Town Coun 2004 Antenna 431238 on 2040-parts.com

Call for stronger penalties for texting drivers

DRIVERS convicted of causing death by dangerous driving should be given stronger and more consistent penalties, according to road safety charity the Institute of Advanced Motorists has said. An IAM analysis of eleven recent prosecutions involving mobile and smartphone use revealed that the average sentence for causing death by dangerous driving is four-and-a-half years in prison and a disqualification from driving for seven years. In all of the cases analysed, the convicted drivers were found to have lost their concentration due to using their mobile phone.

New details on Mercedes' Porsche 911 fighter

Mercedes-Benz's AMG performance-car division is forging ahead with development of its new twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 powered sports car, nine months before it is scheduled to be revealed at the 2014 German Grand Prix. Known to insiders by its code name, “C190” the two-seat coupe has been conceived to follow in the wheel tracks of the four-year-old SLS at the head of the German carmaker's lineup, aiming to challenge the heady performance and everyday driving appeal of the latest Porsche 911 Turbo at a price that insiders suggest will be in the region of $160,000 when North American sales begin in early 2015. Originally, AMG's new front-engined sports car was tipped to revive the iconic SLC name first used by the SL coupe back in 1971.

MINI John Cooper Works Paceman: The hot MINI Countryman Coupe arrives

The new MINI Paceman has been given a range-topping model in the guise of the 140mph MINI John Cooper Works Paceman. Debuts at Detroit 2013. The Paceman JCW gets a convincing setup, with the same 1.6 litre 216bhp 1.6 litre as the Countryman JCW which delivers 207lb/ft of torque – and an extra 14lb/ft from an overboost – enough to send the Paceman JCW to 62mph in 6.9 seconds and on to 140mph (139mph in the auto, not that it matters as performance is the same otherwise).