Jaguar Xke Series 1 R/h Front Fender on 2040-parts.com

Crunch watch Feb 09: the auto industry in crisis

By Tim Pollard, Ben Pulman and Ben Whitworth Motor Industry 02 March 2009 18:11 Monday 2 March• The Volkswagen Group announces a 5% rise in sales revenues in the 2008 tax year and a 3% increase in operating profits, up to €6.3 billion. Chairman Martin Winterkorn said the group's multi-brand strategy and low CO2 cars had helped sustain sales, although he admitted that 2009 would see a fall in demand and revenues (Volkswagen) Friday 27 February• Jaguar Land Rover announces a significant order for 13,000 cars from a Chinese business. It's a morale boost for JLR which has been hit by a slump in demand with the global slowdown (BBC News)• Opel this afternoon agreed to a restructuring plan designed to save as many jobs and factories as possible – but it needs a €3.3 billion lifeline from the state.

Still Too Many Having One For The Road

NEW figures point to an average of 200 drivers arrested per day for drink driving related offences over the past Christmas period. The data, from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), show that 6,550 drivers gave positive breath tests or refused or failed to give a test out of 191,040 drivers. The campaign ran from November 29 to January 1 across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

McLaren MP4-12C (2011): new testing video

McLaren has issued this new video of its 2011 MP4-12C in the final phases of testing – and McLaren claims it's faster than the 458 Italia or any Gallardo. Watch the video in our player at the foot of this page.The matt black vinyl disguise demarks this pair of cars as the latest McLaren 'XP Beta' test cars, compared with the earlier black-and-white 'XP' prototypes spied last year.'XP Beta' prototypes? All very McLaren!Quite.