Kd 2467 4 Wheel Drive Spindle Nut Wrench on 2040-parts.com

Consumer Reports gets top vehicle picks mostly right

Despite the publication's uncomfortably broad definition of reliability -- it spans everything from "the engine fell out" to "the touchscreen display shows fingerprints too easily" -- automakers still clamor to get on the Consumer Reports recommended vehicle list. This year's winners cover a broad spectrum of vehicles, and for the most part, we're in agreement with the magazine's editors, with one significant exception at the top of the list. Best overall vehicle went to the Tesla Model S.

Ford Focus WTCC Edition gets 200bhp

World Touring Car outfit Arena has launched the Ford Focus WTCC Edition with a Mountune performance upgrade offering 200bhp. In fact, the Focus WTCC Edition is a warmed-over Focus 1.6 Zetec S which has been given a performance upgrade by Mountune (Ford’s tuner of choice and the same firm that delivered the power upgrade for the old Focus RS500) which means a jump from the 179bhp of the 1.6 Zetec S to 200bhp. Also in the mix to go with the extra power is a set of Team Dynamics Pro race alloys, a Mountune short-throw gear selector and a stainless steel Powerflow exhaust.

Jaguar Land Rover & Chery Automobile JV in China confirmed

Jaguar Land Rover & Chery Automobile get in to bed The long awaited news that  Jaguar Land Rover are to enter in to a joint venture with Chery Automobile in China has been confirmed. We’ve been talking about a joint venture in China between Jaguar Land Rover and Chery Automobile for more than a year, despite the (understandable) obfuscation from JLR on the issue. And now it’s been confirmed.