B&m 70270 Supercooler; Engine Oil Cooler Kit on 2040-parts.com

UK car sales up 11% in May (2013)

The Ford Fiesta (pictured) was again the best selling car in the UK The rise and rise of new car registrations in the UK continues to defy the rest of the economy, with figures up in May 2013 by 11 per cent year on year, and private sales up a massive 20.9 per cent to levels last seen in 2007. It’s the fifteenth month in succession new car registration have risen in the UK, with sales for May at 180,111 and total sales to date in 2013 hitting almost 1 million units, at 948,666. The SMMT think the big jump in private registrations is down to a number of factors, including cars bought under the scrappage scheme now being traded in for a new car, strong incentives from car makers and the promise of new cars offering lower running costs, and they’re probably right, although there are other factors in play too.

Audi A3 Sportback e-tron price and specs – costs £34,950

Audi A3 Sportback e-tron (pictured) costs £34,950 If governments are going to base car taxation on Co2 emissions, then car makers are going to build cars that ‘game’ the official tests. A perfect example of which is the new Audi A3 Sportback e-tron plug-in hybrid. It’s expensive at £34,950 (although the government bribe for plug-ins does drop the price you pay to £29,950), but thanks to its ‘up to 31 miles’ range on battery power only it comes complete with official economy of 176.6 mpg and emissions of 37g/km.

Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) at EcoVelocity

Hyundai ix35 FCEV - UK debut at EcoVelocity To all intents and purposes the Hyundai ix35 FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) is just like any other ix35. That means it’s a well designed, well-built and value for money softroader; a Tiguan and Kuga competitor from Korea making real inroads in to the traditional European and Japanese dominated sector. And deservedly so.