Plate & Fin Evaporator Core on 2040-parts.com

Driven: BMW X3

The BMW X3 had the premium CUV market to itself when launched in 2004. Skip forward to the launch of the second generation and not only does the new version have a whole host of competitors for company, it also has to fit around its X1, X5 and X6 siblings. We took the 2011 BMW X3 (known internally as F25) to the Austrian Tyrol and spoke to its exterior designer, Erik Goplen, to find out if it still has the segment covered.

Cost of fuel has increased 50% in seven years

THE PRICE of fuel in the UK has increased by over 50% in just over seven years, according to a recent investigation. A study conducted on behalf of Asda Money indicates that the cost of fuel in the UK has risen from around 90p per litre at the start of 2006 to the current average of around £1.38. The Autumn Statement from the Chancellor of the Exchequer cancelled the proposed rise in fuel duty that was due to come into force on the first of January 2013, and which had already been postponed once, but UK motorists are still paying out at the pumps.

Audi S3 (2006): first official pictures

By Phil McNamara First Official Pictures 01 August 2006 06:23 The lowdown Here's the new benchmark for hot hatch acceleration: the 261bhp Audi S3 quattro. Up there with the most powerful hot hatches – the 261bhp BMW 130i and Volkswagen's 250bhp Golf R32 – the S3 is due in the UK in January 2007. Audi claims it despatches the 0-62mph sprint in an impressive 5.7sec.