Honda Vamos 2000 Rear Muffler [3572250] on 2040-parts.com

Car of the Year 2013 finalists announced: do you agree?

The contest for 2013 Car of the Year is hotting up, with the shortlist for Europe's most prestigious new car award announced. The final eight contenders are: Ford B-max Hyundai i30 Mercedes A-class Peugeot 208 Renault Clio Subaru BRZ/Toyota GT86 Volkswagen Golf Volvo V40   This year, there are eight finalists instead of the usual seven, thanks to a dead heat between two contenders. According to the Car of the Year jury, the award's goal 'is to acclaim the most outstanding new car to go on sale in the [last] 12 months.' Not much fuel for enthusiasts in the 2013 CotY list...

Volvo ES wagon completes new concept car trio (2014)

By Ollie Kew and Damion Smy First Official Pictures 24 February 2014 10:00 This is our first look at the new Volvo estate car concept that’ll be shown at the 2014 Geneva motor show. Called the Volvo ES Concept, it’s the third and final design study from Volvo’s new chief designer Thomas Ingenlath, who’s been pinched from Volvo rival VW to pen a sharp and sexy new range of Swedish metal to take on the dominant Germans. We’ve seen Ingenlath’s idea of a BMW 4-series-sized coupe, and an XC90-previewing SUV.

BMW Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo (2013) at Frankfurt motor show

If a collection of numbers dictated how we ranked and rated a car, the new BMW Alpina D3 might just be the best all-rounder in the world. You’re looking at a discreet and comfortable 3-series that’ll return a claimed 53.2mpg, and scorch to 62mph in just 4.6 seconds, quicker than the outgoing BMW M3. Read on to find out how.