Blog on 2040Parts

Has the McLaren P1 lapped the Nurburgring in a record 6 minutes 47 seconds?

Has the McLaren P1 lapped the Nurburgring in a record 6 minutes 47 seconds? We knew McLaren were back at the Nurburgring with the P1 in an attempt to make good on Ron Dennis’s promise that the P1 would lap the ‘Ring in under 7 minutes. It appears McLaren has already tried to set a sub-7 minute time with the P1 but could only manage 7:04s so, with the firts P1s now in customer hands – and full performance specs revealed – the final piece of the jigsaw (apart form a Top Gear lap record) is to set a great time at the Nurburgring.

Hyundai’s hydrogen-powered ix35 turns its hand to growing fish and food

The Hyundai ix35 FCEV Fuel Cell Farm outside the London Design Museum Hyundai PR do like a slightly left-field take on raising awareness of Hyundai’s products (although they usually involve animals, children, fashion or shopping), so a Hyundai ix35 FCEV turned in to a fuel cell farm should come as no surprise, nor that they parked it outside London’s Design Museum for a bit of extra profile. With the help of sustainability creatives (who’d have thought there was such a business?) Something & Son, Hyundai has created a Fuel Cell Farm (well, depending on your definition of how big something growing has to be to be called a farm) that uses the emissions from the ix35 FCEV as its water source. The setup takes the water from the ix35 and feeds it in to the fish tank, the fish do what fish do and the aquaponics gubbins takes that and uses it as food for the plants.

Rare barn finds on sale: Jaguar E-Type and XK120 head to auction

The motoring world remains full of surprises – here we have a pair of classic Jaguars that had apparently been all but forgotten until they were pulled out of their respective hiding places earlier this year. The blue car is an early E-Type, the silver car an early steel-bodied XK120, both are heading to auction with Coys in the Ascot Sale on 26 October 2013. Please click the image above to read the rest of this story...

McLaren P1 performance figures confirmed

McLaren has confirmed performance statistics for its new P1 hybrid hypercar – and the official numbers are frankly amazing. We always knew the 2013 McLaren P1 was quick, but 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds, 0-124mph in 6.8 seconds, 0-186mph in 16.5 seconds and a 217mph top speed prove its astonishing pace. And it’ll return exceptional efficiency (given the performance) of 34.0mpg combined with 194g/km CO2.

Subaru XV Black Limited Edition: Costs from £24,495

The Subaru XV Black Limited Edition Subaru launched their XV SUV – basically a high-riding Crossover Impreza – back in 2012, and it was a decent offering. But by this summer they were looking to add a bit more fizz to sales and decided there was room to make substantial cuts in the list price of the XV, taking it down by a significant £2300 right across the range. Now, with prices cut back and the XV starting from £18,995, it seems Subaru has decided it’s time to shift some more expensive metal, so we’ve got the Subaru XV Black Limited Edition which adds more kit and style and starts at £24,495.

One Lap of the Web: Classic Mustang road trip, V4 engines and the flaming Viper

-- In honor of the Ford Mustang and it's upcoming 50th anniversary, Hagerty is taking a cross-country trip in a 1964.5 Mustang coupe. The car is solid but not exactly show-worthy, plus it has a three-speed manual transmission. In other words, all the ingredients for a really long road trip.

Horticultural Hyundai: hydrogen ix35 Fuel Cell SUV used to grow food

There are cars that are kind to the environment, then there are cars that actively help it, like this Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell electric vehicle. Powered by hydrogen, the only waste product from the Korean crossover is water, which Hyundai is putting to good use by cultivating food crops. Please click on the image above to read more on the Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell…

Caterham Seven 160 (2013) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 22 October 2013 11:30 In an era when we’re all crying out for lighter, less complicated, more fuel efficient cars (at a moderately affordable price) here’s the model enthusiasts have surely been waiting for: the new Caterham Seven 160. Despite developing just 80bhp from its turbocharged 660cc Suzuki engine, the Seven 160 will scamper to 60mph in just 6.5sec. Read on for the full spec of this hero of downsizing.

Peter Andre cleans up for Children In Need

TV AND MUSIC star Peter Andre will be getting his hands dirty for Children In Need this November as he takes part in 'The UK's Largest Car Wash'. Peugeot is hosting the charity initiative at 272 of its UK dealers from the 5th to the 10th November, with Peter Andre launching the campaign at the Robins and Day dealership in Chiswick. Car owners are invited to come along and have their car washed in exchange for a donation to Children In Need.

Caterham details new Seven 160 and 165

The Caterham Seven 160 and 165 are the next track weapons to come from Caterham Cars. And even though they won’t come to the United States, we figured you’d like to know about what we’re missing out on. Hey, you may travel to England one day and need a rental car, and not be able to find one, so you might pick up a cheapish new car to tour the countryside, leaving it behind when you come home.

Ford reveals four Focus ST concepts for SEMA

Ford revealed customized versions of the Focus ST on Monday for the upcoming SEMA show in November. The four new hatches add to the company's Dreamcase, a website that shows off what Ford will offer at the aftermarket show. The Focus ST by PM Lifestyle gets a Banks Power straight-shot water methanol injection system along with 19-inch wheels from Rotiform, GT Radial Champiro tires, Sparco seats and Schroth Racing five-point harness.

Transport dangers

FILM FOOTAGE showing the shocking consequences of motorists not slowing down or paying attention when driving through roadworks has been released by the Highways Agency. One bit of film shows a lorry overturning, while another shows a truck ploughing into the back of a car. The footage prompted a Government minister to warn drivers that "saving a few seconds on your journey is simply not worth it".

Jaws and Pussy Galore visit Bond attraction

TWO ICONIC characters from the James Bond franchise - Jaws and Pussy Galore - will appear at Beaulieu Motor Museum's Bond In Motion exhibition this November. Richard Kiel, who played the steel-toothed Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker, and Honor Blackman, who played Pussy Galore in Goldfinger, will be visiting the exhibition between 10.30am and 4.00pm on 30th November and 1st December 2013. Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to purchase Richard's autobiography, Making It Big in the Movies, and both Richard and Honor will be available to sign purchases and for photographs.

Cyclists urged to make themselves visible

CYCLISTS have been warned to take precautions to make themselves easier to see, in time for the darker evenings of winter time. The clocks are set to wind back by an hour this Sunday, bringing darkness down on homeward commutes and making collisions involving cyclists statistically more likely. A survey of 1,000 cyclists, carried out by Autoglass, found that 48% had been caught without lights or high-visibility clothing when the clocks go back.

Peugeot to create UK’s largest car wash for Children in Need

Peugeot is once again getting set to raise money for Children in Need. Following on from 2012’s Dream Wheels campaign, for 2013 Peugeot is setting up the UK’s largest charity car wash. The Peugeot Children in Need car wash will run at Peugeot sites across the country 5-10 November, with a fund-raising target of £250,000.

Mercedes C-class (2014) interior images and technology revealed

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 22 October 2013 18:00 This is the cabin of the new Mercedes C-class, which will go on sale in spring 2014. It’s aiming to out-drive and out-sell the BMW 3-series, new Audi A4, and Jaguar’s upcoming ‘XS’ sports saloon.Lots of design cues have been taken from the flagship S-class to create the simplified new C-class cabin, but there are still an awful lot of new features. They’re all bolted into a C-class that’s 100kg lighter than the outgoing model, and will boast, Mercedes claims, the lowest fuel consumption in its class.

Dolly Parton injured in car crash

SINGER Dolly Parton is recovering after being injured in a car crash she described as "a fender bender". Publicist Kirt Webster said Parton was at home after being treated following the accident that happened shortly before noon local time in Nashville, Tennessee. The 67-year-old star said in a statement that she was "all good.

Misconduct behind Charles Morgan dismissal

New documents have emerged showing Charles Morgan was sacked from Morgan Motor Company due to four counts of alleged misconduct. Information seen by Autocar outlines that the decision was made by the members of the board of Morgan Technologies – a panel on which some of Charles Morgan’s own family sit. On Bing: see pictures of Morgan cars Find out how much a used Morgan costs on Auto Trader In a board meeting earlier this year – held while then company strategy director Morgan was away on leave due to health problems – Morgan Motor Company executives determined that Charles Morgan had posed as company chairman, despite his demotion back in February 2013.

Consulatation on 20mph speed limit

BIRMINGHAM City Council has launched a public consultation on plans which could see around 90% of roads in the city given a 20mph speed limit. The authority believes the "20 is Plenty" scheme, costing around £7 million, would make residential streets safer and transport networks more sustainable. Key routes would keep higher speed limits under the long-term proposals, but public feedback is also being sought on whether the 20mph scheme should also be considered for busy high street shopping areas, around schools, leisure facilities, hospitals and public transport interchanges.

One Lap of the Web: Miniature mania, police-trimmed BMW Isetta and tweeting at automakers

-- Michael Paul Smith doesn't have a fancy camera. What he does have is a fuzzy beard, a lot of time on his hands, and the ability to create amazingly realistic scenes using scale-model cars and a handful of tiny model buildings. Smith's secret to bringing his nostalgic visions to life?

2014 Nissan Juke starts at $19,800

Nissan announced prices for its 2014 Juke and Juke Nismo vehicles, which are on sale now in U.S. dealerships. Buyers will be able to get into the little Juke starting at $19,800 including destination.

McLaren delivers first P1 supercar, announces performance figures

McLaren delivered its first P1 supercar on Monday, days after British TV show “Top Gear” was spotted testing the vehicle. The new UK-based owner picked up the Volcano yellow and carbon fiber P1 at the company's headquarters in Woking, England. McLaren also confirmed the insane specs we were all hoping for.

2014 Jeep Cherokees finally en route to dealerships

Car haulers loaded with 2014 Jeep Cherokee stick out on the flat farmland like elephants on the savannah -- lumbering behemoths easy to spot, even from miles away. In ones and twos they rumble the 15 miles west from Chrysler Group's massive Toledo, Ohio, assembly complex toward a former supplier-owned automotive testing center. The Cherokees were due in dealerships almost two months ago but have been held while Chrysler developed and installed new software to smooth out the way the engine, nine-speed transmission and innovative disconnecting drivetrain interact.

Drive the Polo R WRC as VW Rally the World

Drive the Polo R WRC as VW Rally the World Volkswagen have already made the most of their entry in to the World Rally Championships this year with the Polo R WRC – apart from the fact it’s created a 4WD platform for the Polo/A1 in the process – with a street version of the Polo R WRC (although not in the UK). But VW’s adventure in to WRC with the Polo R hasn’t just been about a bit of product development and a spun-off road version – they’ve taken it very seriously. So seriously have VW taken WRC – and so well prepared were they – that Sebastian Ogier has already taken the 2013 drivers gong in WRC (from the previous – long term – incumbent Sebastian Loeb) with three races left, in his 315bhp, 4WD Polo R, and VW look set to take the team title too.

CAR tech: Britain's £1bn auto-industry revolution

By Damion Smy Motor Industry 21 October 2013 09:30 BMW, Jaguar-Land Rover and Nissan are just a handul of the car companies to have seen the potential in British design and engineering. Read on to find out just how they're actually helping Britian fight Germany as the car world's most pivotal auto-industry R&D hub. More than £1billion will be invested in the UK over the next decade to build a hub of design, engineering and manufacturing nous in the automotive equivalent of California’s Silicon Valley.

The world’s most dangerous roads by country

Pulitzer Center A staggering 1.24 million people are killed on the world’s roads every year and the numbers are rising. If current trends continue there will be a three-fold increase to 3.6 million road deaths a year globally by 2030. A new interactive map by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting presents these sobering statistics in detail, revealing the countries with the most and least dangerous roads on Earth.

AA celebrates 40 years of 'get you home'

THIS MONTH the Automobile Association is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its Recovery service - originally called AA Relay - that promised to get you home or to your destination. Back in 1973 there were very limited options if your broken-down car could not be fixed at the side of the road. The AA patrol could only tow you to your local garage to have it fixed or you would have to carry on your journey without the car.

Over 70% of motorists opposed to clocks going back

THIS SUNDAY sees the UK revert to Greenwich Mean Time from British Standard Time but seven in ten motorists believe the practice should be abandoned, according to new research. The poll, conducted by Smart Witness, also revealed that 60% of drivers thought lives could be saved by remaining on GMT throughout the year. The main opposition to the clocks going back is that it means children are forced to return home from school in darker afternoons.

Ferrari celebrates 30 years in Hong Kong

ICONIC sporting brand Ferrari turned on the style to celebrate 30 years of presence in Hong Kong. Ferrari's president Luca di Montezemolo was in attendance alongside a spectacular display of over 600 Ferraris - the largest gathering ever in Greater China - arranged to form the traditional five-petal flower. The gathering also was used to show the firm's latest offering the 458 Speciale which was unveiled by Marc Gene, the Scuderia F1 team's chief test driver.

Free Regent Street Motor Show to showcase past, present and future

A GLORIOUS MIX of old and new will descend on the capital in early November as the Regent Street Motor Show returns. On Saturday 2nd November Regent Street closes to traffic from Piccadilly Circus to Oxford Circus, allowing over 300 cars to go on display in a free show for the public. The display will include as many as 100 pre-1905 veteran vehicles which will compete in the EFG International Concours d’Elegance and then take on the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run the following day - the oldest competitive driving event in the world.