650 Crankshaft Kawasaki Jet Ski Engine on 2040-parts.com

Thinking Automotive Design

At a time when nine new automotive plants are being built in Brazil, the production of local design studios has acquired strong significance in the market. Significantly, the best-selling cars in the country are the VW Gol and the completely new Fiat Uno, both developed locally. It's therefore no surprise that car design gains more importance in the country's cultural scenario.

Councils make £594m from parking

RECORD SURPLUSES from parking revenues have been achieved by councils, according to the RAC Foundation. In 2012/13 councils in England generated a combined "profit" of £594 million from their on and off-street parking operations, the foundation said. This was a 5% increase on the figure of £565 million for 2011/12, and just 52 of the 353 parking authorities in England reported a deficit in 2012/13.

Ford Mondeo facelift (2011): first news and photos

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 25 June 2010 12:40 Ford has just issued these first pictures of the new, facelifted for 2011 Ford Mondeo. The revised Mondeo will be shown at the 2010 Moscow motor show in late August and will arrive in UK showrooms in October 2010.What's new on the 2011 Ford Mondeo?This is the first time we've seen the full-fat 237bhp 2.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine in the Mondeo; a 200bhp version of the same turbo four will also be offered; and a new 198bhp 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCI engine also joins the ranks.The range-topping 237bhp EcoBoost engine has a CO2 rating 179g/km of CO2 and comes with only one transmission option – Ford's twin-clutch Powershift 'box. Finally, Ford is catching up with the rampant roll-out of DSG gearboxes at rival mass-market specialists Volkswagen.Mondeo styling is fettled all round, too, with a more modern iteration of Ford's kinetic design borrowing cues from the S-Max et al for a crisper look.