Toyota Ractis 2005 Washer Tank [5-67300] on 2040-parts.com

UK sales slide continues: 'worst market for 17 years'

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 06 October 2008 12:22 Britain's new car market is in deep trouble, official sales figures today confirm. September is historically one of the two biggest registration months of the year, as buyers rush to snap up the autumn's new number plate – yet sales were down by a fifth last month. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, which collates sales data from dealers, called it 'stormy September', as new-car registrations plummeted by 21 percent from last year's figure to 330,295.

Mini launches 'Inspired by Goodwood'

Mini has just held a launch party in Germany for the new ‘Mini inspired by Goodwood'. Unveiled at Pavillon 21 Mini Opera Space, a temporary mobile performance venue located on the Marstallplatz in Munich, the new trim level was developed by designers working in both the Mini and Rolls-Royce design studios. Finished in a cornsilk beige hue (a color typical of Roll-Royce interiors), the Mini Inspired by Goodwood's cabin exudes an air of sophistication found on premium, luxury products – right down to the lamb's wool carpeting.

UPDATED Aston Martin shuts historic factory

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 19 July 2007 05:34 The last Vanquish rolled off the line at Aston Martin's historic Newport Pagnell factory today. Much of the historic site will be sold and turned into offices and homes. It brings to an end a long and distinguished history of car and carriage making at Newport Pagnell - stretching all the way back to the 1820s.