Mercury Mariner 9.9hp Control Platform 42148 Gear 94085a 1 on 2040-parts.com

Salon Privé 2011: Wet & Wonderful

Salon Prive 2011 - wet, but wonderful We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Salon Privé is one of our favourite ways to meet cars. Up there with Villa d’Este and Pebble Beach, it’s as civilised a way as you can imagine to soak up the greatest cars in the world. The greatest cars there are laid out in the sumptuous grounds of Syon Park (new venue; worked well), with food and drink in abundance.

Superb wins Tow Car of the Year

THE SKODA SUPERB Estate has been crowned Tow Car of the Year by the Caravan Club, beating off competition from 40 other entrants including Range Rover and Jaguar. Commenting on the Superb’s ability, the judges remarked: ‘With a loading limit of 100kg on the roof, 80kg on the towball and a boot that scored maximum marks, it’s a very tough act to follow. You wouldn’t know you were towing a caravan.’ Skoda also won the £16,000-£20,000 category with the new Octavia 1.2 TSI, which was praised for its pulling power with such a small engine.

Lincoln opens first dedicated design studio for 40 years

Ford has opened the first dedicated Lincoln design center for 40 years in Dearborn, Michigan, as part of its ongoing brand reinvention. Last August Ford announced it would be creating the studio for its luxury brand as well as increasing spending, giving it unique interiors and powertrains in an effort to differentiate it from the core Ford offerings. The Lincoln Design Studio has been built on the campus of Ford's Product Development center and houses designers, sculptors, modelers and engineers who make up part of a larger Lincoln Product Development team that will create four new Lincoln vehicles by 2015.