Honda Atc 70 Gas Tank on 2040-parts.com

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%.

McLaren MP4-12C GT3 racer (2011): first pictures

McLaren has announced it will be building a GT racing car, based on the McLaren MP4-12C, with Leicestershire-based racing team CRS Racing. The two companies will supply and support a limited number of GT3 racing cars based for European-based privateers in 2012. A development programme will come first in 2011, with a limited number of European GT races.

UK car production tops 1.5 million

THE NUMBER of cars built in the UK topped 1.5 million last year, the highest for six years, amid what's being called "surging" demand at home and abroad. Production increased by 3.1% in 2013, with analysts predicting that output would reach record levels of around two million by 2017. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said the UK was set to become the third largest car manufacturer in Europe after Germany and Spain.