Whitecap Teak Toggle Switch/duplex Cover Plate #60178 on 2040-parts.com

Bungling thief caught after stealing hire car's steering wheel

A DIM-WITTED criminal has been convicted of theft after stealing parts of a brand new Audi A3 hire car and replacing them with old bits taken from his much older Audi S3. Alexander Keating, a 23-year-old former bodyshop technician who lost his job following the conviction, stole parts as obvious as the steering wheel and gear knob from the A3 that his mum had hired after damaging her car in an accident. Keating foolishly believed no one would notice the battered old steering wheel on the otherwise shiny, new car, but sure enough the mismatched parts were spotted and the hapless bungler was caught by the car hire firm’s bespoke anti-fraud team Asset Protection Unit (APU).

Audi Sport quattro laserlight concept heading for 2014 CES

Audi Sport quattro laserlight concept heading for 2014 CES The Consumer Electric Show (CES) in Las Vegas is rapidly turning in to a showcase for some of latest electronic gizmos on cars, and the 2014 Show will see a new version of the Audi Sport Quattro Concept complete with Laser Lights. The Sport Quattro comes with a pair of low-profile trapezoidal elements, with the outer one generating the more familiar matrix LEDs for low beam whilst the inner one laser light for high beam, which offers three times the luminosity of LED high beam and can light up the road for 500 metres ahead. Apart from the clever laser headlights, the Sport Quattro Concept seems to be the same as the one Audi revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year, apart from a new paint job in Plasma Red and the laser lights.

Detroit auto show 2011: the CAR Live Blog from NAIAS

CAR's review of the 2011 Detroit auto show - By Ben Oliver 3.30pm: Ian Robertson drives onto the stage in a Team USA-liveried Mini CountrymanCountryman sales are 30% above projected orders with 12,000 sold since launch, and the maxi Mini is now on sale in the US too. Marketing chief Robertson says 2010 was the best sales year ever with 234,000 Minis sold worldwide and sales were 8.1% up in the biggest market, the US. Launched 10 years ago at Detroit, Mini now has over 300,000 American owners, or 'fans' as Robertson's Facebook-savvy scriptwriter says.3.11pm: Big waves at HyundaiBP Hyundai's American boss John Krafcik introduces the new Curb concept, a cool Juke-sized crossover, and then the lovely little Hyundai Veloster (below).