Westin 21-53705 Protraxx 5 In. Oval Step Bar Cab Length on 2040-parts.com

New Nissan Micra costs from £9,950

New Nissan Micra Facelift (pictured) costs from £9,950 Although we saw the new facelift for the Nissan Micra in the guise of the overseas Nissan March in back in March, it took Nissan until this month to reveal the new Micra for the UK, and now we’ve got specifications and prices confirmed. Starting at £9,950 for the Micra Visia, all new Micra models come with a new front and back, upgraded interior with a new centre console, better materials and more equipment. The entry-level Visia gets Bluetooth, electric front windows, remote central locking and USB, with the mid-spec Acenta (from £11,550) adding alloys, leather steering wheel, Climate and Cruise.

UK new car average CO2 now under 140g/km

UK motor industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) claims 56% of new cars sold in the UK during 2010 boasted carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions figures below 140g/km. New car emissions of CO2 continued to fall at an increased rate year-on-year, dropping 3.5% over 2009’s figures and representing a cumulative drop in new car CO2 emissions of 20.3% since 2000.  The data comes from the release of the SMMT’s annual New Car Carbon Dioxide (CO2) report for 2011, out today. UK vehicle fleet CO2 continues to fall The presence of lower-polluting new vehicles in the overall UK vehicle parc (the total fleet of new and existing vehicles on the roads) has driven parcwide CO2 levels down 7.8% since 2000, and 2.7% since 2009.  This is partly thanks to new vehicles, and also due to reduction of higher-polluting vehicles via legislation and scrappage incentive schemes. The overall reduction also comes in spite of an increased number of vehicles on the road, and greater average distances travelled compared to 2000. Diesel’s rise continues One notable trend has been market penetration of diesel-powered cars. In 2000 petrol powered cars held 85.9% of the market, with 14.1% diesels.

Drivers of GM vehicles will be able to control car features via smartphone

Drivers of most 2011 General Motors Co. vehicles will be able to use a smartphone to carry out functions usually found on a key fob -- such as remote starting, activating the horn and lights, and remote locking and unlocking of doors. Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC, working through OnStar, are developing brand-specific mobile applications than can be controlled on Apple's iPhone and phones using Google's Android operating system.