Chaparral Boat Raised Emblem Decal 14.00367 | Ssx Red Sticker on 2040-parts.com

Car hire costs branded ‘extortionate’

MORE THAN 45% of hire car users described hidden costs such as insurance and fuel as extortionate, according to a new survey. 200 UK consumers aged over 30 and earning more than £20,000 per annum were quizzed for the survey, conducted on behalf of Carhiremarket.com, with over 45% agreeing that hidden costs for insurance and fuel were extortionate. Users cited greater transparency or an all-inclusive upfront price as a more desirable option.

Ford Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost sets 16 world speed records

The new Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost has set 16 world speed records in two days of testing at the CERAM test circuit in Mortefontaine. Who’d have thought that a little 3-cylinder engine in a Ford Focus could ever be an appealing prospect? But it’s become very clear that Ford’s little boosted 3-pot is quite the star and, for almost anyone who does a normal mileage, by far the choice over a diesel-engined Focus.

2012 Audi R8 facelift, more power & S-tronic ‘box

Audi R8 getting a facelift - and more power - in 2012 The supercar with a mainstream car maker’s badge attached that is the Audi R8 has been something of a success as a halo car for the Audi range since it arrived in V8 form in 2007 (well, probably 2008 by the time most customer cars turned up). Since the original V8 R8 arrived we’ve had an absolute deluge – in supercar terms – of R8 models from Audi including the R8 V8, R8 V8 Spyder, R8 V10, R8 V10 Spyder and the rather costly R8 GT and R8 GT Spyder. But through that time the engines – apart from in the R8 GT – have remained the same, as has the woeful R-Tronic gearbox.