Blog on 2040Parts

Mazda reveal date for all-new MX-5

Mazda has confirmed that the all-new fourth generation Mazda MX-5 (ND) will be unveiled in September 2014. The new MX-5 will be shown simultaneously at events in the USA, Japan and Barcelona in Spain. 2014 also marks the 25th anniversary of the introduction of the first MX-5 – also know as the Eunos Roadster and Mazda Miata – in 1989.

Council Street Light Switch Off Policy Challenged

THE AA has raised concerns over the practice of turning off street lights at night, saying that councils are "ignoring the findings of road-accident inquests" in their bid to save money. The motoring organisation cited the fact that at least five pedestrians and a cyclist have been killed since 2009 because, according to accident investigators at inquests, drivers had little or no chance of avoiding the collisions on blacked-out roads with speed limits of 40mph or higher. The AA added that although some councils have recognised the danger and turned their street lights back on, others were "ignoring inquest findings".

New car ‘sales’ up over 10% in 2014

Sales of AFVs – like the Auris Hybrid – have grown over 50% The story of new car sales in the UK continues on its seemingly ever-upward path, with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reporting new car registrations in the UK up by over 10 per cent in the first half of 2014. A total of 1,287,265 new cars have been registered in the UK so far this year (although previous evidence would suggest a good 400,000 of those are dealer pre-reg cars), the highest figure since 2005. And as Alternatively Fuelled Vehicles (AFVs – those powered by anything other than a single fossil fuel source e.g.

Booming British car market hits nine-year high in 2014

By James Fallon Motor Industry 04 July 2014 11:44 British new-car sales continue to rise, new figures out today revealed. In the first six months of 2014, a total of 1,287,265 new vehicles were registered – a 10.6% increase on the same six-month period in 2013 and the highest total in almost a decade. And the boom is showing no signs of tailing off; during June 2014, new-car registrations rose 6.2% to 228,291 and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders expects the trend to continue throughout the year as the economy continues to bounce back.

2015 Volkswagen Passat: OFFICIAL

The new 2015 Volkswagen Passat revealed VW previewed the 2015 Passat back in May with a set of design sketches and the promise of a sleeker design, less weight and better economy with more room for passengers – and now it’s here. The 2015 Volkswagen Passat is the eighth generation of a car that VW always hoped would wipe the floor with the Ford Mondeo and steal sales from the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class, but which has never quite hit the sort of home run the VW Golf has. But VW has tried hard with the 2015 Passat and delivered a car that looks Audi-slick and more upmarket, so perhaps the eight generation Passat will be the Passat to finally dominate the segment?

Concept Car of the Week: Alfa Romeo Nuvola (1996)

Before heading Volkswagen Group Design, Walter de Silva spent thirteen years at the reins of Alfa Romeo Centro Stile in Arese. During this time he led an effective overhaul of the brand's design language and market positioning. Keen to bring the brand back to its former glory, he undertook the creation of what the brand ultimately needed, a prestigious and thoroughly Postmodern sports car.

Car insurance market condemned by MPs

CAR INSURANCE is a "highly dysfunctional market" in which firms' pursuit of profit has led to higher prices for consumers, a report by MPs has said. In some cases, business practices have not been in the consumer interest and have "inadvertently encouraged criminal activity", the report from the House of Commons Transport Committee said. There was no clearer example of this than "insurance firms' willingness to pay compensation for whiplash claims which they suspect are fraudulent without requiring the claimant to undergo a medical examination".

7th Le Mans Classic starts today

By James Fallon Motor Shows 04 July 2014 13:43 The increasingly popular biennial vintage car event, Le Mans Classic is upon us, with the action taking place between the 4th and 6th of July at the illustrious circuit in France.  The event is an opportunity for motorsport enthusiasts to see some of history’s greatest racing cars and also some great drivers.  Sébastien Loeb, Emanuele Pirro, Andy Wallace and Jean Ragnotti are amongst some of the names in attendance.  There are four-hundred and fifty entrants, carefully chosen by Peter Auto to give variety and represent certain historical periods in racing. Battles between old rivals – many of which are steeped in racing pedigree, will be replayed on track in this awesome spectacle. There are six different grids which divide the 650 entrants with each grid representing a particular period in racing.

MPs call for medicals in whiplash claims

Anyone claiming for whiplash following a crash could be subject to a medical examination before receiving a payout, if MPs get their way. This is a proposal from a report published by the House of Parliament’s transport committee looking at ways to drive down the cost of car insurance. Cost of running a car decreasing Average cost of car insurance down 12.5% When MPs first called for the UK’s whiplash epidemic to be ended, chair of the report Louise Ellman MP said: “Whiplash injuries can have debilitating consequences for those who suffer them.

New 2014-2015 Volkswagen Passat and Passat Estate details and pictures revealed

Volkswagen has released the first details of the new eighth-generation Passat, which goes on sale in the UK and Europe before the end of 2014. The new VW Passat is lower, lighter, up to 20% more fuel-efficient and much more striking to look at. Could this be the Passat to tempt you out of that BMW 3 Series?

Silverstone To Celebrate Hosting 50 F1 Races In Style

THE famous Silverstone Circuit is gearing up to celebrate its 50th Grand Prix race this weekend, and it’s a milestone that will be celebrated not once, but twice during July. First, the golden anniversary will be marked by a parade of F1 cars over this coming British Grand Prix weekend. Then, three weeks later, the birthday party revs up when the Northamptonshire venue stages the annual Silverstone Classic (25-27 July).

'Dalek' taking on charity challenge

A GROUP of Doctor Who die-hards from Warwickshire have transformed a battered old car into a Dalek for a charity rally across Europe. Four friends have spent months turning the seven-year-old Fiat people carrier into a four-wheeled likeness of The Doctor's arch-nemesis for the Wacky Rally, starting Friday. Clare Brookes, a funeral director by trade, is hoping the eye-catching car - which has a loud hailer jammed in the sun-roof that emits "exterminate" on demand - will help them raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

New Volkswagen Golf Match arrives to replace the Golf SE

The new VW Golf Match (pictured) replaces the old Golf SE The new MK 7 Volkswagen Golf went on sale in the UK at the end of 2012, but VW are already tinkering with the lineup with the arrival of the new Volkswagen Golf Match, replacing the current Golf SE. Priced from £19,680 for the Golf Match 1.4 litre three-door, the new Match comes with a set of 16″ Dover alloys, but it’s the extra kit for no extra money that makes the new Match appealing. Additional equipment on the Match includes front and rear parking sensors, fogs, mirror pack with automatically folding door mirrors with puddle lights and reverse dip.

Mazda to reveal fourth-generation MX-5 on 3 September 2014

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 03 July 2014 09:11 Mazda has confirmed it will show the new, fourth-generation MX-5 roadster in September 2014. An event to mark the 25th anniversary of the MX-5 will be held in Barcelona, Spain on 3-4 September - and the new MX-5 will be shown to the world for the first time. The new MX-5 is a major launch for Mazda; the car has been a runaway hit since launch in 1989 and now mops up a large portion of two-seat roadster sales.

New Nissan Pulsar price and spec revealed – will cost from £15,995

New Nissan Pulsar (pictured) costs from £15,995 In May, Nissan revealed they are heading back in to the hatchback market after deserting it in favour of small SUVs with an all new Nissan Pulsar to take on the might of the VW Golf and Ford Focus in the hotly contested C-Segment market. And now we know how much the Nissan Pulsar will cost, what its engines will be and what trim options will be available. The new Pulsar will go on sale in t he Autumn in the UK with a choice of two engines – the 1.2 litre DIG-T 115 petrol and the 1.5 litre dCi 110 diesel – and a choice of four trim levels - Visia, Acenta, n-tec and Tekna – although there will doubtless be more engine, and trim, options available after launch including a 190PS 1.6 litre turbo petrol.

Susie Wolff ready to make F1 history

SUSIE WOLFF is ready to make Formula One history on Friday, although is eager to play down its apparent significance. It has been 22 years since a woman took part in a grand prix weekend, with Italian Giovanna Amati failing to qualify in the opening three races of the 1992 campaign in a woeful Brabham before being replaced by a promising young Briton at the time - Damon Hill. On Friday, in her role as Williams development driver, 31-year-old Wolff will compete in Friday's first practice session for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, taking over the wheel from Valtteri Bottas.

2015 Mazda MX-5 reveal in September

2015 Mazda MX-5 reveal in September The Mazda MX-5 has been a huge success for Mazda over the last 25 years, selling almost 950,000 since the fun little Roadster was first launched in 1989. And now it’s time for the 2015 Mazda MX-5. Mazda has announced that the new MX-5 will debut across the globe on September 3rd 2014 at simultaneous events in Spain, Japan and the US ahead of the new MX-5 heading for the Frankfurt Motor Show and a full public debut.

Jaguar F-TYPE Project 7 dynamic debut at Le Mans Classic this weekend

The Jaguar F-Type Project 7 joins the first D-Type at Le Mans this weekend The Jaguar F-Type Project 7 got its reveal at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend as a D-Type inspired, short-run F-Type with 567 bhp and 502lb/ft of torque. It was joined by Land Rover’s first Special Operations car – albeit a prototype version with red and black swirly camouflage – the Range Rover Sport SVR, which gleefully took to the hillclimb to demonstrate the incongruity of a big SUV acting like a hot hatch and sounding like a muscle car on steroids. But what was a little odd is that the RRS SVR happily strutted its stuff, even though it’s only a prototype, but the F-Type Project 7 didn’t turn a wheel in anger.

Silverstone: the defining moments from 50 British grand prixs

By Tom Clarkson Motoring Issues 03 July 2014 11:00 1948 Silverstone’s transformation from a World War II bomber station into a race circuit began in August 1948, when the Royal Automobile Club took out a one-year lease on RAF Silverstone. Under the stewardship of local farmer James Wilson Brown, the RAC International Grand Prix was staged on 2 October, using similar regulations to those that shaped pre-war grand prix racing. The track layout comprised the airbase’s perimeter roads, with straw bales and ropes protecting the piggery and the crops in the middle of the circuit.

Stolen car returned 33 years later

A DETROIT MAN has his car back - 33 years after someone stole it from a street in the US city. George Talley, 71, was reunited with his 1979 Chevrolet Corvette at the world headquarters of General Motors in Detroit. He last saw his car in 1981 after parking it.

10 famous Fords we want back

By John Mahoney Motor Industry 03 July 2014 11:31 Just two days into his new job as chief executive officer of Ford, CAR staffers have compiled a comprehensive to-do list for the Blue Oval's Alan Mulally replacement, Mark Fields. Ford has an enviable back catalogue of treasures and we reckon the new One Ford programme would benefit by reviving some of the greatest Fords for gloabl sale. See if you agree with our wish list below - and be sure to add your comments with your ideas for Fords you'd like back.

VW Golf Match – best-selling Golf launched, priced from £19,680

By James Fallon First Official Pictures 03 July 2014 12:54 Volkswagen has announced a new Golf Match special edition, refreshing the popular hatchback by offering a better specification for no extra cost. Historically, the Golf Match has proved one of the best-selling Golf trims in the UK. Even though the Germans aren’t renowned for the generosity of their specifications, VW has thrown extra kit at the new 2014 Golf Match.

Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat (2015) – the 707bhp muscle car

By James Fallon First Official Pictures 03 July 2014 16:46 Dodge’s Challenger is to receive a new model in its line-up: the wild 2015 SRT Hellcat. It takes the Hemi V8 and boosts it with a supercharger to produce 707bhp and 650lb ft of torque. No wonder Chrysler claims the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is the most powerful production muscle car ever.

Volkswagen Passat (2014) first pictures: VW's Passat Mk8

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 03 July 2014 23:01 The 2014 Volkswagen Passat has been unveiled - you're looking at the eighth generation of Passat. And, yes, it remains the epitome of sensible, stout Teutonic values. The new Passat is based on the Volkswagen group's clever, adaptable MQB box of tricks, the architecture which underpins the Golf Mk7, too.

We Buy Any Car TV advert banned

A television advert for the car buying service webuyanycar.com has been ruled “misleading” by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), and must not be shown again in its current form. The complaint and the decision centred on the phrase “no nasty surprises” in combination with the lack of any reference to the company’s mandatory administration fee. On Bing: see pictures of misleading car advertising Find out how much a used car costs on Auto Trader The TV ad in question showed two men floating in the sky with car shaped balloons, while a voiceover stated: “When you’re selling you car you can often get knocked down on the price.

Mazda Sets Date For Mx-5 Reveal

THE waiting is nearly over, as Mazda is getting closer to unveiling its next generation MX-5 roadster. 2014 marks the 25th anniversary of the popular compact drop-top, and the Japanese car maker has announced plans to reveal the fourth generation model to an exclusive audience at two special events being held in Spain on 3rd and 4th September. The initial unveiling will take place in Barcelona simultaneously to similar events in Japan and the U.S.

Ferrari 250 GTO hitting Bonhams in August – but how much will it sell for?

Will the Violati Ferrari 250 GTO (pictured) break the $60 million barrier? The last Ferrari 250 GTO Series 1 to hit auction rooms in 2012, fetched a remarkable $35 million, and last year another 250 GTO – chassis #5111 – was sold in a private deal thought to be worth $52 million. And now another Series 1 250 GTO is about to hit the sale room.

Caterham sells F1 team

Caterham The Caterham Formula 1 team has been sold to a consortium of Swiss and Middle-Eastern investors following a poor season so far in 2014. Rumours that Caterham would cut its losses have been rife, since team founder Tony Fernandes threatened to quit if things didn't improve this year. The team is currently bottom in the championship and Fernandes hinted of an exit last week, when he tweeted “F1 hasn't worked, but love Caterham Cars.” Graham Macdonald, Caterham Group CEO: “Firstly I want to thank everyone who was involved in the F1 team for all their hard work and dedication since the team’s first days in 2009.

Lotus fights back with three-year warranty and servicing deal

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 02 July 2014 12:55 Lotus has this month launched a three-year warranty and servicing deal for all new Elise, Exige and Evora models. The move is designed to kickstart interest in the brand, which is suffering a 9% slump in sales in 2014 year to date. Lotus has sold just 73 cars in the United Kingdom over the first five months of the year.

Caterham F1 team sold: 'F1 hasn't worked' - Fernandes

Tony Fernandes today sold his struggling Caterham F1 team By John Mahoney Motor Industry 02 July 2014 16:04 Caterham Group has announced it’s sold Caterham F1 to a consortium of Swiss and Middle Eastern investors. Caterham cars is not part of the sale. In a statement issued today, the sale of the team was said to allow the Caterham Group to focus on its ‘core activities’ that include the British car maker.