Nissan Serena 1998 A/c Switch Panel [5e60900] on 2040-parts.com

New British sports car brand on the horizon

A REAL automotive rarity has occurred with the announcement that a new low-volume British sports car brand will reveal an initial concept car in April. David Brown Automotive will be set up along the same lines as Morgan, with the aim of recapturing the past glory of British sports cars but using modern materials, reliable mechanicals and up-to-date luxuries. Such ventures have been tried before, with very mixed results, but owner and financial backer David Brown is confident that the first model, codenamed ‘Project Judi’, will succeed.

New Subaru Impreza finally goes on sale in the UK – price from £17,495

The new Subaru Impreza Hatch (pictured) goes on sale in May It’s a bit hard to call the Subara Impreza the ‘new’ Impreza when it’s already three years since it was revealed and more than two years since it went on sale in Japan and the US. But the latest Subaru Impreza is new for the UK as Subaru has decided the Yen has weakened enough since the Impreza’s launch to make it a viable option to import it. Even so, it is a bit of a Hobson’s choice for buyers with just the Impreza Hatch – not the saloon – on offer and only in a single trim level and with a single engine option – the 1.6 litre petrol Boxer engine.

Nissan expands Beijing studio

With the expansion of the Chinese market, the country's position in the automotive industry is increasingly important. Homegrown design elements look set to enhance brand competitiveness, while the on-the-ground knowledge garnered by Chinese studios is becoming invaluable feeding back into global companies. It's clear therefore that Nissan Design China (NDC) will play an increasingly important role in Nissan's global design network.