Blog on 2040Parts

Now your wheels can light up Christmas, too!

GloRyder By now, you've probably finished decking your halls with boughs of holly and pinning Christmas lights to the outside of your house, but have you considered illuminating your car's wheels, too? Well if an American company has its way, you could soon be doing just that. And better still, you could be able to control the lights from your smartphone.

Aston Martin and AMG confirm partnership on new V8 engine

Aston Martin and AMG working on new V8 engines The collaboration deal between Aston Martin and AMG has moved to another level with the announcement that the two companies are working on a new V8 engine for Aston Martin. Aston Martin and AMG signed a letter of intent in July to kick off their technical partnership, and the news the companies are working together on a new V8 engine – which will probably first be seen in a new V8 Vantage – is the first fruits of the deal. A statement from AML and AMG said they are planning to expand their agreement to work on sharing electronic components and will “investigate additional areas of operation”.

Audi RSQ3 (2014) CAR review

Skip to content Audi models, news & reviews Click Thumbnails to Enlarge Statistics How much? £43,000 On sale in the UK: Now Engine: 2408cc 20v in-line five-cyl, turbocharged, 306bhp @ 5200-6700rpm, 310lb ft @ 1500-5200rpm Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch, all-wheel drive Performance: 5.2sec 0-62mph, 155mph (limited) 32.1mpg, 206g/km CO2 How heavy / made of? 1655kg/steel Need to know CAR's rating 4 Handling 4 Performance 4 Usability 4 Feelgood factor 4 Readers' rating 3.5 By Ben Pulman First Drives 19 December 2013 06:30 The first performance 4x4 built by Audi’s Quattro tuning division was the unhinged Q7 V12 TDI, a lofty two-and-a-half-tonne leviathan with a 493bhp twin-turbo 6.0-litre diesel engine.

Going green is the new black

When hearing the term “luxury vehicle,” it’s safe to say your mind doesn’t automatically jump to phrases like “fuel-efficient” or “environmentally friendly.” Let’s be honest: Owning a gas-guzzling speed machine dressed to the nines inside and out is a serious status symbol in most cultures. But there’s a new trend taking over the luxury automotive world, and it’s covered in green. The demand for high-end hybrid cars is on the rise, not only for their notable mileage boost and decreased emissions, but also for the social gains of adopting the green technology.

Renault turn central London in to a full-size Scalextric for the Zoe EV (video)

The Renault Zoe Scalextric cars turn on to the Embankment Even those who have never driven an electric car probably have if we count childhood exploits with Scalextric; hand-grip controllers clenched in hand seeing how fast you can go before your car tips off in a bend. So Renault decided it would be a good idea to create a full-size Scalextric track in central London, modify a pair of Renault Zoe EVs to slot in to the newly fabricated track and blat the cars round the 1.9 mile track in London controlled by competition winners from a helicopter hovering overhead. The race sees the two Zoes go head-to-head on the Scalextric track, starting out on the South Bank by the London Eye, over Westminster Bridge, past the Houses of Parliament, down the Embankment, up The Strand, over Waterloo Bridge, round the IMAX and finishing alongside the Thames at the finish line.

Carburetor maker Weber celebrates 90th birthday

Weber -- one the great names in automotive carburetion -- has just turned 90. The company was founded by Edoardo Weber in Bologna, Italy in December 1923. In 1920, Weber got his start producing kerosene conversion kits for Fiat trucks (gasoline being relatively expensive in Italy at the time).

Citroen DS 5LS (2014) first official pictures

By Damion Smy First Official Pictures 19 December 2013 17:30 The Citroen DS 5LS has been shown in Paris to a group of Chinese media, as the brand pushes its ‘Frenchness’ with a C-segment saloon for the world’s biggest market. The 5LS is the result of Citroen’s splitting of its model line-up into two channels: it’s ‘C’ badged cars for more everyday, price-driven offerings and its more premium, design-centric DS models, which have formed a ‘fully fledged brand’ in China. The 5LS is worth a look for UK enthusiasts as ‘a major driver of the DS’s ongoing international development’.

CAR Most Wanted of 2014: Land Rover Freelander

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 19 December 2013 12:50 Settle down, Range Rover, and your Sport and Evoque cousins. It’s now Land Rover’s turn for a high-tech new 4x4 family, and it kicks off with the new Land Rover Freelander. Except, as CAR reported earlier in 2013, the Freelander replacement will bin that name – and, hopes Land Rover, the moniker’s poor reliability connotations.

Car 'not at fault' in Paul Walker crash

INVESTIGATORS have found no evidence that the Porsche carrying actor Paul Walker had mechanical problems before it crashed, killing the Fast & Furious star. The investigation also ruled out debris or other road conditions as causing the car in which Walker, 40, was a passenger to slam into a lamppost and tree and burst into flames. "We're looking at speed and speed alone," a law enforcement source said.

Lexus, Honda and Kia reveal teasers for 2014 Detroit auto show

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 19 December 2013 17:00 Ahead of the Detroit motor show in January 2014, Lexus, Honda and Kia have all received teaser shots of their new offerings. We’ve rounded the up into one bite-size story to cut to the heart of what we’re really looking at. After previously flashing us a shot of wheel and vent, Lexus has now unveiled a shot on what’s all-but-confirmed to be the new RC-F coupe’s vented bonnet.

Audi lights up for the shortest day

AUDI UK has created a stunning series of low-light photos to celebrate its success this year, just in time for the shortest day of the year. The seven photos use a technique called ‘light painting’, where a stationary object in the dark is lit up by a small hand-held light to selectively brighten areas over a long exposure period to eventually create an unusual-looking end result. To the trained eye it looks like Audi has supplemented the photographer’s torch with static lighting to increase the beauty of the end result, but there’s no doubting their success.

VW Jump Starts City Car's Appeal

VOLKSWAGEN has become the latest firm to launch a pure electric car in the UK. The firm is kicking off its campaign with an electric version of its already popular up! city car.

MSN Cars' Ian Dickson and Steve Walker to leave

Microsoft MSN Cars' journalists Ian Dickson (above left) and Steve Walker (right) are to leave the team at the end of 2013. The pair, who produce much of the content you read here day-to-day, have notched up an impressive 10 and a half years' combined service between them. Senior editor Ian Dickson joined MSN Cars in September 2006, while content editor Steve Walker arrived in September 2010.

Don't get caught on car hire 'slippery slope'

'DO IT YOURSELF' holidays are generally seen as a cheaper version of what can be steeply priced and inflexible package deals, particularly in the notoriously expensive ski market. But experts are warning that skiers who make their own way to the slopes this winter, instead of buying a package with transfers included, could be hit by hefty charges for car hire at the airport. According to iCarhireinsurance.com, a specialist insurer, some skiers hiring cars for New Year breaks could pay for their hire car twice over because of added 'extras'.

Scalextric reveals its new range for 2014

Let's face it, we never really grow out of Scalextric. It's the thing that unites dads and kids across the land. In fact, many fathers can't wait for the time when their children reach a certain age, as it's then that they can buy a set for their children.

2015 Audi A3 to star in Super Bowl XLVIII ad

The 2015 Audi A3 will be the star of Audi's 2014 Super Bowl ad, the seventh consecutive year that the automaker will be airing a commercial spot during the sporting event. You might have seen last year's "Prom" campaign by Audi (the video above) or the even more memorable "Vampire Party" from 2012, featuring the Audi S7. Another recent Audi Super Bowl ad that the Internet seemed to like was 2011's "Release the Hounds" spot for the Audi A8, mocking old luxury...at Mercedes-Benz's expense, we might add.

Volkswagen Scirocco R goes out of production ahead of facelift

Volkswagen Scirocco R goes out of production ahead of facelift We have a bit of a soft sport for the VW Scirocco R, even if we wish it had the same 4WD setup as the Golf R. But it’s never really sold in the sort of numbers it should have. And now, ahead of a facelift for the Scirocco duie to arrive at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2014, Volkswagen has dropped the Scirocco R from its lineup.

Russo and Steele offers one-of-a-kind 2013 SRT Viper for charity

Russo and Steele will feature a 2013 SRT Viper GTS at its January auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., with proceeds going to the Sons of Italy foundation (SIF). The auction house says the car was built specifically for the foundation. It will join some 700 sports and muscle cars at the auction, which spans Jan.

Brazilian students develop soapbox racers for Volkswagen

Brazilian design students have competed for year-long internships at Volkswagen's Brazilian design studio by designing – and racing – soapbox cars. Established 15 years ago by Volkswagen South America design director Luiz Veiga, the Volkswagen Design Talent Contest refreshed its format for 2013 by challenging students to develop a prototype for a gravity-powered soapbox racer instead of asking for sketch and render-based proposals. According to Veiga, Volkswagen was looking for someone "capable of working away from the desk and able to create design solutions, assess and build them".

Kia to reveal ‘Stunning’ Sports concept at Detroit Auto Show

‘Stunning’ Sports car concept teased by Kia It may be almost Christmas, but car makers are looking a bit further ahead than that with the current crop of teases and expectations for the 2014 Detroit Auto Show in January. Today’s offering comes from Kia, with the first teaser photo of a new concept heading for Detroit. Kia describe their car as a “stunning sports car concept” which has been designed by Kia’s California design team in Irvine, and is a 2+2 Sports Car which, say Kia, will make heads turn and provide superb driving enjoyment on road or on track.

One lap of the web: obscure muscle cars and obscured Opels

-- Not only is Bryan Adams the best-selling Canadian rock artist of all time, he's also big in Germany. So popular in fact, that (get this) Opel is building a limited edition Opel Adam dubbed "ADAM by Bryan Adams." The ADAM by Bryan Adams will feature black wheels and dark gray camouflage paintwork reminiscent of NATO winter patterns. Adams created the design himself, because when you think "Bryan Adams" -- you think winter camouflage!

Peel P50 back in business

Did you know you can buy a brand new Peel P50? That’s the tiny three-wheeled microcar Jeremy Clarkson famously drove around the inside of BBC Television Centre for an episode of Top Gear in 2007, and holder of the Guinness world’s smallest production car title for over 50 years. Turns out it was put back into production in 2010, and is now assembled under licence by a company called Grasshopper in Nottingham.

Auto Trader launches new logo, unveils future plans

Auto Trader Auto Trader, Britain's biggest car classified selling site, today launches its new brand identity - as part of an ambitious expansion plan for the future. The previous logo had not changed in 37 years and was designed for the printed magazine, which ceased publication in summer 2013. Auto Trader, which is the provider of classified cars for sale to MSN Cars, is now a digital-only outlet.

Lamborghini Huracan (or Cabrera or…) tease rolls on relentlessly (video)

The Lamborghini Huracan tease rolls on relentlessly The arrival of the a new supercar from Lamborghini – whose core models don’t arrive much more than once a decade – should be a real event. Unfortunately, Lamborghini’s silly tease for the Gallardo’s replacement is an irritating and frustrating bit of nonsense. It started well enough with an oddly named website – The Hexagon Project – showing a simple starter button which, when pressed, played the sound of the new Lambo’s V10 roaring - a good start.

Mini Rolls Out Hot Concept Ahead Of Detroit Motor Show

AHEAD of the influential Detroit Motor Show next month, Mini is stepping up its new product offensive with the unveiling of a new concept. The John Cooper Works Concept is, in reality, closer to production-ready status than you think. Aimed at showcasing the hot version of the firm’s latest generation three-door hatch, itself treated to a global reveal in November, at this stage the focus is on cosmetic changes.

Stunning 'McRae' Ford Escort rally car for sale

A STUNNING classic rally car with connections to three members of the McRae family is set for auction in February. The 1977 Ford Escort MK2 RS1800 Gp4 is, to many people, an icon of the golden age of rallying, and this example has huge provenance in its connections to Jimmy McRae and his two sons, the late Colin McRae and younger brother Alister. Prepared by specialists Prepfab Motorsport Engineering, the car was driven to victory by Jimmy McRae in the 2006 Roger Albert Clark rally.

CAR 20 Most Wanted of 2014: Honda Civic Type R

By the CAR editorial team First Official Pictures 18 December 2013 15:07 Honda’s got its mojo back: and here’s the proof. The 2015 Honda Civic Type R will be the fastest front-wheel drive hatch around the famed Nurburgring, Germany, circuit. How do we know?

Nissan creates 'scent of the future'

NISSAN has created what it calls ‘the scent of the future’, representing what Planet Earth might smell like in an imagined world where everyone drove zero-emissions vehicles. By teaming up with master perfumer and Aroma Academy Scientist Dr George Dodd, the firm has created its ‘aromatic blueprint’ for the future. Dodd, reportedly inspired by long walks in the Scottish Highlands, has created an in-car fragrance that he says is proven to inspire ‘a positive sense of well-being’ in people who smell it.

2014 Audi RS7 tuned to 700 hp

Most would consider the performance offered by the Audi RS7 to be plenty, whether they live close to a derestricted autobahn or not. But it wasn't enough for Audi tuner ABT Sportsline, who just introduced their own take on the 2014 RS7. The stock RS7 is powered by a 4.0-liter twin turbo V8 mated to an eight-speed transmission, good for 552 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque.

Forget Christmas presents – buy a car instead

Chevrolet According to a recent survey by Scotland Debt Solutions, we will spend between £472 and £611 on Christmas presents this year. Excuse us, but how much?! Back in the day, we'd have been happy with a small clementine, a pack of playing cards and a modest toy.