Omix-ada 16732.50 Wheel Cylinder Brake Line on 2040-parts.com

UPDATED: Aston Martin sold

By Phil McNamara Motor Industry 12 March 2007 09:38 Aston Martin is today under new owners, following the sale of Britain’s premier sports car company to an investment consortium. After 20 years of ownership, Ford divested itself of the brand, its facilities and its products, in a deal valuing Aston at £479m.   The new owner is a consortium led by David Richards, boss of automotive consultancy Prodrive, who helped to unite two private investment companies from Kuwait. Adeem Investment, which already owns the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, has a portfolio worth $1.5 bn.

Hyundai move from Baboons to Kids to test quality

Hyundai let a troop of 4 & 5 year olds loose on an i30 to test quality Last year, Hyundai let a troop of 40 safari park baboons loose on an i30 to see if, left to their own devices, they could trash Hyundai’s very well bolted together (just ask Martin Winterkorn) i30. It was a clever way to demonstrate that the i30 doesn’t just look good, but is made of a bit more than recycled baked bean cans and Fairy liquid bottles. The i30 came through the baboon test with flying colours (even the company tasked with cleaning it up after the baboons commented on the story that they were impressed by how unscathed the i30 was), but Hyundai has now come up with a quality test that makes the baboon adventure look like a walk in the (safari) park.

Ford Fiesta [w/Gallery]

The facelifted Ford Fiesta features design cues that bring it in line with the latest Ford global design language and concept vehicles. The biggest changes are to the front of the Fiesta, where its trapezoidal grille has moved further up the front mask and is flanked by new headlamps with LED daytime running lamps, as well as a new 'power-dome' hood (ironic given the new 3-cylinder, 1.0-liter engine). These changes allign it with the new Fusion/Mondeo that will also make its debut in Paris.