Blog on 2040Parts

'Drivers determine cycling safety'

HIGH-VIS clothing on cyclists does not deter drivers from performing the "most dangerous" overtakes, scientists say. Between 1% and 2% of drivers pass "dangerously close" to cyclists when overtaking, regardless of what they are wearing, a study found. The average gap left by a driver overtaking a cyclist has shrunk over the past few decades from 179cm in 1979 to 118cm in 2013.

Approved mechanics essential for quality service

DRIVERS need to make sure their car is being properly serviced by a qualified mechanic, says the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI). To help drives do this, it has launched a government-backed scheme called the Professional Register. While there are around 175,000 people in the UK who call themselves automotive technicians, the IMI says it can only recommend around 27,000 as having the required skills and competence to carry out work to the required standard in their specialism.

Motorway pile-up 'like pinball'

DRIVERS involved in a fatal pile-up on a motorway entered a "wall of blackness" before suffering numerous impacts as if they were "a pinball machine", a jury heard. Seven people died and 51 were injured after 34 cars collided when a section of the M5 in Somerset was suddenly "engulfed in thick smog". Anthony and Pamela Adams, Maggie and Michael Barton, Malcolm Beacham, Terry Brice and Kye Thomas died in the incident, on November 4 2011.

Charles Morgan to build rival cars

Sacked Morgan boss Charles Morgan is to set up new sports car company that he says will rival the 104-year-old British car manufacturer that bears his family name and recently dismissed him. In a report in the Telegraph, Charles is quoted as saying his new company will “build on the innovation and heritage of my grandfather”. On Bing: see pictures of Morgan cars Find out how much a used Morgan costs on Auto Trader The news comes less than a month after Morgan lost his appeal against his dismissal from the Malvern carmaker his family set up in 1909.

Volvo V60 Polestar (2013) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 26 November 2013 10:00 This is the new Volvo V60 Polestar: a production-ready, 342bhp estate that Volvo will sell in the UK in 2014. That’s right, after the concept-only S60 Polestar and C30 Polestar, Volvo’s finally putting its performance arm’s money where its mouth is. American and mainland European buyers will be able to buy a saloon S60 Polestar, but we Brits only get the wagon V60.

2014 Camaro Z/28 boasts slick aero tricks

When the Chevy Camaro Z/28 was unveiled last spring at the New York auto show, we were told how Chevy took stuff out to lighten the car. Trunk carpet and interior sound-deadening material are jettisoned, the sound system has but one speaker, the rear glass is thinner and so on. Despite the decontenting, it turns out the Z/28 is no stripper, at least in terms of aero technology: Chevrolet says the 2014 Camaro Z/28 manages airflow “like few other production vehicles, generating downforce like a race car.” Delving into the hyperbole reveals numerous exterior modifications designed to improve not just aerodynamics, but powertrain and brake-system cooling, as well.

This 108-year-old Mercedes Simplex could sell for £900k

‘Old Mercedes up for auction’ doesn’t quite do this magnificent automobile justice. It’s a 1905 Mercedes Simplex 28/32 Phaeton, and one of the oldest Mercedes still in existence. But this car does not merely exist – it is resplendent as a stunning example of the very best the Edwardian era of motoring had to offer.

'Paradox' in transport policy claim

THERE IS A "paradox at the heart" of the Government's roads programme, a transport policy professor has told MPs. The question on whether traffic levels would increase or decrease in the future was unresolved, University College London emeritus professor of transport policy Phil Goodwin told the House of Commons Transport Committee. The paradox was that if traffic levels increased the planned roads programme was "not big enough to make an improvement", he said.

May bids to build Mecanno motorbike

TOP GEAR star James May must be getting Meccano for Christmas because he is using the classic toy to build a motorbike and sidecar to race the Isle of Man TT circuit for a new show. The episode of his Toy Stories series, called The Motorcycle Diaries, sees May get to grips with a construction kit to try to build a vehicle capable of carrying him and co-star Oz Clarke around the 37-mile course. In previous episodes James May and his team have built a giant slot-car racing track, a full size Airfix replica of a Spitfire and a giant toy glider.

Where are Britain's biggest car buyers?

Jaguar If nothing else, the recent Used Car Market report – published by British Car Auctions (BCA) – reveals that when it comes to Great Britain and statistics, it's unwise to categorise us all into one great mass. How often do we read 'on average, a British driver does X', or 'a typical British driver will buy Y'? Well BCA's report suggests there's a real north/south divide and some of the results may surprise you.

One-off Ferrari 458 pays tribute to Niki Lauda

One-off Ferrari 458 pays tribute to Niki Lauda Younger readers might not see the connection between Ferrari and Niki Lauda; after all, Niki Lauda is Chairman of the Mercedes F1 team, not Ferrari. But back in the 1970s, Niki Lauda was the Prince of the Ferrari F1 team, notching up driver titles in 1975 and 1977 in a Ferrari (and suffering horrific burns at the Nurburgring in 1975). Although Lauda left Ferrari  in 1977 on less than good terms, the Ron Howard tribute film to the ’70s battle between Lauda and James Hunt – Rush – has obviously had an impact on one of Ferrari’s wealthier clients, who has commissioned Ferrari’s Tailor Made Programme to create a Ferrari 458 dedicated to Niki Lauda.

Volvo V60 Polestar set for production

Weekend trips to Ikea will never be the same again, as Volvo has just confirmed that the V60 Polestar will be going into production. So when you absolutely, positively have to be home in time for tea, the Volvo V60 Polestar is the car for you. Just think of all that extra time you could spend building your flat-pack furniture.

2013 Ford Escape hit with two additional recalls

Ford Motor Co. today said it is issuing two additional recalls of its 2013 Escape crossover after receiving reports of fires in 13 more vehicles. They bring the total number of recalls of the 2013 Escape to seven, five of which involve fire risks on models equipped with a 1.6-liter engine.

£10 million cash boost for Lotus

Business secretary Vince Cable has visited Lotus’ Norfolk headquarters today, where he announced the company would be awarded £10.44 million from the Regional Growth Fund. The money will be used for research and development of products, as well as staff training. The sports car company expects to create 313 full time jobs to support production over the coming years.

Volvo V60 Polestar: OFFICIAL

Volvo V60 Polestar: OFFICIAL Volvo has been busy teasing a new Polestar model recently, and we concluded it would be a fast Volvo estate in the guise of a production Volvo V60 Polestar. And that’s exactly what it is. This isn’t a Polestar add-on (which is already available for the T6 versions of the V60 and S60) but a stand-alone model with the same underpinnings as the S60 Polestar recently revealed for the Australian market (which now becomes a global offering).

Britain’s safest drivers live in Greater London

Analysis from motorists using a car insurance driving safety app has revealed that the top area for safe driving is Greater London – including areas such as busy Islington, Chelsea and Croydon. The surprise revelation comes courtesy of the Aviva Drive app, which has recorded driving safety data from more than 3.5 million miles driven. 98% fear UK road safety not improving The safest new cars on sale That’s despite some of the heaviest traffic volumes in the UK being registered in Greater London.

Last Lamborghini Gallardo is built ahead of Cabrera debut

Last Lamborghini Gallardo is built ahead of Cabrera debut Lamborghini may have started out as a Tractor Manufacturer, but it’s been making stunning road cars for 50 years, and despite the Lamborghini Gallardo only arriving 10 years ago it has managed to sell enough to account for around half of all Lamborghinis ever made. But now, after more than 14,000 Gallardos have been built, the curtain has come down on Lamborghini’s most successful model ever with the last Gallardo – a Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performante - rolling off the production line in Sant’Agata Bolognese. The Rosso Mars Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performante is now off to join the collection of a wealthy car nut as the last ever Gallardo to be built, and Lamborghini are now heading swiftly towards the Gallardo’s replacement – expected to be the Lamborghini Cabrera.

Vilner reveals BMW 6-series Bullshark

Tuning house Vilner is known for their interior coachbuilding work, but their latest effort is something else entirely. Dubbed the Bullshark, this BMW 6-series Coupe has received an almost entirely new exterior courtesy of the company, with just about body panel replaced in the process, save for the doors and the roof. The overall profile of the 6-series coupe is still there, but everything else is almost unrecognizable.

Video: Jaguar's Wayne Burgess and his design credos

Jaguar production studio director Wayne Burgess discusses his design credos and offers advice to aspiring car designers in a video from our friends at Jalopnik. He describes his design process as "creating order from chaos", channeling a burst of eclectic ideas down into a simple, pure form. "Design is an iterative process where it's all about throwing it out there, getting a load pinned up to a board and then looking to see what is working best.

Jaguar F-Type Coupe Configurator now LIVE

Jaguar F-Type Coupe Configurator now LIVE. ‘Our’ F-Type Coupe R cost over £100k It does look like the Jaguar F-Type Coupe – revealed last week at the Los Angeles Auto Show – is all the car we hoped it would be, and more so with the arrival of the 542bhp F-Type R Coupe. With deliveries expected to start in spring 2014, you may have to wait a while to get in to Jaguar’s most appealing car since the E-Type launched 50 years ago, but you can scratch that itch a bit by building your own F-Type Coupe on Jaguar’s new F-Type Coupe Configurator.

UK has 'highest car running costs'

THE UK is the most expensive country in the world for running a car, according to a new survey. Comparing the cost of fuel, insurance, road tax and MOT, on average it costs the UK motorist £3,453 a year, which is £1,000 more than in the USA and Australia, £1,825 than Japan and a full £2,000 more than in China. The survey, conducted by Webuyanycar.com, compared the cost of motoring in 21 countries on five continents, and revealed that on many fronts the UK motorist is paying more than anyone else.

School run puts pressure on parents

PRESSURED PARENTS are often operating the school run in a rush, according to a survey. Many mothers and fathers worry about being late for work and have difficulty getting their children up in the mornings, the poll by insurance company Allianz showed. As many as 42% of parents said feeling rushed was their main school-run worry, while 20% got distracted while driving their offspring to school.

Footballer denies dangerous driving

A FORMER PREMIER LEAGUE football star has denied dangerous driving after a three-car crash in Nottinghamshire which left another motorist with a fractured elbow. Sheffield United striker Marlon King is alleged to have committed the offence on his 33rd birthday while driving a Porsche Panamera on the A46. King, who will stand trial next March, spoke only to confirm his name and enter his not guilty plea during a brief hearing at Nottingham Crown Court.

Hyundai debuts 'The Walking Dead' Edition Tucson

Hyundai will be releasing "The Walking Dead" Edition Tucson soon, but it's not going to have any additions to the exterior for keeping zombies out like metal bars or mesh wire. And curiously enough, it won't even be the same color as the Tucson seen in the show. The popular AMC post-apocalyptic show's use of a light green (and surprisingly clean for a post-apocalyptic runabout) Hyundai Tucson has been well documented, keeping Rick Grimes & Co.

Brabus kit improves diesel Mercedes power

German tuner Brabus does most of its work with big-displacement, big-power engines, mostly for Mercedes-Benz (though Smart products get the Brabus treatment from time to time as well). On Monday, it proved that it can do the same with the company’s oil burners. It’ll also sell you a Mercedes diesel with Brabus upgrades already installed.

BMW i8 EV sold out until 2015

BMW i8 EV sold out until 2015 BMW’s i3 city car EV is now starting to hit the road, and the next instalment for BMW’s EV outing is the i8 Supercar, revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Sales for the i3 have started very strongly, and it looks as though the i8 has an even stronger start with BMW confirming the whole of the first year’s run if the i8 are already spoken for. That’s despite the BMW i8 starting at almost £100k in the UK, but the i8 does have a lot going for it.

Police to man busy London junctions

THE METROPOLITAN Police will deploy 650 officers to busy London junctions today in response to the recent wave of cyclist deaths. The surge will see 2,500 officers hand out leaflets and fixed penalty notices at 166 junctions marked as the capital's worst. It comes after six cyclists died in two weeks in collisions with lorries, buses, and coaches - some mere hours apart.

Drivers 'still prefer printed maps'

MOST motorists still prefer printed maps when planning car journeys, according to an AA/Populus survey. Older drivers are the least happy with sat-nav, with only 9% of over-65s ditching printed maps altogether. Overall, 63% of the 23,824 drivers polled have used a printed map in the last six months, while 60% have used an in-car sat nav.

Porsche Macan Configurator now LIVE

Porsche Macan Configurator now LIVE The new Porsche Macan – Porsche’s new ‘baby’ SUV, based on the Audi Q5 – has only just been revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show, but you already go ahead and spec-up your very own Macan for the UK at the new Macan Configurator. There’s a choice of all three Macan models – the Macan S, Macan S Diesel and Macan Turbo – with prices starting from £43,300 for the S and S Diesel, rising to £59,300 for the Macan Turbo. But that’s before you start adding interesting bits from the options list.

New Honda Civic Tourer – price from £20,265

New Honda Civic Tourer – price from £20,265 When the Honda Civic Tourer Concept (the Civic Estate) arrived at the Geneva Motor Show in the spring, it looked a properly convincing estate version of Honda’s Civic. And even when it was toned down to deliver the production version at the Frankfurt Motor Show in the autumn, it still looked good. Now, with the Civic Tourer ready to go on sale in the UK, Honda has revealed their family-friendly estate car wilkl cost from £20,265.