Blog on 2040Parts

Ultimate luxury: 2014 long wheelbase Range Rover revealed

If you ever thought the Range Rover was a touch cramped in the back, you’re in luck. Land Rover has unveiled the first long wheelbase Range Rover for 20 years, adding even more comfort and space to the already lavish off-roader. Alongside this, it’s also confirmed a new "exclusive specification" for the line-up – the Range Rover Autobiography Black.

Ice, ice, Bentley

BENTLEY is returning to the ice in 2014 with a new and extended programme of slippery driving challenges for well-heeled customers. Popular demand for the company’s exclusive – and massively expensive – Power on Ice experiences has led to an increase in the number of days Bentley is to set up shop at its erstwhile base in the north of Finland, around 37 miles from the Arctic Circle. As ever, ice- and snow-driving specialist Juha Kankkunen, who also happens to be a four-time World Rally Championship winner, will be on hand to tutor paying guests in the delicate art of driving a performance car in difficult conditions.

Range Rover Long Wheelbase revealed & new Range Rover LWB Autobiography Black too

The new Range Rover LWB (pictured) will arrive in showrooms March 2014 It was always a give – especially with demand for luxury cars better able to offer an expansive rear cabin in China – that Land Rover would stretch the Range Rover to create a long wheelbase Range Rover. And here it is. Land Rover has given the new Range Rover an extra 140mm of rear leg room to make it a properly spacious VIP transporter, and seem to have done so without spoiling the Range Rover’s proportions; extended rear doors manage to look like they belong.

2014 Nissan Qashqai: The tease for the new Qashqai begins

The new Nissan Qashqai is an important car for Nissan as it needs to keep the momentum going that the first Qashqai started as a real alternative to a small family hatch. And with just 10 days to go until the new Qashqai gets revealed, Nissan has started the tease with the single photo of the new Qashqai (above) lurking under a dust sheet. We’re expecting the new Qashqai to take strong styling cues from the new Nissan X-Trail revealed at Frankfurt, and much of what underpins the new Qashqai is similar to the new X-Trail.

Who killed Pontiac? Ask Bob Lutz

Bob Lutz is not a man who can be contained within 140 characters. This past weekend he spoke at the Petersen as part of the Inside the MotoMan Studio series, hosted by friend of Autoweek George Notaras (past events have been with Ralph Gilles and Derek Jenkins). Lutz talked at length about his childhood in Switzerland, early memories working for Ford and Chrysler, the time he swayed BMW management away from building Mercedes-like luxoboats, and what Lee Iacocca was really like behind closed doors.

Jaguar F-Type Coupe – up close and loud on video

The new Jaguar F-Type Coupe caught on road on video We’ve all been predicting the arrival of the Jaguar F-Type Coupe since the F-Type Roadster arrived, but so far Jaguar are keeping it debut under wraps. It could launch next month in Los Angeles or Tokyo, in the new year in Detroit or even  as late as Geneva 2014. But it’s on its way and it’s looking very promising.

One Lap of the Web: Barn-find Packards, a vintage Skyline racer and ultra-rare Ford Torino Talledegas

-- Who doesn't love a good barn find from time to time? Here's a 1929 Packard Model 633 Runabout stashed in a shed in the Adirondacks for half a century that, in true Cinderella fashion, went on to win best in show after a bit of dusting off. Heartwarming.

Land Rover announces long-wheelbase Range Rover, Autobiography Black edition

Land Rover is launching a long-wheelbase version of the redesigned Range Rover, recognizing that many customers are now buying the SUV as an alternative to a luxury sedan. The concept of a long-wheelbase Range Rover is not as foreign as it might seem at first blush. It was only 20 years ago that Range Rover offered the Range Rover County LWB, as it was known in the U.S.

Consumer Reports releases 2013 reliability rankings

Japanese brands continue to dominate the Consumer Reports Annual Auto Reliability rankings, while some European brands gained and Ford Motor Co. continued to rank near the bottom of the industry. Lexus, Toyota and Acura swept the top three spots in the 2013 rankings and Japanese brands took seven of the top 10 places.

Audi RS Q3 depreciates LESS than any other SUV

The Audi RS Q3 – the UK’s lowest depreciating SUV With more and more of us looking at acquiring our new cars on some sort of lease or PCP deal, one of the biggest factors in affordability is the residual price. That’s the price that used car price experts – like CAP – deem a car will be worth after a given period of time and mileage. So it’s good new that CAP have judged the Audi Q3 RS will retain 52 per cent of its value after 3 years/60,000.

Chevy introduces diesel, gas and electric SEMA concepts

Chevy revealed another handful of SEMA projects on Friday. The new, customized cars will join the Silverado Black Ops Concept and the Silverado Firefighter Concept on the stand in Las Vegas on Nov. 5-8.

Nissan releases new Qashqai teaser image (2013)

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 28 October 2013 11:45 The new Nissan Qashqai will be revealed on 7 November 2013, and Nissan has created this teaser image of the car, revealing nothing more than a hint of the LED running lights and new grille design on the car. However, thanks to CAR’s previous spy shots story, we can dive beneath the veil and reveal a little more about the new family crossover. Taking cues from the Resonance SUV concept first shown at the 2013 Detroit motor show, the new Qashqai wears a sharper suit than the outgoing car, employing a bold front grille which frames its Nissan badge in a prominent chromed U-shape signature.

Vettel makes history with fourth consecutive F1 world championship

SEBASTIAN VETTEL further cemented his place in Formula One history by becoming the youngest driver to win four consecutive world titles. At the age of just 26, Vettel is now a serious threat to the record haul of seven crowns won by Michael Schumacher, who was six years older by the time he claimed his fourth championship. There was simply no stopping Vettel and his joy of six successive wins secured the world championship.

Range Rover long-wheelbase (2013) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 28 October 2013 00:01 A limousine off-roader that’s not a tarted-up stretch Hummer? Meet the new Range Rover long-wheelbase, which Land Rover is aiming squarely at the elongated versions of its luxury saloon rivals, like the Mercedes S-class, Audi A8, and Jaguar XJ. On sale in the UK in March 2014, the Range Rover long-wheelbase is expected to cost around £140,000 – twice the price of an entry-level Rangie, and £40k more than its short wheelbase specification equivalent, the top-spec Autobiography.

Driverless cars on UK pavements by 2015

REX Driverless cars are starting to look less and less like science fiction and much more like a realistic vision of our near future – and now the first UK trial of the technology is set to start in Milton Keynes in 2015. But don’t go expecting a Ford Fiesta with a brain. Instead the Milton Keynes experiment will feature compact pods that you can hail via a smartphone app, zipping along pavements at up to 12mph.

2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid to start at $35,970

Nissan has released pricing for the Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid range for the 2014 model year. The Hybrid version of the Pathfinder is all new for 2014, and it will be offered in a total of six versions. All Pathfinder Hybrid models use a supercharged 2.5-liter V6 gasoline engine paired with an electric motor, which draws power from a compact Lithium-ion battery.

Huge storm batters South West

A MAJOR storm has battered southern parts of the UK, with winds of almost 100mph causing flooding and major travel disruption. The Met Office said wind reached more than 99mph on the Isle of Wight at 5am and the Environment Agency has issued 14 flood warnings for the South West, as well as 146 flood alerts for the rest of England and Wales. Both Severn bridges are closed, the A249 Sheppey Crossing in Kent is closed due to strong winds and there are 30mph speed limits on the Dartford Crossing in Kent There are also widespread reports of local roads in Cornwall, Dorset, Hampshire and Sussex blocked or closed due to fallen trees and flash flooding.

Sebastian Vettel’s 2013 F1 title: the stats

By Ollie Kew Motor Industry 28 October 2013 11:30 In winning the 2013 Indian Grand Prix this week – his six straight victory of this season – Sebastian Vettel became the youngest driver ever to win four consecutive F1 world titles. Only two drivers have ever managed four titles on the trot before him: Juan Manuel Fangio (1953-58) and Michael Schumacher (with five in a row between 2000-2005). Frenchman Alain Prost is the only other driver to have taken four F1 world titles – but no-one’s managed the feat as fast as Seb.

Honda S660 Concept sports car for Tokyo Motor Show 2013

Honda has announced its line-up for the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show –　and right at the top of the billing is this tiny but mighty S660 Concept roadster. As the name suggests, the S660 is only billed as a concept. But looking distinctly like an evolution of the 2011 Honda EV-STER show car [note this is a 2011 concept despite the title of a later link…], could it be that the Japanese manufacturer is finally about to build a new sporting model?

Domagoj Dukec on BMW's 2 Series [w/Video]

Following last week's reveal of the BMW 2 Series Coupé, the carmaker has released a video featuring head of exterior design Domagoj Dukec, in which he talks us through the car's design. The video, which also features BMW product manager Thomas Ebner, sees Dukec explaining how the three air intakes at the front – which also integrate the Air Curtain technology – set a marker for the car's "sportivity", before he explores the way in which new design features such as the grille and headlamps differ from those of its predecessor, the 1 Series. Moving on to to the side profile, he discusses what makes the silhouette typically BMW and what separates it from bigger coupés, while identifying the DLO as a special feature of the 2er.

Saudi women stage driving protest

MORE THAN 60 WOMEN across Saudi Arabia have driven cars in defiance of a ban which keeps them from getting behind the wheel. The women met little protest from police in their push for less restrictions on women in the kingdom. The campaign's message is that driving should be a woman's choice.

Rare early Jaguar E-Type sells for £88,000

ONE OF THE MOST RARE Jaguar E-Types, and one of the first to be built in the 1960s sold has at auction for more than £88,000. An anonymous British buyer from the south of England bought the iconic sports car at an auction in Ascot, Berkshire. The hammer fell at £77,000, but with a buyer's premium the final bill was £88,040, a spokesman for Coys the auctioneers said.

Man United autographed Chevrolet Trax goes to charity auction

FANS OF Premier League reigning Champions Manchester United have the chance to bid on a very special Chevrolet Trax in an eBay auction starting today. The highest bidder will win a Chevrolet Trax 1.6 LT Sports Utility Vehicle, liveried with a motif bonnet signed by the Barclays Premier League winning Manchester United team of 2012/13, with all proceeds going to the Manchester United Foundation. As well as the unique Trax, the lucky winner will also receive a number of highly sought after items including a Wayne Rooney match-worn shirt from his hat-trick match against Hannover in 2012 and a signed shirt from Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic, worn during this year’s Community Shield against Wigan.

Watch the Audi Sport Quattro tear up the back roads

Audi revealed its 700-hp Sport Quattro concept at the Frankfurt motor show in September; the car pays homage to the classic rallying Sport Quattro from the 1980s. On Monday, the automaker uploaded a video of the upcoming vehicle to celebrate 100,000 Facebook likes on its German social-networking page. The video shows the Quattro whipping and gripping through a forest/mountain stage.

India Grand Prix (2013) RESULT

Fellow German, Nico Rosberg, sprayes winner – & 4 times world champion – Sebastian Vettel with Champagne. A fourth F1 world championship in a row has seemed a given for Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel for much of the season, but today, at the Indian Grand Prix, is the day Vettel needs to step up and do what he’s done all season to secure his fourth title in a row. Did he?

Barn Find E-Type Jaguar sells at Coys for £88,000

Jaguar E-Type chassis 860040 (pictured) sells for £88k Barn find cars are becoming rarer as the world’s classic car collectors have spent years scouring every nook and cranny for a hidden classic car. But they still turn up from time to time, and this E-Type Jaguar was discovered just last month by a Coys specialist in a barn in France, virtually untouched since 1974. One of the first right hand drive coupes to roll of Jaguar’s production line in 1961 – it was actually the 40th RHD E-Type – it was bought by the current seller’s estate in 1969, got a new coat of paint – a change from Grey to the current Aubergine – and driven to the family home in France in 1974, since when it’s sat under a dust sheet in a dry barn.

India Grand Prix (2013) qualifying: Dominant Vettel takes pole for Red Bull

Sebastian Vettel (pictured) is in pole position for the Indian Grand Prix Sebastian Vettel had a chance to take the 2013 F1 drivers title in Japan, but Alonso managed to spoil that by finishing in fourth spot. But there seems little to stop Vettel taking the title in India tomorrow after a dominant display put him in pole position for tomorrow’s race. Vettel took pole by 0.752s from Rosberg with Rosberg’s team mate, Lewis Hamilton taking third spot and the second Red Bull of Mark Webber lining up in fourth.

Official: New Hyundai Genesis coming to UK & Europe

The new Hyundai Genesis (pictured) IS coming to Europe We’ve long thought it was time for Hyundai to bring higher-end cars to the UK and Europe as the perception of their cars as budget offerings only has morphed in to an acceptance that Hyundai’s range of cars is actually a credible mainstream force. Now that looks set to happen. Last month we reported that it looked like Hyundai are planning on introducing the new Genesis in the UK after we learnt they had plans to build RHD Genesis for Australia, and Hyundai has now confirmed they will be launching Genesis in Europe next year.

Mercedes GLA Edition 1: More details & photos

The new Mercedes GLA Edition 1 (pictured) kicks off sales of the new GLA Mercedes has discovered that a launch edition of a new car – with special paintwork and lots opf extras – is a good way to kick off sales so, with the new GLA due to go on sale in November, we get more details on the new Mercedes GLA Edition 1. We reported the GLA Edition 1 would kick off sales of the new GLA range last month, but now Mercedes has sorted out the specs, even if we don’t have a UK price yet (although the ‘Edition 1′ can be had on all the non AMG versions in Germany for an extra €6300). Based on the GLA Urban Line, the Edition 1 comes with faux chrome roof rails and skid guards, bi-xenons, 19″ AMG alloys, black louvres with chrome inserts on the grill, black mirrors and waistline trim and privacy glass and will come with a choice of cirrus white, orient brown metallic, mountain grey metallic and designo magno mountain grey paintwork with ‘Edition 1′ lettering on the wings.

BMW 2 Series Coupe revealed: stylish new looks for 1 Series successor

BMW has revealed the new 2 Series Coupe range – the stylish successor to the rather awkward-looking BMW 1 Series. If only that car had looked like this all along… Set to go on sale in March 2014 with prices starting from £25,040, the new 2 Series Coupe carries on the trend set by the recent new BMW 4 Series Coupe: it’s odd numbers for the mainstream range and even numbers for their sportier derivatives. As the name suggests, though, it’s more than just a 1 Series with a new set of clothes.