Speedometer Cluster Saab 9-3 2003 03 2004 04 337777 on 2040-parts.com

Porsche 918 Spyder takes on the Nurburgring

Porsche has taken their concept hybrid supercar – the 918 Spyder – to the Nurburgring to set a time – 7 minutes 14 seconds. But a hybrid halo doesn’t have to mean poor performance, a point Porsche has proved by taking the 918 Spyder to the Nurburgring to set a lap time. The Porsche 918 Spyder can deliver a total of 759bhp from its race-derived V8 and two electric motors which, although less than the likely power available to the F70 of P1, is still a significant amount of get up and go.

WINTER BREAKDOWN EXPENSE FOR USED CAR OWNERS

SOME VEHICLE components are nearly three times as likely to fail during the winter months as in the summer leading to potentially expensive repairs for the owners of older vehicles, according to Warranty Direct. The specialist insurer and warranty provider analysed 50,000 live automotive policies and found that ignition coils are 283 per cent more likely to fail between December and February than between June and August. Fuel injection pumps, thermostats and a number of electrical components are also more likely to suffer in the cold leading to an average winter repair bill of £408.60, the company has warned.

Honda shows off Concept C and Concept S at Beijing motor show

Alongside the Chinese introduction of its new ILX and RDX, Honda rolled out two concept vehicles that the company says presage new models to hit the Chinese market. The “C” in “Concept C” apparently stands for “cool,” “challenge” and “China,” which is er, um, iffy, but at least it's a departure from Honda's as-of-late anodyne exterior design. Though it rather closely resembles a late-model Hyundai dressed up in Super Sentai garb, Honda claims that the C's design was inspired by a dragon.