Blog on 2040Parts

Nissan IDx concepts bring back budget racers

Nissan channeled its inner Datsun for the Detroit auto show on Monday. The Japanese brand showed off its IDx Freeflow and IDx Nismo concepts, which we first saw in Tokyo. The brand cited the new ways people buy and customize cars as the reason for the classic yet eye-catching style.

Jaguar Land Rover reveals best ever sales

Jaguar Land Rover has announced it sold 425,006 vehicles in 2013 – a 19% rise on 2012, making it the firm’s best-ever year for global sales. Land Rover itself set another record, with 348,338 retail sales resulting in a 15% boost on 2012. For Jaguar, 76,668 sales made 2013 the division’s best year since 2005 – and was a 42% rise on 2012.

Tyre warning for drivers heading into Europe

BRITISH DRIVERS could face on the spot fines for using the wrong tyres when travelling in Europe this winter. Severe winter weather in many European countries means the normal summer tyres fitted to most UK cars will not offer enough grip for safe driving or braking in icy or snowy conditions. In Germany and some ski resorts, drivers are liable to on-the-spot fines if their car is not equipped with winter tyres or their car becomes stuck in slippery conditions due to the wrong tyres being fitted.

2015 Mercedes C-class reveal at the Detroit auto show

We got our first look at the new 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-class sedan last month in a series of photographs released by the German automaker. Now, amid the melee of the Detroit auto show, we finally get to see the fourth-generation C-class in person. As expected, the new car does a great impression of a baby S-class with a strong front end, plenty of side-sculpting and a gentle slope to the rear.

Asda starts new fuel price war

DRIVERS are set to keep some extra money in their pockets with the announcement that Asda is to cut its fuel prices. From tomorrow the firm’s forecourts will knock 2p per litre off both its unleaded and its diesel. If past trends continue, rival supermarkets Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s are expected to follow suit and reduce their own fuel prices.

All-new Ford F-150 revealed at 2014 Detroit Motor Show

Ford has revealed an all-new version of the States' bestselling vehicle, the F-150 pick-up – and in a world first, the US favourite boasts an all-aluminium body and lightweight, high-strength steel frame. The new Ford F-150 is more than 300kg lighter than the model it replaces and, thanks to four engine choices including an all-new downsized 2.7-litre EcoBoost turbo, is much more fuel efficient too. Given that Ford sold a staggering 763,402 F-150s in 2013 alone, these changes will have a very positive effect in terms of the new model's environmental impact.

Continental rolls to Which? best buy awards

CONTINENTAL’S ContiWinterContact TS 850 cold-weather tyre has been awarded a Which? Best Buy award in two sizes. The 225/45 R17H and 185/60 R15T, used on cars like the Audi A3 and Renault Clio respectively, both won plaudits for offering increased grip and stability on dry, wet, snowy and icy roads.

Corvette Stingray wins North American Car of the Year

The 2014 Detroit Motor Show has got off to a cracking start for General Motors, with the company winning TWO top North American awards. With the new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray scooping the North American Car of the Year award, and the Chevrolet Silverado bringing home the Truck of the Year honour, it’s the first time GM has swept the board since 2007. New 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray in pictures at Detroit Motor Show The best new cars coming in 2014: Chevrolet C7 Corvette Stingray The awards – which are based on the thoughts of a panel of automotive critics – are amongst the most respected in the industry and are said to have a direct influence on a car’s fortunes.

Volkswagen to launch new large SUV in USA

Volkswagen has revealed plans to invest $7 billion (£4.2 billion) in North America, with the launch of a new SUV in 2016. The midsize SUV will take Volkswagen towards it goal of selling 1 million cars a year stateside by 2018. On Bing: see pictures of the Volkswagen CrossBlue concept Find out how much a used Volkswagen SUV costs on Auto Trader The seven-seat SUV is based on the CrossBlue concept, seen at the Detroit Motor Show last year.

Mercedes-Benz S 600 V12 revealed at Detroit Motor Show

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is unofficially known as the best car in the world… and the firm has now revealed the model that could make that title official – the new V12-engined long-wheelbase S 600 range-topper. Boasting a 530hp 6.0-litre biturbo V12, the new S 600 can accelerate from 0-62mph in just 4.6 seconds… but, thanks to ECO stop/start, it can also average over 25mpg, a 21% improvement on the old car. Just as importantly, it also promises an unparalleled luxury car experience.

New Chrysler 200 unveiled at 2014 Detroit Motor Show

Huge crowds gathered around the Chrysler stand at the 2014 Detroit Motor Show, eagerly awaiting the unveiling of the much-anticipated 2015 Chrysler 200. It's a hugely significant car for the Chrysler brand as it represents a serious assault on the highly competitive midsize sedan segment, the biggest market in the United States. In 2013, the midsize sedan segment accounted for 17% of all US sales, with the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata just three of the Chrysler 200's chief rivals.

Porsche 911 Targa 4 (2014) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 13 January 2014 18:00 Upping the repertoire of current 991-generation 911 models to 16 (so far) this is the new Porsche 911 Targa. The new Targa is inspired by the ’60s classic, as you’ll spot by its all-new roof arrangement (no glorified sunroof Targas any more). The contrast-coloured roof-hoop returns, as does the dome-shaped wraparound rear window.

VW Beetle Dune concept 2014 revealed in full

As promised last week, Volkswagen has unwrapped a rugged new Beetle Dune concept at the 2014 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The 2014 VW Beetle Dune concept is a follow up to the 2000 VW Beetle Dune Concept. But where Volkswagen describes the earlier car as “science fiction”, this new version is said to be looking “much more realistically towards a production vehicle”… Please click the image above to read more about the VW Beetle Dune concept from the Detroit Motor Show 2014

Toyota FT-1 concept (2014) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 13 January 2014 15:00 Toyota has stunned the 2014 Detroit motor show with this rakish racecar for the road. Called FT-1, it hints at a new flagship coupe model to sit above the much-loved GT86 in the current Toyota line-up. It’s now eleven years since the Toyota Supra went out of production: long enough for a reboot, we think.

Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge concept (2014) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 13 January 2014 17:41 Infiniti wants to be taken seriously as a performance car maker – and drizzle some of its championship-winning Red Bull F1 sponsorship garnish over its road car programme. It’s led to this: the Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge concept. It’s a supersaloon version of the Q50, named of after the ballsiest corner at the Spa-Francorchamps F1 circuit, and pointing to a new AMG and BMW M-car rival from Nissan’s luxury arm.

Toyota unveils FT-1 concept at 2014 Detroit Motor Show

There’s nothing quite like a surprise unveiling at a motor show, and the Toyota FT-1 just uncovered at Detroit is exactly that. It’s Toyota’s Calty design studio’s attempt at creating the ultimate sports car. And it looks fantastic.

Porsche 911 Targa revealed at 2014 Detroit Motor Show

Porsche has revealed an amazing retro-inspired new 911 Targa at the Detroit Motor Show – an open-top model that boasts a ‘wide bar’ look almost identical to the Targa style that went out of production two decades ago. First introduced back in the 1960s, Porsche’s return to the original Targa style has been combined with modern electrically-opening roof technology… and with models arriving in showrooms from this May, it’ll be an on-road retro reality before you know it.

Kia unveils GT4 Stinger at 2014 Detroit Motor Show

When you hear the brand ‘Kia’, what do you think of? Top Gear’s Reasonably Priced Car and seven-year warranties, perhaps? If so, you might be surprised to hear that Kia’s unveiled a rear-wheel drive 315hp coupe that the brand says “pushes the boundaries of performance” and “places man and machine in harmony on the road or track”.

VW Beetle Dune concept (2014) first official pictures

By Damion Smy First Official Pictures 13 January 2014 18:31 Heard of sandboarding? The VW Beetle Dune has been revealed at the 2014 Detroit motor show in what VW says is a ‘concept with near-production car design’ (wink, wink) designed for those into this new sport. The Dune was the name given to the rugged-looking version of the Polo, sold in the UK between 2004-2008, and this Beetle follows the same formula.

Jaguar Land Rover RECORD sales in 2013

Jaguar Land Rover RECORD sales in 2013 Jaguar Land Rover has been on a roll for the last few years, so it’s no surprise they’re reporting record-breaking sales for 2013. But the sales figures are, by any measure, impressive with a total of 425,006 cars sold between Jaguar and Land Rover in 2013 – an all time record and up 19 per cent on 2012. Sales success wasn’t concentrated in just one market either, with sales up in Asia Pacific and the China region by 30 per cent, North America up 21 per cent, the UK up 14 per cent, Europe up 6 per cent, and other overseas markets up 23 per cent.

Audi Allroad Shooting Brake unveiled at 2014 Detroit Motor Show

This is Audi’s Allroad Shooting Brake show car, unveiled on the eve of the Detroit Motor Show. It's a reminder that Audi is gunning for sales from Mercedes-Benz and BMW - and a warning that there isn’t a niche it isn’t prepared to plug. The tri-motor, all-wheel drive hybrid, complete with 400hp and 480lb ft of torque, promises to be a fast, usable crossover when it appears on sale – and Audi is hinting that might not be too far away.

Audi Allroad Shooting Brake Concept leaks ahead of Detroit. The Audi Q1?

Audi Allroad Shooting Brake Concept leaks Ahead of Detroit (pictured). The Audi Q1? We already know that Audi are planning a compact SUV in the guise of an Audi Q1, because they told us.

Mercedes GLA 45 AMG on video ahead of Detroit debut

Mercedes GLA 45 AMG (pictured) on video ahead of Detroit deut What promises to be the best performing car in the compact SUV/Crossover segment – the Mercedes GLA 45 AMG – was officially revealed this week ahead of its debut at the Detroit Auto Show. With the same 355 bhp, 2.0 litre turbo engine as the A 45 and CLA 45 AMG – and with 4WD – the GLA 45 AMG offers stunning performance in a high-riding compact shape that promises to embarrass all but the most extreme performance SUVs on the market. Now, ahead of next week’s debut, Mercedes AMG has released new video of the GLA 45 AMG which does a decent job of highlighting the cosmetic tweaks and purposeful stance the GLA has.

Audi Allroad Shooting Brake concept (2014) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 11 January 2014 23:00 This is the new Audi Allroad Shooting Brake Concept car, which will be unveiled in the metal at the Detroit motor show this week. But don’t be caught out by this red herring – Audi isn’t about to put a high-riding two-door estate into production as the next TT. Instead, this Allroad Shooting Brake is a smorgasbord of new Audi cues, hinting at everything from the new TT’s minimalist dashboard (which we saw revealed on CAR Online last week), to the styling direction of soon-to-be-replace models like the existing TT, A4, and Q7.

This Kia can calculate your body fat

At the 2014 CES, Kia binged on three-letter acronyms with a slew of connectivity technology that culminated in the first U.S. debut of its KND-7 concept. For a company whose name is composed of three letters, it's not entirely unexpected.

Meet the Jaguar/Land Rover smartphone

Jaguar Land Rover has announced a whole new host of apps that'll be available in vehicles by both brands later this year via the InControl smartphone integration system. With the help of Bosch and a number of third-party app developers, Jaguar and Land Rover will debut integrated in-vehicle app connectivity for phones with the Android operating system, as well as for Apple's iOS. Jaguar Land Rover is the latest company to bring apps to cars' infotainment systems, an innovation that will either greatly reduce distracted driving and make crucial information much more easily accessible or cause drivers to completely ignore the act of driving altogether.

Volkswagen Beetle Dune concept for Detroit Motor Show

Volkswagen Volkswagen has announced a Beetle Dune concept will take to its show stand at the 2014 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) next week – promising to bring a bit of beach buggy sunshine to the polar vortex chilled show halls of Detroit. So far VW has only released the pair of design concepts pictured here, but together with a few choice details you can clearly figure out what we’re dealing with here. The Dune is a Beetle that’s been given a rugged off-road makeover.

MP slams ministerial cars 'waste'

MINISTERS have been accused of wastefulness by having their official cars sitting outside Parliament with the engines running. Labour MP Thomas Docherty said he had seen Government cars sitting in New Palace Yard - one of the main thoroughfares in and out of the Palace of Westminster - for more than an hour with their engines turned on. Commons Leader Andrew Lansley said he had not noticed the problem on his frequent visits in and out of the palace.

VL Destino revealed - what became of the Fisker Karma

VL This is the new face of the Fisker Karma, the luxury plug-in hybrid whose parent company went to the wall last year. But it’s not only the Karma’s gap-toothed grin that’s disappeared: its plug-in hybrid powertrain has bitten the dust, too, replaced by a GM-sourced V8 – a supercharged lump boasting 638hp and 640lb ft. Called the VL Destino, the wilder Karma will be shown at this month’s North American International Auto Show, aka the Detroit Motor Show.

The safest cars of 2014 revealed by Euro NCAP

Safety in modern cars continues to move on at a relentless pace, and in 2013 the story was no different. We saw the first Chinese car ever to get a full five-star Euro NCAP rating with the Qoros 3, signalling Chinese manufacturers are really starting to think about the needs of other markets around the world – in fact, just to prove that point, Euro NCAP voted the Qoros 3 the safest car of 2013. What a result.