Dorman C92315 Brake Cable-cable - Parking Brake on 2040-parts.com

Toyota & Lexus: Hybrid sales in Europe hit 20%

The ‘Green’ evangelists want to get us all driving electric cars to save the planet, but in the real world car drivers want a car that offers them all the practicality of a normal ICE car, but without the penalties of the poor range, high cost and inconvenience of an EV. So, with ever-rising fuel costs, it’s no wonder car buyers are willing to pay a little more for a car that offers better economy at the pumps – which plays straight in to the hands of Hybrid pioneers Toyota. The result is that Toyota and Lexus now see a full 20 per cent of their sale in Europe being hybrid cars in the first quarter of 2013, with sales of hybrid cars up a massive 82 per cent year-on-year.

Ford gets another NO on Volvo

And the beat goes on… Ford has been trawling the world’s car manufacturers (and Governments) for what seems like forever, in an increasingly desperate attempt to off-load its Swedish subsidiary, Volvo. They appear to have tried everyone from the Swedish Government to BMW and Mercedes, with a fair dose of Chinese firms in between (has Ford offered to sell it to you yet? Don’t worry, it won’t be long!) And now Reuters are reporting that yet another Chinese Car Co has declined the offer.

Citroen DS3 Cabrio Racing 'concept' (2013) first pictures

Citroen will show a 'concept' version of the DS3 Cabrio Racing at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed – though it looks all but production ready to us. The DS3R Cabrio uses the same 202bhp 1.6-litre engine as the DS3R hot hatch, but weighs an extra 25kg thanks to the folding rood conversion. Citroen DS3 Cabrio Racing: the details The DS3 R Cabrio is mechanically identical to the hard-top DS3 R, with the same six-speed manual gearbox, Citroen Racing-tuned chassis, and uprated brakes.