Chrysler/force Coil on 2040-parts.com

SEMA Pasadena: Public show in SoCal raises money for charity

Though we weren't at the very first SEMA show 42 years ago at the National Guard Armory in Los Angeles, the inaugural SEMA Cares Show and Shine last weekend must have been a lot like that first show four decades ago. SEMA Cares was held in the Pasadena Convention Center in Southern California. Organizers sold out all 155 spots for cool cars and all 25 booth spaces for vendors.

VW Passat: New distance world record

VW Passat World distance Record When you as old as I am (or at least as old as I feel) you can’t help but be astonished at the feats of economy car makers seem able to wring from even quite serious, upmarket cars. Yesterday we reported on the Mercedes S250 CDI which manages to perform like a 1990s V8 S-Class whilst simultaneously doing nearly 50mpg. Which to an old git like me – who thought his 3.0 litre Capri in his teen years was doing well if it got 18mpg – is a bit hard to acccept.

Fiat Panda 4×4 & Panda Trekking: Price from £12,450

The 2013 Fiat Panda 4×4, revealed at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, is now on sale from £13,95. It’s 2WD sibling – the Panda Trekking – costs from £12,450. Not only is the Panda 4×4 so called because it has 4WD, but because Fiat want to shout loud and proud that this little shopping car really does have credible four wheel drive underpinnings – almost unheard of in this sector.