Tool No. T2-024 Timing Guage on 2040-parts.com

New car sales soar to 10-year high

NEW CAR sales soared in March, with the new 14 number plate helping registrations reach their highest monthly total for 10 years. A total of 464,824 new cars were registered last month - a rise of 17.7% on the March 2013 figure and the best since 466,954 were registered in March 2004, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said. The March 2014 and March 2004 figures represent the best two months for new sales since 1999 when the motor industry abandoned the August once-a-year number plate change in favour of twice-a-year changes in March and September.

Mazda3 Tamura launched

The limited edition Mazda3 Tamura hits UK showrooms in February Good car, the Mazda3, and if you’re looking for a Mazda3 with extra spec you could do a lot worse than the newly announced Mazda3 Tamura. Mazda already has Tamura versions of the Mazda2 and Mazda6 on offer which were launched last year, and now it’s the turn of the Mazda3 to get the Tamura treatment. The Tamura is based on the TS but gets a sporty styling kit including sports front grille, side skirts and sports bumpers, a set of 17″ alloys, front fogs, metallic paint and the required badges.

Mazda Takeri concept

Mazda has released pictures of the Takeri concept ahead of the car's unveiling at the forthcoming Tokyo motor show. Said to preview the next generation 6, the concept is the second car from Mazda to adopt the 'Soul and Motion', or ‘Kodo', design language. The Takeri's DRG is dominated by the now familiar large Mazda grille, itself rimmed by a silver section that intersects the lamp graphic.