Allison Rolls Royce A250 C20 C20b Helicopter Turbine Engine Igniter Cable on 2040-parts.com

2014 World Car of the Year: the finalists

Among all the unveilings and glitz at last week’s Geneva Motor Show, the shortlisted shortlist (yes, really) for the World Car of the Year awards was announced. Sure, manufacturers are constantly gloating about adding to their trophy cabinets, but these are the awards that matter. They’re judged by journalists from around the world, including MSN Cars contributor Peter Burgess.

Good news for British car factories

NEW FIGURES have revealed that UK-based car production raced ahead in April, resulting in the biggest monthly rise since July 2012. A total of 133,437 cars were made in the UK last month – a 21.3% increase on the April 2013 figure, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said. The excellent April figures took the year-so-far total to 538,240 – a 6.9% rise on the figure for January-April 2013.

2013 VW Beetle R-Line Package

Volkswagen has revealed two R-Line Packs for the new Beetle – one for the interior, one for the exterior – to spice up the Beetle. The VW Beetle we’re really looking forward to that has an ‘R’ on its boot is the Beetle R, but it looks like we’ll have to make do with an ‘R’ cosmetic makeover for now in the guise of the VW Beetle R-Line. Volkswagen has revealed a pair of R-Line packs for the new Beetle that add a bit more purpose to the Beetle pastiche – one for the exterior and one for the interior.