Ford Oem Bb5z17906a Rear Bumper-impact Bar on 2040-parts.com

One Lap of the Web: Gourmet cheese, ‘Gorilla Glass’ and the cost of car repair by state

We spend a lot of time on the Internet -- pretty much whenever we’re not driving, writing about or working on cars. Since there’s more out there than we’d ever be able to cover, here’s our daily digest of car stuff on the Web you may not otherwise have heard about. -- Ford Motor Co.

2014 Land Rover Defender Challenge announced

By Damion Smy Motor Industry 30 October 2013 12:01 Land Rover has confirmed that it is the official sponsor of the 2014 ‘Defender Challenger by Bowler’, which will see a field of up to 15 tricked-up Defender 90s hit the rough stuff as crews get down and dirty, Dakar style. It’s all about enticing those who are curious about rally raids, such as the legendary Dakar event that’s held early each year. A lack of experience, as well as costs, has made it difficult for novices looking to qualify for the necessary licence, so the Defender Challenge is ideal for rally wannabes looking to dip a toe in the water, so to speak, with no experience required to enter.

A Right Old Estate of Affairs

A NEW study from car hire Europcar has revealed that, while a practical, versatile estate car might be just the ticket for a busy life, it’s not the car of choice to create a lasting impression on a first date. According to the firm’s survey, just one percent of respondents said they would choose an estate car when hiring for a special day, with women put off by the practicality of estates. Unsurprisingly, prestige vehicles topped the list for the car to make the best impression at 32%.