New Disc Brake Hardware Kit on 2040-parts.com

New Smart ForTwo and ForFour set for 2014 unveil

Mercedes-Benz's struggling Smart city car division is seeking to add a new dimension to the urban driving experience with its third-generation ForTwo, currently undergoing the final phase of a three-year test and development program ahead of a planned unveiling mid next year. Set for North American launch in 2015, the ultra-compact two-seat hatchback represents a fresh chapter in operations for Smart, which has recently gained greater independence from parent company Mercedes-Benz as its boss, Annette Winkler, attempts to stem years of financial losses after almost a decade of rebuilding following its short-lived joint venture with Mitsubishi. The new ForTwo, known internally as project C453, has been developed in a joint engineering program with the upcoming second-generation ForFour and its sister car, the third-generation Renault Twingo.

Dacia's UK launch postponed

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 19 June 2008 12:31 Renault has pulled the UK launch of its budget brand, Dacia. It had planned to launch the cheap 'n' cheerful badge in the UK in February 2009, but that's now gone back a year, the company announced today. CAR was due to drive the Sandero – the UK launch model – in July 2008, but PRs today took the unusual step of ringing the media to cancel the event.

Barn-stored, one-off Lagonda V12 heads to auction

Lagonda is now a nameplate associated with Aston Martin; even though the two companies' histories have been closely intertwined for the past half century, Lagonda was once an independent marque whose creations rivaled those from Crewe and Newport Pagnell. The marque's historical models are rare on any side of the pond now, but every once in a while we see one of its cars make a grand entrance. This V12 two-door Hooper saloon was a one-off built for the wife of the owner of Hooper Bodies Ltd.