Gates 43279 New Water Pump on 2040-parts.com

New Mercedes A Class: 90,000 orders and counting

Mercedes boss Dieter Zetsche has revealed that Mercedes already has 90,000 orders for the new A-Class just months after its reveal. It’s a credible, good looking and clever car that’s a serious offering in the premium compact market and, if the order book for 70,000 A-Class Mercedes already had by the end of October is anything to go by, it’s going to be a roaring success. That sales figure has now jumped to 90,000 A-Class – according to Mercedes boss, Dieter Zetsche – and stands at double the order book Volkswagen has for the new MK 7 Golf.

Volvo V40 (2012) breaks Euro NCAP safety record

A new Volvo scoring a five-star result in Euro NCAP's crash tests might not seem a huge surprise, but the new V40 hatchback has raised the bar even higher by setting a new record safety score for in the assessment. The V40 scored 98% for adult protection, with particular praise given to its strong main structure, driver assistance systems, and attention to pedestrian safety, thanks to an innovative bonnet airbag. It's an impressive result for such a compact car.

Mini factory celebrates its 100th birthday

A bastion of the British car-building industry, Mini’s ‘Plant Oxford’ in Cowley, Oxford celebrates 100 years of building cars today (28 March 2013). Currently responsible for producing the second-gen BMW Mini range, Plant Oxford has been the birthplace more than just trendy city cars: it’s stamped out over 11.5 million cars since 1913, including legend like the Morris Minor and Frogeye Sprite, and clunkers like the Morris Marina. It also contributed to the war effort by repairing damaged RAF fighter aircraft during the Second World War.