Blog on 2040Parts

Only bikers avoid commute stress, says study

MOTORCYCLES, scooters and mopeds are among the modes of transport least likely to affect your general wellbeing, according to a government travel survey. The Office for National Statistics released a report earlier this year examining the impact of commuting patterns on people’s levels of anxiety, happiness and satisfaction. For journeys up to 30 minutes there was no negative effect on levels of happiness or anxiety for those who rode a motorcycle, moped or scooter to work.

Who's Where: Craig Metros heads back to Michigan to become Ford's exterior design director of The Americas

Craig Metros is heading back to his native Michigan to take up a new position as Ford's exterior design director of The Americas. Metros leaves his current role as design director of Ford Asia Pacific in the company's Melbourne studio in Australia, where his team led the Everest, Falcon and Ranger programs. During Ford's PAG (Premier Auto Group) era, the CCS graduate was the first American designer to work in the Jaguar design studio in the UK before returning to America to lead the interior and exterior design themes of the 2004 Ford F-150.

McLaren 650S GT3 race car at 2014 Festival of Speed

By Nikolai Attard First Official Pictures 30 June 2014 12:53 The all-new McLaren 650S GT3 was officially revealed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend, wearing McLaren’s historic number 59 livery. This is the latest track-focused race car bound for 2015’s GT3 championship and is based on the McLaren 650S and the same carbonfibre MonoCell chassis. Large air intakes and a massive front splitter dominate the new McLaren’s front end, giving it a more aggressive look while new lightweight carbonfibre bodywork wraps around redesigned air intakes for better cooling.

The Designers, Pt 8 – Steve Mattin, Lada

Car Design News launched its first-ever Car Design Review yearbook at the Geneva Motor Show, featuring the award-winning Production Car and Concept Car Designs of 2013. If you're interested in buying a copy of the 160-page yearbook this interview appears in, alongside trend reports, bespoke car design infographics and a special feature on Marcello Gandini, our inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Car Design Review can be purchased here. Name Steve MattinRole Design director, LadaAge, nationality 49, EnglishLocation Moscow, RussiaEducation Coventry University "If you go back to 2011 and 2012 as the world was just coming out of the recession, companies were having big problems on all fronts.

Rare Ferrari sells for staggering £10 million

A RARE FERRARI representing a key early stage in the history of the sports car manufacturer has sold at auction for £10.7 million. The sale of the 375-Plus at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex, was a world auction record for a Ferrari sports racing car. A spokesman for auction house Bonhams also said it was the third highest price paid for any car sold at auction.

White Van Man 'worst for tailgating'

MOTORISTS should beware of White Van Man on their tail, according to a survey of thousands of accidents. Van drivers were 47% more likely to be involved in a crash when they were following other drivers too closely, the survey by AXA Business Insurance found. The survey also found van drivers were much more likely than other drivers to crash while reversing, doing a U-turn and changing lanes, while they were more liable than other road users to get tired or distracted.

Big Spenders Flock To Bohnams Festival Of Speed Auction

GOODWOOD’S Festival of Speed might be famous for the action on its famous hill, but there’s more to the self proclaimed ‘world's largest motoring garden’ than just the racing. And just to prove the point, this year the annual Bonhams sale earned a staggering £22.6 million on the Friday of the event. The star attraction was a 1954 Ferrari 375-Plus, as used in iconic road races such as the Mille Miglia, Targa Florio and Carrera Panamericana, which sold for £10.7 million following a fierce battle between bidders.

Volkswagen XL1 ‘Super’ Hybrid heading for the UK – costs £98,515

The Volkswagen XL1 ‘Super’ Hybrid (pictured) costs £98,515 in the UK VW announced a while back that their ‘super’ hybrid XL1 was going in to limited production, although they didn’t confirm a price for being super green. But now the first XL1 has already been delivered in Germany, Volkswagen has confirmed a chunk of the 200 run – thought to be between 20 and 30 cars – will be making their way to the UK and will cost £98,515. For almost £100k, there are plenty of options bordering on supercar, but the XL1 is ‘super’ in a different way, and if extreme economy and a design that looks like something imagined as a car of the future in Hollywood Sci-Fi films of the 1930s floats your boat, the XL1 could be the car you’re looking for.

Volkswagen XL1 priced at £98,515 - 30 coming to UK

By Nikolai Attard Motor Industry 30 June 2014 15:16 Volkswagen has announced the price for the energy-efficient XL1, which has now gone on sale in the UK. Only 200 VW XL1s will be built, with up to 30 making their way to deep-pocketed early adopters in the UK. The XL1 was on show at last weekend’s 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed where it silently whirred up the hill in front of 50,000 spectators on Sunday.

Mercedes E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID – Africa to Goodwood on a single tank of fuel

The Mercedes E300 Hybrid – Africa to Goodwood on a tank of fuel It might cost more to buy a hybrid car than a regular ICE car, but if you do a lot of miles the fuel savings can be impressive and, with many modern cars, you can choose to use the extra electric motor for more performance when parsimony isn’t at the top of your agenda. A good example of a car that offers plenty of luxuries, decent performance and the ability to eke out a gallon of fuel further than you’d ever have thought possible is the latest Mercedes E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID. With a 201 bhp diesel engine and a 27 bhp electric motor, the Mercedes hybrid can get to 62 mph in 7.5 seconds, reach 155 mph and offers leather trim, COMAND, Climate and all the little luxuries that make time behind the wheel more bearable.

SHOCK CAR NEWS! New Bentley SUV won’t be cheap

New Bentley SUV won’t be cheap The Bentley SUV is now not just a probable future model for Bentley, but is now a fully confirmed project that will result in the first ever SUV from Bentley in 2016. Having now moved away from the ‘Bentley Shed’ school of car design we saw with the original EXP 9 F Concept - which got huge criticism when it was revealed – to a much sleeker design that looks like a Continental GT on stilts, the new Bentley SUV will be much in demand when it arrives. But one question that hasn’t been answered is where exactly Bentley will pitch the price of their new SUV?

Milk float sets new speed record

A SUPERCHARGED milk float has picked up a new world record after reaching a speed of 84mph on a racing circuit. The specially-adapted vehicle, sponsored by Weetabix On The Go Breakfast Drinks, beat the existing top speed for a milk float of 77mph on the tarmac at Bruntingthopre in Leicestershire. Complete with bull-bars, and boasting a V8 engine, the float was crafted from a traditional 4mph electric float.

Aston Martin DP-100 Vision Gran Turismo Concept revealed – Goodwood debut today

The Aston Martin DP-100 Vision Gran Turismo Concept As design technology has evolved, it’s become properly practical for car makers to indulge their design flair in cars that will only ever really exist in the virtual world. And the latest creation comes from Aston Martin with the reveal today of the Aston Martin DP-100 Vision Gran Turismo Concept. Developed in just six months by Aston Martin’s Design Team, the DP-100 Vision Gran Turismo boasts an 800bhp twin-turbo V12, is mid-engined (a first for Aston Martin) and, if it were real, would offer blistering performance.

New 2015 Ford Focus ST revealed – Diesel ST gets 182 bhp

The new Ford Focus ST arrives – and there’s a diesel version too. Following a tease for the new Ford Focus ST earlier this week, Ford has now revealed the new ST – and the ST diesel – as Ford’s refreshed ST heads to the Goodwood Festival of Speed for its public debut today. Now available not only as a hatchback and estate, but with a petrol or diesel too, the 2015 ST gets lots of cosmetic teaks that match those the rest of the Focus range got recently.

TWO Koenigsegg One:1 on video at Goodwood

Both Koenigsegg One:1s on video at Goodwood As we’ve already reported, the Koenigsegg One:1 is debuting at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend, but rather than a single One:1, Koenigsegg have taken the only two One:1s in existence – yes, it’s two for the price of one at Goodwood. One car – the black one in the photo above – is a new One:1 heading for a customer, but the second (the silver can in the photo and video) is Koenigsegg’s development car, so that’s up for a bit of action on the hillclimb this weekend. But ahead of its public appearance, Goodwood managed to get some time with the One:1s and grab track time behind the wheel.

Mercedes Wows Goodwood With Dramatic Event Centerpiece

AS IS traditional at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, one of the event’s main attractions is the centerpiece display in front of Goodwood House itself. Used to celebrate a particular manufacturer and event theme, this year saw Mercedes take centre stage with a dramatic interpretation of the firm’s 120-year motorsport anniversary celebrations. Created by artist Gerry Judah, the sculpture is said to be the most complex and ambitious yet.

Concept Car of the Week: Bertone Lamborghini Genesis (1988)

After its beginnings as a tractor manufacturer, Lamborghini quickly became synonymous with exciting supercars and luxurious gran turismos and it's remained so ever since. Bertone was responsible for the design of its finest cars including the Miura, Countach and Marzal concept amongst many others. However along the way there have been a few quirks in this otherwise thoroughbred bloodline – remember the weapons-grade LM002 SUV?

Puzzling Parking Signs 'Confuse' Motorists

A NEW survey has revealed that parking signs confuse motorists, to the point that it can lead to drivers being penalised for their unintended transgressions. The poll, conducted by car insurance company Churchill, found that of those fined, clamped or who had their vehicle towed away in the last two years, 22% said they were unable to understand the parking restrictions in that area. Also, 41% of the 2,001 people polled said parking signs in their area were confusing, while 33% avoided parking in their local town or city centre for this very reason In addition, the puzzling signs led to 9% avoiding parking around their own residential area.

McLaren 650S GT3 revealed at Goodwood

McLaren 650S GT3 revealed at Goodwood The arrival of the McLaren 650S meant a GT3 version wouldn’t be far behind as McLaren transferred all that’s better about the 650S to the track version, and now the McLaren 650S GT3 has made its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Sitting on McLaren’s stand at Goodwood alongside the P1, the 650S GT3 is wider than the 12C version, has a carbon fibre body kit, big air intakes and a huge rear wing and diffuser made from carbon fibre too. McLaren has also upgraded the suspension on the 650S and the cabin offers more head and leg room as well as promising a more comfortable drive.

Tyre labelling not telling full story

THE NEW TYRE LABELLING scheme to tell drivers how environmentally efficient a tyre performs is not giving the full picture, according to Emissions Analytics. Tests show that at certain speeds, tyres with a lower efficiency rating can perform as well as those with a higher rating. This means drivers could be paying more for higher rated tyres when they would be as well off with a more affordable tyre.

In pictures: live at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2014

  CAR magazine is reporting live from the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2014 - and we'll be updating this page with photos, news and snippets from Goodwood House and the famous hillclimb. Come back for updates from 26-29 June 2014, as we cover some of the flavour of the greatest British motor show. Mercedes-Benz is the title sponsor at the Festival of Speed in 2014 - and so gets bragging rights to design the sculpture outside Goodwood House.

Aston Martin DP100 (2014) - virtual Aston unveiled for Gran Turismo 6

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 26 June 2014 10:33 Aston Martin is preparing to unveil a new concept car with a twist - gamers will be able to drive the new Aston Martin DP-100 in Gran Turismo 6. DP stands for Design Prototype and this concept car is destined to remain a digital only experience for now; it joins the other digital prototypes created for the popular computer game's 15th anniversary. Polyphony, the maker of Gran Turismo, is launching an anniversary edition of GT6 with 20 exclusive cars from the likes of Aston Martin and Mercedes-Benz.

Golf SV Gains Five-Star Safety Rating

VOLKSWAGEN’S new Golf SV has received the top safety award of five stars from the independent Euro NCAP organisation. With its top-class package of safety features made up of robust vehicle body structure, highly effective combination of seat belts, seats and airbags, plus innovative driver assistance systems the Golf SV has been judged as one of the world's safest cars. The overall safety rating of five stars for the Golf SV is made up from the results in four categories: occupant protection for adults and children, pedestrian protection and safety assistance.

IAM Launches Assessment To Help Older Drivers

THE Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is launching its Mature Driver’s Assessment – a way for older drivers to gain a trusted second opinion on their driving - and is available for motorists aged over 70. It consists of a 60 minute driving assessment, including advice on what action to take after the assessment. With the IAM keen to stress that the evaluation is not a formal test, the 60-minute drive with an IAM-approved assessor allows candidates to drive in their own vehicle taking routes that they are familiar with.

Women are now the driving force in cars

WOMEN now account for more than half of all driving licence holders in the USA and the UK is set to follow this example by 2016. Younger women drivers are helping to boost the number of female driving licence holders around the world, but older women drivers are also growing in number. The number of males applying for a new driving licence has declined in the last three years, but the number of women applying for a driving licence has gone up by 2.5%.

A Decade Of Fast Vauxhalls Celebrated

VAUXHALL is celebrating 10 years of its VXR performance brand in style, with the launch of a new version of its popular VXR8 model. The GTS variant joins an illustrious line of hot Vauxhalls from the last decade that saw the memorable VXR220 roadster and Aussie bruiser the Monaro VXR hit the showrooms back in 2004. There are currently five cars in Vauxhall's VXR range: the Corsa VXR, the 210 horsepower Corsa VXR ClubSport, the 280 horsepower Astra VXR, the 325 horsepower Insignia VXR and the aforementioned 576 horsepower VXR8 GTS.

15 must-sees at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed

There aren't many places in the world where you can get up close to the Audi R18 e-tron Quattro that won this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, but you can at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. If you’re lucky, you might even get to talk to a team member and take a peek inside the cockpit of these incredibly advanced LMP1 prototype endurance racers. As a bonus, look out for its rivals: the hybrid Toyota TS040 and Porsche 919.

Ford 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is 2014 International Engine of the Year – again

The new Fiesta Red & Black get the 140 PS Ecoboost Engine of the Year It’s hard to believe that the little 999cc Ford EcoBoost Engine has been around for a few years now, but that hasn’t diminished the edge it has over engines from other car makers as it takes the gong for best international engine for the third year in a row. Remarkably, the 1.0 litre EcoBoost is now offering sterling service across the most unlikely vehicles, with applications in Ford’s range including the Fiesta, Focus, B-MAX, EcoSport, C-MAX and Grand C-MAX, Tourneo Connect, Grand Tourneo Connect, Transit Connect and Transit Courier. And it’ll be turning up in the new Mondeo when that arrives in a few months too.

McLaren Special Operations 650S (2014): introducing the McBodykit

By Jonny Edge First Official Pictures 25 June 2014 16:56 McLaren Special Operations has announced a 50-strong run of bespoke 650S supercars, costing buyers either £252,500 for the coupe or £272,500 for the spider. Yep - at £58k, this is one of the most expensive bodykits going. The first MSO 650S will make its debut at this week’s 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed, with a space reserved for it inside the supercar paddock.

Win tickets for this weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed – but be quick!

Be quick to grab a pair of tickets for the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed The Goodwood Festival of Speed is the highlight of the year for petrolheads from around the world, with a mix of the very best supercars, classic cars and all things related gathering at Goodwood for a three day celebration (well, four if you count the Moving Motor Show tomorrow). But if you’ve left it late to grab tickets, you’re out of luck – they’re all long gone. But we do have a pair of tickets for Sunday up for grabs thanks to Car Loan Warehouse, who kindly phoned us up to offer tickets for a lucky Cars UK reader.