Visteon Alternators/starters 6646 Starter-reman Starter on 2040-parts.com

Half of all used cars go wrong ‘within a month’

With over seven million secondhand cars purchased in 2012, you’d expect one or two to develop a problem soon after purchase. But rather shockingly, as many as half of all used cars sold develop faults within a month of changing hands. That’s according to a report by the Citizens Advice Bureau, which helped with over 84,000 problems with secondhand motors in the past 12 months.

Fiat 500L MPW goes on sale. Costs from £15,795

The Fiat 500L MPW (pictured) is now on sale. Costs from £15,795 The latest extension (literally) to the Fiat 500 range – the Fiat 500L MPW – has gone on sale in the UK so lovers of Fiats appealing 500 can still get their fix even if they have a Brady Bunch sized family. A stretched version of the already stretched Fiat 500L, the 500L MPW (which gets the 500L Living badge outside the UK) isn’t a true 7-seater, but does get two extra occasional seats in the boot for transporting the smallest members of your brood when needed.

The Chevrolet Stretch? Collegian's idea takes top prize in design contest

Ever heard of the Chevrolet Stretch? It's a two-seat urban mobility vehicle that runs on electric power and is meant to navigate the congested streets of places like Mexico City in 2046. It looks sporty, can be expanded to seat four—hence the name—and was designed to be fun to drive.