1997 Dodge Caravan Bcm 4686671 W/o Security on 2040-parts.com

Reliant Robin now a classic vehicle

THE RELIANT ROBIN, a vehicle popularised by Del Boy Trotter in the Only Fools And Horses TV show, is now classed as a classic vehicle thanks to changes in the Budget. Chancellor George Osborne announced that a rolling 40-year vehicle excise duty (VED) for classic cars will come in on April 1 this year. Until now, only cars built before January 1 1973 were exempt from VED.

Pagani Huayra sets Top Gear lap record and places marker for McLaren P1

The Pagani Huyra set a stunning record time on the Top Gear track last week and in the process laid down a marker for the new McLaren P1. The return of Top Gear at the weekend for Series 19 saw Richard Hammond get to grips with the Pagani Huayra – successor to his beloved Zonda – and after a thoroughly positive test drive Hammond handed over to the Stig to take the Huayra round the Top Gear track. In the hands of the Stig, the 6.0 litre V12 AMG engine with 730 horses powered the Huayra to a time of just 1:13.8, beating the previous record for a production car, held by the Ariel Atom V8, by a sizeable 1.3 seconds.

Maserati Quattroporte

Maserati has revealed the first pictures and details of the 2013 Quattroporte ahead of its official debut at the Detroit auto show in January. The sixth-generation Quattroporte, a high-performance sports luxury saloon, will be the first of three new models that Maserati hopes will begin to increase its annual sales. The car retains some of the design cues from the outgoing model, namely the front grille, three side vents and the triangular C-pillar, while it also features a sharp beltline that rises towards the car's rear and runs through the side of the car.