Optima Batteries 8078-109 Redtop; Battery on 2040-parts.com

Just how much do F1 drivers earn?

Business Book GP has published a list of Formula One drivers’ income for piloting their cars round the world’s F1 Grand Prix circuits. Just how much do the drivers of Formula One cars get for risking their lives (well, that may be a bit of an overstatement in 2012) in pursuit of a victory on the track? It seems anything from €150k to €30 million is the spread.

New Ford Fiesta ST starts production ahead of first deliveries in March

Ford has started production of the new Fiesta ST at its plant in Cologne ahead of first customer cars arriving in Ford’s UK showrooms in March. By the time the Fiesta ST arrived at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show it had turned in to a full production model – with little change from the concept – and we finally got UK prices for the Fiesta ST last month, with the promise that Ford would be getting the first STs to customers in March. That plan looks like it’s on track as Ford announce the Fiesta ST has now started to roll off the production line in Cologne (and even the first STs coming off the line get Ford’s orange statement paint job).

First details of 2013 Skoda Octavia emerge

More details and images of the 2013 Skoda Octavia have been revealed ahead of its official announcement. The C-segment Octavia will be the fourth model to sit on the MQB platform after the Volkswagen Golf Mk7, Seat Leon and Audi A3. These images suggest the car will offer few surprises – from its familiar corporate grille to the new, sharp-edged, cut-glass inspired surfacing first seen on the Rapid this third-generation Octavia looks set to build on its solid and loyal customer base.