Wheel Lock Set Dorman 711-322 on 2040-parts.com

Frankfurt Motor Show 2013 – Trends and Overview

The bi-annual Frankfurt motor show is always an exhibition of Germanic industrial might – for better or worse – and 2013 was no exception. Despite news of flat-lining car sales across Europe, the show was one of the defiant rolling out of new models. The number of production cars and production previews of cars that would be appearing in (presumably quiet) showrooms soon was impressive.

Audi A3 Saloon arrives in the UK from £24,275

The Audi A3 Saloon (pictured) arrives in the UK Audi isn’t afraid of covering every possible niche in its ambition to be the world’s top ‘Premier’ marque, so we now get a third body shape for the new A3 – the Audi A3 saloon. Designed to sell in markets that prefer a traditional 3-box car to a hatch – like the US and China – Audi still believes there’s a market for an A3 with a boot in the UK, so the new A3 Saloon arrives on sale with a choice, at least initially, of three engines – two petrols and a diesel. Cosmetically, apart from the addition of a boot, the A3 Saloon gets more pronounced curves, bigger wheel arches, new shapes on the bonnet, new bumper, new lights and a boot spoiler.

Jaguar Land Rover sales up 32% in January 2013

Jaguar Land Rover sales continue to power ahead, with sales up 32 per cent in January 2013 – 31 per cent up for Land Rover and 40 per cent for Jaguar. We’ve got used to ever increasing sales from both Jaguar and Land Rover in recent years, and 2013 has started for JLR in the same manner as 2012 – with sales up by 32 per cent. JLR are reporting sales up in every major market, with China topping the list with an increase of 74 per cent, but even the UK (up 33 per cent) and USA (up 24 per cent) performed well and, despite sales falling across Europe for most car makers, Jaguar Land Rover managed to increase their sale by 10 per cent on the Continent.