Ford Oem 8c2z15264a00b Side Loading Door-latch on 2040-parts.com

Driven: Range Rover Evoque

As Sam Livingstone opines in his review of the latest Porsche 911, we are in a period of car design consolidation, with the new 911 the ultimate expression of a slightly suffocating trend. Yet every so often, a vehicle appears that breaks these rules and – through a combination of factors that can be difficult to quantify – captures the imagination, becoming a symbol of the times and an overnight market success. Such vehicles tend to emerge once a decade or so, yet the late 90s and early noughties were extraordinary for giving birth to three – the Ford Ka of '96, Audi TT of '98 and Mini of '01.

Toyota says software glitch in data boxes can give faulty speed readings

A top Toyota executive says the crash data boxes in its vehicles are reliable but a bug in the software that reads the information can provide inaccurate vehicle speeds. The disclosure comes as the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration continues its investigation into unintended acceleration of Toyota models. “Toyota has acknowledged previously that the event data recorders are not accurate,” said Takeshi Uchiyamada, executive vice president in charge of research and development.

Teenager's sinkhole supermini replaced by car website

A TEENAGER whose car was swallowed by a sinkhole has expressed her delight after a motoring website bought her a replacement. Zoe Smith, 19, discovered the 30ft-deep crater in the driveway of her family's home on February 2. She went into hysterics after discovering her prized Volkswagen Lupo had disappeared into the ground.