Blog on 2040Parts

Toyota teases Muppets Super Bowl spot

Former NFL player and current "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" actor Terry Crews will appear in Toyota's Highlander-focused Super Bowl ad. The automaker released a teaser spot today, referencing the Coen Brothers and featuring the Muppets' famed dilapidated bus, a fanciful tour vehicle in the vein of Ken Kesey's Furthur or the Partridge Family's Mondrian-esque Chevy. (RIP, Dave Madden.) It's safe to assume that some manner of madcap mayhem will ensue upon the arrival of the rest of the Muppet crew, but for now, all we get is a shot of pianist Rowlf buckling himself in sans invitation.

2014 Volkswagen Beetle priced at $21,115

The 2014 Volkswagen Beetles are scurrying into dealerships as we speak. The base 1.8-liter turbo model will start at $21,115, including an $820 destination charge, while the convertible will start at $25,990. The hardtop comes with manual transmission; the cabrio gets a six-speed auto.

Fiat Panda 4×4 Antarctica celebrates 30 years and 500,000 Pandas

Fiat Panda 4×4 Antarctica (pictured) celebrates 30 years and 500,000 Pandas If you’ve never driven a Fiat Panda – especially the Panda 100hp or Panda 4×4 – you’re missing out on a whole heap of fun; as an urban warrior and nippy little runaround there’s little to beat it still. So with Fiat are celebrating 30 years of the Panda – and 500,000 sales – with a new limited edition Fiat Panda 4×4 Antarctica – which comes with extra kit and a choice of engines – now could b e a good time to grab yourself a bit of budget Italian fun. With a name like Antarctica it’s no surprise the only choice of colour for this special edition Panda 4×4 is white, although you do get a black roof, orange detailing and 15″ alloys to break up the white body.

Arsenal stars team up to test new Citroen

THE CITROEN C4 Grand Picasso has been run through its paces in a new video featuring some of the stars from Arsenal Football Club. Striker Olivier Giroud, midfield man Santi Cazorla, defensive supremo Per Mertesacker and the safe hands of Wojciech Szczęsny teamed up to headline a football-themed test of the car’s new features. They highlight the wide door and boot openings with a spot of free-kick and goalkeeping practice, before 1.98-metre Mertesacker lies along the length of the available load space with all six passenger seats folded down.

2014 Jaguar XK Signature and Dynamic R specification revealed

The 2014 Jaguar XK Dynamic R (left) and XK Signature The Jaguar XK – in naturally aspirated guise or as an XKR – is getting a bit long in the tooth, so Jaguar have launched two special editions – the XK Signature and Dynamic  R specification – to try and put a bit of fizz in to sales. Jaguar are proclaiming the XK Signature and Dynamic  R specification as special editions, but at substantial discounts to the current models – and with increased specification – it looks like these two new models are going to be the Jaguar XK range for 2014 (plus the Jaguar XKR-S). The Jaguar XK Dynamic R gets the same 503bhp 5.0 litre supercharged engine as the XKR but gets both the Black Dynamic Pack and Speed Pack as standard as well as a sports exhaust, Performance Seats with diamond stitching and 20” Vortex diamond turned wheels.

Mercedes C-Class AMG Sport Edition revealed to make sales ahead of new C-Class arrival

Mercedes C-Class AMG Sport Edition (pictured) revealed There’s an all new Mercedes C-Class waiting in the wings after its Detroit Auto Show debut to take the C-Class to a while new level, but Mercedes want to carrying on selling the current C-Class until it arrives. With that in mind we get the arrival of the Mercedes C-Class AMG Sport Edition to try and carry the existing C-Class sales mantle until the arrival of the all new C-Class in the summer. The AMG Sport Edition sees the demise of the existing AMG Sport and AMG Sport Plus and can be had as a saloon, estate or coupe and comes with an AMG bodykit, lowered suspension, AMG steering wheel and alloys, gloss black grill, boot spoiler and dark tinted headlights.

New Nissan creates 500 UK jobs

THE NEW NISSAN Qashqai starts coming off the production line today, which has helped create 500 new jobs at the Japanese car giant's UK plant in the coming months. The second generation Qashqai will be built in Sunderland, where the workforce is set to increase to over 7,000 for the first time. Around 286,000 Qashqai cars were built last year, with production numbers expected to be similar in 2014.

Jeep Altitude models debut in spring

The Jeep Cherokee, Grand Cherokee and Wrangler will feature Altitude trims for 2014, joining the Patriot and Compass. The special editions will arrive in showrooms this spring. The Altitude came to be through a contest Jeep held two years ago around the time of the Houston Auto Show.

Stig test drives motorway pub

The BBC has released a video of the Stig test driving Britain’s first motorway pub, presumably as a way of promoting its new series of Top Gear. The video shows the Stig pull up at Beaconsfield services in a Vauxhall Insignia, before entering the Hope and Champion pub and posing for photos, and then ordering a pint of beer. On Bing: see pictures of the Stig England’s first motorway pub set to open However, as the Stig raises the pint to his mouth, he realises it’s not drinkable as he is still wearing his helmet.

Kia readies 2015 K900 for luxury-sedan segment

Kia is getting closer to its entry into the full-size luxury category with the 2015 K900, which will go on sale in the first quarter of 2014. The K900 will arrive with two engine configurations. The most powerful is a 5.0-liter Tau V8 making 420 hp.

Audi to reveal 230hp S1

Audi is expected to reveal a 230hp quattro S1 at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The hot version of its A1 city car will be powered by the turbocharged 2.0-litre engine used in the Audi S3, and come with four-wheel drive as standard. On Bing: see pictures of the Audi S1 Find out how much a used Audi A1 costs on Auto Trader An Audi spokesman would not confirm the rumours, although the S1 is believed to have been spotted undergoing tests in Sweden.

Land Rover triggers rumours of ‘Landy’ SUV

Jaguar Land Rover has trademarked the name ‘Landy’, sparking more rumours of a smaller urban SUV based on the Evoque. The new model could possibly feature styling similar to the DC100 concept, and will be a rival to the likes of the BMW X1 and upcoming Audi Q1. On Bing: see pictures of the Land Rover DC100 concept Find out how much a used Land Rover costs on Auto Trader The trademark application was made in December, reports Autocar, and will cover everything from vehicles to accessories and even franchising for dealerships.

Fashion link-up creates Mii by Mango

FASHIONISTAS everywhere will only be thinking about Mii this summer, after Seat and fashion retailer Mango announced a team effort to produce a special edition city car. The Mii by Mango is just the first step in a partnership between the two Spanish giants, tweaking the surprisingly spacious little car with unique styling details and a special colour option called Nude. Dark grey alloy wheels, different side skirts and Mii by Mango badges mark the model out from its more straight-laced siblings.

Get a classic car restoration scholarship

Hagerty recently announced it has teamed-up with LeMay–America’s Car Museum to help develop a new program focusing on education on vehicle restoration. This hands-on learning program has been dubbed the “Hagerty Education Program at America’s Car Museum,” and will provide scholarships as well as educational grants to students who are eager and committed to the collector-vehicle industry. Hagerty wants to carry on the success of the former Collectors Foundation, originally introduced in 2005, to continue to educate young people between the ages of 14-25 on the inner workings of the automotive preservation and restoration process.

Land Rover reaches coldest inhabited place on Earth

Despite the second snowpocalypse of the year and the reappearance of the polar vortex, the American Midwest and Northeast are not the coldest places in the world right now, contrary to what you might have felt this morning during your commute. So the Petsmart parking lot in Schenectady, New York is going to have have to have to get a few degrees colder if it wants to make it in the Guinness Book of Records. The title holder of the coldest inhabited place in the world happens to be the district of Oymyakon in Russia, though it's a bit further south from the Arctic Ocean than you'd expect.

UK roads slide in global satisfaction survey

THE UK has slipped yet further down a league table of roads quality, according to data released in the 2013-14 World Economic Forum report. Having previously sat in an already meagre 24th place, the UK has fallen to 28th, equal to Namibia – and the Republic of Ireland. The study, which is based on people’s perceptions of their own country’s infrastructure, highlights growing dissatisfaction among the British people regarding the state of the road network.

Panda Success Is Snow Joke

TO CELEBRATE the milestone of 500,000 sales over three decades, Fiat has launched a special edition of its current generation Panda 4x4. Badged ‘Antarctica’ the car boasts extra standard kit plus some unique design features and is limited to 300 examples. Available from March and priced from £14,895 the special edition Panda is, unsurprisingly, being offered in white while the car’s stand-out details include a black roof, orange detailing and 15-inch alloy wheels.

Top Gear is back! Series 21 to air on 2 February

Reuters Top Gear is returning to Britain's TV screens in early February, it was confirmed today. It's great news for car enthusiasts who've missed their regular fix of Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond messing about in cars – there has been no Top Gear on our tellies since last summer (barring the incessant repeats on Freeview channels such as Dave). The BBC said Top Gear series 21 would air on Sunday 2 February 2014.

First Motorway Service Station Pub opens on M40

The Hope & Champion pub (pictured) opens at Beaconsfield Services on the M40 Where to stop for a bite to eat on UK motorways can often be a bit of a lottery, with many oif us seeking a pub just off the motorway for a bit of a break and a spot of lunch. But now, amid some controversy and complaints from safety groups, JD Wetherspoons has opened the first pub at a motorway services, with the Hope and Champion open for business at Beaconsfield Services on the M40. The Hope and Champion will be open from 4am to 1am, seven days a week, and serve the usual JD Wetherspoons fodder of passable meals and drinks and, say JD Wetherspoons, a wide range of non-alcoholic drinks, tea and coffee.

2015 Nissan GT-R priced at $103,365

The Nissan GT-R is back for 2015, as if there was ever any doubt. Again this year, the company claims a recalibrated suspension that will give a more “sophisticated” ride and better road-holding. The 2015 Nissan GT-R Premium will cost $103,365, including destination.

2015 Ford F-150 work to cost more at body shop

The 2015 Ford F-150 pickup that debuted at the Detroit auto show came in weighing about 700 pounds less than its predecessor. That means improved performance and better fuel economy, so that’s a win-win, right? Well, less than 10 percent of independent repair shops are certified, meet training requirements and have the equipment to work with aluminum body parts, according to Darrell Amberson, chairman of the Automotive Service Association.

Happy Anniversary: delivery-mileage Lamborghini Countach for sale

Just when you think you've seen it all, along comes a delivery mileage Lamborghini Countach that has been sat 'resting' in a storage facility since April 1990. And although it would be rather amusing to report the supercar had been discovered during an episode of Storage Wars, the reality is a little different. The Countach is the car that graced the bedroom walls of countless young boys in the 1980s, condemning the Ferrari poster to the waste paper bin.

The most expensive Lincoln MKC is under $50k

One of the things that's fun about online "build and price" tools is picking a car, choosing all the most expensive options, then standing back in stunned amazement at the price of the car you've built. "HOLY COW! A $280,000 PORSCHE BOXSTER.

£50,000 crystal-studded tin marks T-Cut milestone

AS TINS of polish go, this one is rather special. This is T-Cut’s 60th birthday present to itself and comes encrusted with tens of thousands of pounds worth of Swarovski crystals. T-Cut says 26,000 individual jewels make up the design, which took 75 hours of work for Shirley Sinclair of specialist designer Crystallized by Request to complete.

Lister Knobbly back on track

Lister The Lister Knobbly - one of the most famous British racing cars of the 1950s - is now available to buy new, with prices starting from £249,000 for track-only versions and £259,000 for road car derivatives. Lister Cars was founded by George Lister in 1954 and its Jaguar-based ‘Lister Knobbly’ race cars were among the most competitive cars in motor racing during the late 1950s. In May 2013 three existing companies - George Lister Engineering of Cambridge, Brian Lister Light Engineering and Lister Storm – were amalgamated following investment by Warranty Wise to create Lister Motor Company Limited.

BMW vs Winter: all you need to know about BMW xDrive

By the CAR editorial team 21 January 2014 15:00 According to BMW, its ‘xDrive’ all-wheel drive system is more popular than any other premium brand’s four-wheel drive drivetrain. That’s right: in the UK, xDrive outsells Audi’s famous quattro system, not to mention Mercedes ever-expanding 4Matic range, and all-wheel drive version of Jaguar’s XF and XJ. If you had to name an all-wheel drive BMW off the top of your head, you’d probably plump for the X5, but the truth is that xDrive has infiltrated the majority of BMW models.

Google Glasses driver has ticket torn up

An American driver who was fined for driving while wearing Google Glasses has had the ticket torn up. Cecilia Abadie was stopped by police in California who said the Google Glass digital spectacles fell foul of laws banning drivers from watching TV when behind the wheel. Woman ticketed for driving with Google Glasses On Bing: see pictures of Google Glass However, Abadie claimed the Glasses were not switched on – and do not give drivers any blind spots.

One in five suffers 'car envy'

DRIVERS in the UK are more likely to give way to classic or unusual cars such as a Citroen 2CV or Volkswagen Beetle, but one in five also admits they are less likely to be courteous to large 4x4s due to car envy, according to a survey. Nearly a half (47%) of UK motorists say they leave more space between their car and the one in front if the car ahead is driven by an elderly driver. Others (5%) admit to trying to slow down boy racers if they see the driver is wearing a baseball cap and is a young male.

Average cost of car insurance down 12.5%

The average cost of insurance is now 12.5% lower than it was a year ago, thanks to new EU rules on gender equality. That’s according to over four million quotes analysed on Confused.com. On Bing: see pictures of male drivers Women and car insurance – all the facts The rules, introduced at the end of 2012, said a person’s gender shouldn’t affect their insurance premium.

Meeke Makes Magic Monte Debut

A LITTLE over a decade since a Brit last stood on the podium in Monte Carlo, works Citroen driver Kris Meeke finished the opening round of the 2014 World Rally Championship in third place. After enduring rain, snow and challenging road conditions, Meeke finished an impressive third in his DS3 rally car behind 2013 champion and Monte winner Sebastien Ogier’s Volkswagen Polo and local hero and Ford privateer Bryan Bouffier. The dream result comes after Meeke and co-driver Paul Nagle were handed a full works drive by the ultra successful Citroen team at the end of last year.