Yamaha Virago Xv 1100 1986-1998 Front Chrome Headpipe on 2040-parts.com

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.

2012 Ford Focus to get 1.0 litre 3-pot Ecoboost engine

2012 Ford Focus to get 1.0 Litre Ecoboost 3-pot We’re getting used to car makers downsizing engines to cope with the ever increasing regulations on emissions and economy; v10s become V8s and V8s become V6s. And now we’re about to see a Ford Focus forsake its traditional 4-pot lump for a 1.0 litre 3-pot Ecoboost lump. Ford has revealed plans to offer the new Focus with their latest 1.0 litre, 3-cylinder Ecoboost engine, starting in 2012.

New Mercedes S 63 AMG costs from £119,565

New Mercedes S 63 AMG (pictured) costs from £119,565 The arrival of the new Mercedes S-Class in May saw MB move their range topper on properly for the first time in almost a decade, but with UK prices staring from £62,650 for the S 350 BlueTEC it wasn’t going to be on most people’s shopping list. And if you can’t afford Mercedes’ entry-level S-Class there’s no hope of affording the new S63 AMG, which Mercedes has revealed will cost an eye-watering £120k when it arrives in the UK in November. To be entirely fair, the new S63 is an awesome car with immense performance (which would be even more impressive if Mercedes endowed it with 4WD, as they do in other markets) with its 5.5 litre bi-turbo V8 developing 577bhp and getting the S63 to 62mph in 4.4 seconds.