Wagner Pab832 Brake Shoe-thermoquiet Brake Shoe on 2040-parts.com

Used car sales return to pre-recession levels

USED CAR SALES reached 7.1 million units in 2012, on a par with pre-recession levels and a climb of 6.4%, according to a comprehensive market report. The 2013 BCA Report by British Car Auctions valued the used car market a £38.1 billion in 2012, putting it £5.8 billion ahead of the new car market over the same period. In particular sales of younger used cars (0-2 years) increased significantly, rising by 18.6% to 762,000 and reversing a three year trend of falling volumes in this age sector.

Fiat 500 Pink – now it’s the 500C convertible

The Fiat 500C Pink convertible hits the UK - but only 300 of them Fiat have been busy doing what BMW have done with the MINI – and Audi seem intent on doing with the new A1 – namely churning out special editions all over the place to keep punters interested and make sales. And it seems to work.  Buyers like something that stands out from the crowd and of which there will be a limited run. Step forward the Fiat 500 Pink, launched by Fiat a few months ago in the UK and limited to just 500 units.

Contest: LA Design Challenge 2007

Audi Virtuea Quattro Designed at the Volkswagen/Audi Design Center California by Heather Shaw, Jae Min, Mattijs Van Tuijl, Karl Strahlendorf and Christian Schoen; the Virtuea Quattro is a single-seat autonomous driving machine. It functions as a solid unit at its core, while providing a myriad of possible holographic exteriors stored in a library and accessible through the vehicle's 'interactive holographic interface'.  Powered by hydrogen, the vehicle combines artificial intelligence with avenues of self-expression. The Virtuea's holographic exterior provides a variety of possibilities, allowing the driver to select from the most innovative designs from one minute to the next.