Wallace 5 Ton Pintel Hitch W/ Bolt-up Mount & 2” 10,000 Pound Ball Inv6884 on 2040-parts.com

Europe's Car of the Year 2011 shortlist announced

The 41 contenders for Europe's 2011 Car of the Year trophy have been whittled down to the final seven as the European CoTY shortlist is announced today. The winner will be voted for by 59 of Europe's most influential motoring journalists, including two CAR writers: editor Phil McNamara and European editor Georg Kacher. The 2010 winner - by just 10 points ahead of the Toyota iQ - was the Volkswagen Polo. Like the Eurovision Song Contest, Car of the Year has proved controversial in the past with accusations of block-voting and blind patriotism, yet the award remains one of the most prestigious in the motor industry.

One lap of the web: A Lotus superbike, a track-only Z06 and a pair of M cars

Motorcycle News Lotus has licensed its name for this 200 HP superbike. Motorcycle News is reporting that Lotus, the beloved sportscar manufacturer that launched a thousand acronymic reliability jokes--"L.O.T.U.S, Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious"--has lent its name to a 200 HP, V-twin-powered superbike that is to be manufactured by a new company. While it does wear a lovely JPS-style livery, it's not clear where the lightness has been added or if it's been simplified.

Top Gear Tonight: Kia Cee’d, Hot Hatch Astra Focus Megane Test, Mastretta & Lewis Hamilton

Series 19 episode 4 of Top Gear tonight with hot hatch test – Astra VXR, Focus ST, Megane 265 – Kia Cee’d, Mexican Mastretta and Lewis Hamilton is SIARPC. We’re now more than half way through the new series of Top Gear, with episode 4 on tonight. And its choice of cars this week is almost mainstream.