300. But without wishing to sound too much like Chris Tarrant, we don’t want to give you either of those.

CAR magazine’s Most Wanted cars of 2014: the complete 20

By the CAR editorial team First Official Pictures 23 January 2014 15:20 From superminis to hybrid supercars, 2014 is set to be a real treat for car-lovers, as the industry continues its fight against recession, eco-fears, and Generation Y’s apparent disillusionment with the automobile. There’s a wealth of stunning new metal on the way this year, and CAR has prepared previews of the top 20 hottest vehicles coming your way in the next 12 months. Follow the links below to check out each of our ‘Most Wanted of 2014’ reports, featuring first drives, development insight and technical specs of all of the cars we can’t wait to get behind the wheel of in 2014.

London parking space on sale for £75,000

NEVER MIND the car; one enterprising home owner is hoping to earn some handy extra money by selling their parking space for £75,000. Located on Westbridge Road in Battersea SW11, the listing indicates that it is a single parking space at the rear of a property – so there’s no garage to keep the car safe, merely enough space for it to be parked. With easy access to the River Thames and nearby Battersea Park it is an attractive location, but only for someone in the immediate vicinity.

New Kia VR7 models for 2014

Kia Kia has launched VR7 Picanto, Rio and Cee’d special edition models, which provide more equipment than entry-level versions, for a small increase in price. All VR7 special edition cars come with air-conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity, electrically adjustable heated door mirrors and leather steering wheel and gearknob trims. Exterior features include alloy wheels and reversing sensors.

2015 Kia K900 first drive

What Is It? You can look at the coming Kia K900 luxury sedan in two ways: 1.) Kia is following in the tire tracks of its owner/big brother Hyundai in moving upscale at a graduated pace, allowing current buyers somewhere to go as they gain income and look for prestige; or 2.) Kia is ignoring what happened to Volkswagen when it introduced the way upscale Phaeton to rave reviews but disastrous sales. Kia claims answer No.

Jaguar makes XK range more Dynamic for 2015

Jaguar has launched two new special edition XK models for the 2015 model year, both boasting greater value and offering more visual appeal. The XK Signature and XK Dynamic R replace all previous variants other than the range-topping XKR-S – yes, that includes the previous XKR model – and have been configured to fit in more comfortably alongside the smash hit F-Type range. Jaguar F-Type Coupe R prototype review (2014 onwards) 21 reasons why the Jaguar F-Type Coupe R will blow your mind Both models will arrive in showrooms in March – which, coincidentally, is the same time Jaguar’s new F-Type Coupe derivative also goes on sale… The XK Signature is the new value leader.

UK car production tops 1.5 million

THE NUMBER of cars built in the UK topped 1.5 million last year, the highest for six years, amid what's being called "surging" demand at home and abroad. Production increased by 3.1% in 2013, with analysts predicting that output would reach record levels of around two million by 2017. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said the UK was set to become the third largest car manufacturer in Europe after Germany and Spain.

Historic Celebration On Track For Bumper Year

SUMMER might be a distant dream but the organisers of this July's Silverstone Classic historic race meeting already have a reason to be cheerful. This year marks a milestone for the event, as a record 84 motor clubs have already signed up to attend. According to event management, this number beats the grand total of 77 clubs who attended the 2013 event.

BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe (2015) revealed in patent pics

The BMW 4 Series Gran 4 Coupe is proof that BMW is continuing its efforts to fill every imaginable niche. It's a four-door version of the 4 Series coupe, which itself is based on the 3 Series saloon, and adds to a bewildering array of machines stemming from the F30 3 Series. Officially the 4 Series Gran Coupe, revealed in full in these images from the firm’s design patent, is given the ‘F36’ codename and is expected to be officially unveiled in early 2014. It joins the F30 (3 Series saloon), F31 (3 Series Touring), F32 (4 Series Coupe), F33 (4 Series Convertible), F34 (3 Series Gran Turismo) and F35 (3 Series long-wheelbase saloon) to complete the range of body styles.

UK car production hits six-year high

The British car industry continued to boom in 2013, with production topping the 1.5 million unit barrier thanks to a resurgent Toyota, Jaguar and Land Rover. It means that last year, a car was built in the UK every 20 seconds! 20 reasons why the British car industry is booming UK car sales reach six-year high 1,509,762 cars produced was a 3.1% rise on 2013 – and, in further good news for Britain, it was revealed that 79.6% of them, or 1,201,395 cars, were exported to overseas markets.

Formula E HQ set for Donington

THE NEW global all-electric racing car series Formula E is to have its headquarters at England’s Donington Park circuit. Construction of the multi-million pound facility has started, with a view to making the facility the home of testing and development for the series’ battery-powered cars. There will be ‘state-of-the-art’ facilities for all 10 Formula E teams as well as workshops, offices and stores.