Yamaha Outboard Cowling on 2040-parts.com

Fuel Duty frozen and car tax discs scrapped

Fuel Duty frozen and car tax discs scrapped Fuel duty makes up a painful chunk of the price of petrol and diesel, and it was due to be increased again next September. But Chancellor George Osborne has announced that the tax hike will be scrapped – as has been the case every year sicne the Con-Dems came to power – saving motorists an additional 2p on a litre of fuel. It may not be a price cut, but at least it’s not going up.

Japan automakers extend shutdowns as quake impact widens

Japan's seven big automakers are extending nationwide production shutdowns amid growing concern about supply chain interruptions, power shortages and export difficulties following the massive earthquake and tsunami that hammered northern Japan, killing thousands. Toyota Motor Corp., one of the few automakers with a major manufacturing presence in the quake zone, suspended all manufacturing--at both assembly and parts plants--on Monday and extended the shutdown through at least Wednesday as an added precaution. The company will lose output of roughly 40,000 vehicles over the three-day period, spokesman Dion Corbett said.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage pricing announced

A couple of months ago, we noted that Aston Martin had upgraded the V8 Vantage for 2012. After all, even the entry-level sybarite doesn't want to feel abandoned by the luxe maestros in Gaydon, and Gaydon doesn't want them to feel slighted. We previously mentioned the upgraded self-shifting transmission, which receives a seventh gear, as well as the quicker steering ported over from the Vantage S.