Mazda Mpv 2002 Left Clearance Lamp [6611100] on 2040-parts.com

Road funding must increase, say MPs

THERE needs to be a big increase in Government funding and a change of approach for England's major road network if predicted traffic increases are correct, according to MPs. But any move towards using road charging to pay for the extra funding couldn't be achieved without broad agreement among politicians and motorists, said the House of Commons Transport Committee. In a report the committee added that it was "not convinced" by the case for establishing the Highways Agency, the body responsible for England's motorways and major A-roads, as a Government-owned company.

Nissan Juke Nismo RS arrives with added ‘Butch’: Los Angeles Auto Show

Nissan Juke Nismo RS arrives with added ‘Butch’ Compact SUVs and Crossovers are going the way the hatchback went; from sensible family transport to pseudo sports car. And Nissan are upping the ante once again with an even more aggressive version of the Juke Nismo – the Nissan Juke Nismo RS. The Juke Nismo RS gets a little extra power – up from 197bhp in the Nismo to 2012 bhp in the Nismo RS – which should be enough to get to 62mph in mid-7 seconds, and a choice of manual or CVT ‘box (but if you want 4WD you’ll have to have the mot very appealing CVT).

Ssangyong relaunches brand with Giugiaro-designed Korando

Korean brand Ssangyong is back from the dead. After looking odds-on favorite to become another automotive casualty of the global recession after Chinese owner SAIC put it into receivership in early 2009, the 4x4 specialist has found a new owner in 2010 – signing a memorandum of understanding with Indian company Mahindra & Mahindra in August – and has just re-launched its brand with a new car designed by Giugiaro. The fourth-generation Korando mid-sized crossover – prefaced by the C200 concept shown at the April 2009 Seoul motorshow – is due on sale in January 2011 pending the expected completion of the Mahindra deal in November this year.