Blog on 2040Parts

AA Survey says 40% of UK roads are in a ‘Terrible’ state

40% of our roads are in a ‘Terrible’ state We all moan about how bad the UK’s roads are after several years of extreme weather and even more years of underinvestment in road repairs. Now the AA has revealed that a survey of 29,911 of their members reveals that 40 per cent of local roads are considered to be in a ‘Terrible’ state, 34 per cent of main roads the same and just 11 per cent of local roads considered ‘Excellent’. None of which will come as a surprise to Cars UK readers; we get endless emails on the subject from disgruntled readers bemoaning the dangerous state of our roads and asking what can be done.

O'Sullivan unhurt after supercar crash

SNOOKER ACE Ronnie O'Sullivan escaped unscathed from a car crash as he travelled home from defeat in the Dafabet World Championship final. The five-times world champion and his six-year-old son, Ronnie Jnr, were travelling in a two-seater Audi R8 sports car when it spun out of control on the M1 near Leicester at around 1.30am. Neither suffered serious injuries but they were understood to have been left "shaken" after pulling themselves out of the wreckage.

Volkswagen wants you to design a video game car in return for an internship

Volkswagen has launched a new design contest in order to find three students to undergo a six-month internship program at its Wolfsburg design center. In order to prove your worth, you have to design a car that looks beyond the current paradigms of The Car. Think more about how personal mobility – and particularly autonomous cars – will look, feel and interact by creating a new scenario: "Video games have created their own unique medium, devoid of normal design barriers," reads the competition website.

New car sales accelerate again

NEW CAR SALES could be back to pre-recession levels by the end of this year after a good start to 2014. Latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show there were 176,820 new vehicles registered in April - an 8.2% rise on the same month last year. Last month's figure took the total for the year so far to 864,942 - a 12.5% increase on the first four months of 2013.

Best British cars ever

Autocar – the world's oldest car magazine – has today revealed its list of the top 100 British cars in its latest issue.The list, compiled by a survey of the magazine's readers, includes seven Lotuses, six Jaguars, six Fords and five Aston Martins.It also involves one of the fastest cars ever made (the McLaren F1), one of the great design icons of the 20th century (the original Mini) and a car that made it to the New York Museum of Modern Art (the Jaguar E-Type).But which British-engineered icon tops the list?Click on the image above to see our rundown of the top 25 best British cars...  

Maserati Alfieri will launch in 2016 to take on the Jaguar F-Type

The Maserati Alfieri (pictured) is going in to production When the Maserati Alfieri was revealed at the Geneva Motor SHow in March, we said it was a car Maserati must build. And they are. Maserati has confirmed that the Alfieri will go in to production in 2016 as the Alfieri Coupe, with an Alfieri Convertible arriving by 2017, giving Maserati a serious rival to the Jaguar F-Type.

Hyundai ix35 and i30 Go! World Cup Special Editions launched

The Hyundai ix35 Go! World Cup Special Edition There’s going to be no shortage of ‘World Cup’ branded goods on offer in the next few months, and Hyundai are getting in on the act with special editions of the ix35 and i30. Hyundai are a World Cup partner (so they need to see some bang for their Buck) and the ix35 Go!

Rolls-Royce Celebrates 110 Years Of Excellence

LUXURY car make Rolls-Royce has celebrated its 110th anniversary in style, with a gathering of cars at both Goodwood motor racing circuit and Manchester’s Midland Hotel. The locations are significant, as the Midland Hotel was the setting for the first meeting of Charles Rolls and Henry Royce. Meanwhile, Goodwood has become the marque’s adopted home since the split from Bentley and sale to BMW.

Firefighter leaves blaze to deliver baby in car

A FIREFIGHTER turned midwife today at the scene of a major blaze after learning his maternity ward skills watching the Channel 4 series One Born Every Minute. Ross McLaren delivered Antoni Zimnicki, who weighed 4.16kg (9lb 2oz), after his mum Ewelina and dad Jaroslaw got stuck in traffic around two miles from the North Middlesex Hospital in north London because of the fire. Mrs Zimnicka, who is now in hospital with her healthy newborn, said: "I thought I had a lot of time as my first baby's labour had taken a long time.

Microsoft Windows in the Car to rival Apple CarPlay

Microsoft Microsoft has announced a concept version of the Windows operating system aimed at in-car entertainment for the connected car. Although details are limited at this stage, 'Windows in the Car' is set to challenge the already confirmed Apple CarPlay and Google’s Open Automotive Alliance, which is also aiming to bring the Android OS into vehicles. Windows in the Car: features, apps, technology As with the rival options, Microsoft’s in-car OS would be based on its existing Windows Phone software, adapted to suit the different demands of the driving environment.

Classic Mini voted 'best British car'

THE ORIGINAL Mini, first introduced in 1959, is the best-ever British car, according to a survey of Autocar readers. The poll also named Norfolk-based Lotus as the most popular British manufacturer, with seven of its models making the 100 best British cars list. Following the Mini at the top of the list was the McLaren F1, with the Jaguar E-type third and the Range Rover fourth.

BMW M5 30 Years Edition is OFFICIAL – it’s the ’30 Jahre M5′

The BMW M5 30 Jahre M5 (pictured_ celebrates 30 years of the M5 We revealed at the weekend that BMW were planning a special edition M5 to celebrate 30 years of the M5 and. as expected, BMW has now revealed the 30 Jahre M5 (30 years of the M5). As expected, the 30 year M5 gets a tweaked version of the 4.4 litre twin-turbo V8 found in the regular M5, but builds on the M5 Competition Package model by throwing an extra 25bhp in to the mix for a total of 592bhp (600PS).

Road funding must increase, say MPs

THERE needs to be a big increase in Government funding and a change of approach for England's major road network if predicted traffic increases are correct, according to MPs. But any move towards using road charging to pay for the extra funding couldn't be achieved without broad agreement among politicians and motorists, said the House of Commons Transport Committee. In a report the committee added that it was "not convinced" by the case for establishing the Highways Agency, the body responsible for England's motorways and major A-roads, as a Government-owned company.

UK buyers plugging into electric cars

Renault New figures suggest UK motorists are charged up about electric vehicles (EVs), with a record number of zero-emission cars now on Britain’s roads. Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) suggest there are more than 10,000 electric cars on the road today, with as many as 1,200 EVs sold in March alone. In the midst of an EV revolution Compare that to the lowly 270 that were sold during the same month in 2013 and it becomes hard to argue that we’re not in the midst of an EV revolution, especially when you combine the figures with the 10,200 hybrid cars sold so far in 2014, up by 45% on last year.

BMW M5 30th Anniversary Edition (2014) first official pictures

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 07 May 2014 15:02 BMW is marking the 30th anniversary of the M5 by building the most powerful ever version of its legendary super-saloon. The BMW M5 ‘30 Jahre M5’ has an extra 39bhp from a tweaked version of its 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, plus there’s a smattering of special trim and anniversary badging, and just 300 will be built. Apparently ‘this power boost has been achieved through carefully calculated tweaks to the engine management and an increase in charge pressure’.

Ariel Atom 3.5R (2014) first official pictures

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 07 May 2014 15:20 This is the new Ariel Atom 3.5R, a riposte to Caterham’s mad Seven 620R. It’s made up of the best bits from the manic Atom V8 and the little-less-manic Honda-powered Atoms, and improves upon 2012's Atom 3.5. With a little help from a supercharger.

Subaru going for Isle of Man record

How can Subaru prove its latest WRX STI is more competent that its predecessor? Would beating its own record round the infamous Isle of Man TT course do it? We reckon so.

Design Essay: Are smart roads just around the corner?

In order to remain relevant, the car must constantly evolve. But while almost all attention focuses on four wheels, the roads that facilitate an automobile's progress have remained relatively unaltered since Eisenhower formed the National Highway system in the 1950s. With environmental concerns getting ever higher on the agenda, there is an opportunity to think outside the (metal) box and rethink the road, making it as smart as the vehicles and devices that travel upon it.

Ford and IDSA to host 'Designing Innovation' live design panel discussion tomorrow

Freeman Thomas, strategic design director at Ford, will take part in a live design panel discussion on Wednesday 7 May. The panel, hosted by Ford and the Industrial Designers Society of America, will also include CEO of industrial design firm Fuseproject Yves Béhar, and Christopher Williams, business development director at product design and company Lime Lab. Topics will how technology plays a role in design; how designers shape consumer behaviors and responses to innovative products; and how products both stand out from and fit in with the world around them.

Truckfest 2014: Peterborough becomes the UK’s biggest lorry park

Where was the place to be over this bank holiday weekend, according to The Only Way is Essex star Joey Essex and Coronation Street’s Michelle Keegan? The answer, of course, is Peterborough – for Truckfest 2014. There were other major stars in attendance too, alongside thousands of the best examples of trucks in the country… Please click the image above to read more about Truckfest 2014

2014 Morgan Plus 8 Speedster is a retro road racer

Morgan is celebrating 100 years of building cars at its factory at Pickersleigh Road in Malvern with what it promises will be a series of special vehicles, appearing throughout 2014. The first of these is the Plus 8 Speedster– and it is special indeed. For starters, as the Speedster name implies, it comes without a traditional windscreen and roof.

Bellissima! Exotic Italian cars hit Brooklands

We were blessed with brilliant weather over the first May bank holiday weekend of 2014, and what better way to celebrate the onset of summer than with a celebration of stunning motor cars? That’s exactly what happened at the home of British motorsport, Brooklands, with thousands of Italian vehicle owners turning up to Auto Italia magazine’s Italian car day at the famous location. From Fiat 500s to Ferrari F50s, this gathering of iconic Italian metal had it all.

Tough new sentences for banned drivers

Newspress Disqualified drivers who cause death on the roads face lengthier sentences, under tough new measures introduced by the justice secretary, Chris Grayling. The changes - which are expected to come into force in early 2015 - include a new offence of causing serious injury while disqualified. Drivers convicted of this new offence can expect a four-year prison term.

2015 Smart ForTwo and Smart ForFour teased in new video

The new Smart ForTwo and Smart ForFour (pictured) teased The new Renault Twingo has already been revealed, but the new Smart, which shares the majority of components, isn’t due to debut until the Paris Motor Show in October. But October isn’t that far away now, so Smart had released a teaser video for both the new Smart ForTwo and For Four as they build interest for the debut. The video was shot in Sweden where Smart are running camouflaged prototypes on test ahead of the launch, and the video allows the first look of the new Smarts on the move.

Still saving for a McLaren F1? You’ll need to try harder as they’ve hit £6.2 million

This McLaren F1 sold for $10 million The price of the McLaren F1 keeps on rising, and just last year F1 chassis #66 was sold by Gooding and Co in the US for a then record-breaking £5.42 million. But that record seems to have been broken. Ferrari specialists DK Engineering in Hertfordshire have just spent six months tracking down an F1 for a British buyer, culminating in chassis #28 being sold for a reported £6.2 million ($10 million).

Now Porsche catches the SUV Coupe bug with plans for a Cayenne Coupe

Porsche are planning a coupe version of the next Cayenne (current Turbo S pictured) No one thought the BMW X6 would sell; after all, who would want an SUV with a compromised coupe roofline? But it seems plenty of buyers do – the BMW X6 sells at twice the rate BMW predicted – which is why we’re getting an X6 clone in the new Mercedes GL Coupe – likely to be the Mercedes MLC – heading for a Mercedes showroom near you sometime soon after being previewed by the Mercedes Concept Coupe. Now, Porsche are apparently playing the SUV Coupe game with plans for a coupe version of the next generation Cayenne in 2018, according to Autocar, to make sure BMW and Mercedes don’t have things all their own way.

Alfa Romeo goes rear-drive; eight new cars by 2018 including 4C Cloverleaf

By Damion Smy Motor Industry 06 May 2014 15:51 Alfa Romeo has confirmed the news first broken exclusively by CAR in July 2013: the Italian brand will make a dramatic shift from front-drive hatches like the Mito and Giulietta, and instead develop a new range of rear- and all-wheel sports saloons, SUVs and sports cars. Announced in Detroit at Fiat-Chrysler HQ, Alfa Romeo chief technology officer Harald Wester revealed the mantra for the brand includes pushing volumes up from 74,000 sales in 2013, to around 400,000 by 2018. Alfa Romeo is investing around €5bn in the project, the first fruits of which will be the new Giulia saloon, a 3-series rival that will go on sale in autumn 2015.Read our scoop of Alfa's strategy here That’s right.

Petrol sales at record low in March

PLUNGING PRICES at the pumps failed to prevent petrol sales dipping to their lowest figure on record in late winter this year. UK drivers bought 1.367 billion litres of petrol in March 2014, according to Government figures highlighted by the AA. This was the lowest recorded figure, with the previous low point being March 2013 - the coldest March for 50 years - when sales only reached 1.376 billion litres.

Maserati Alfieri (2016) confirmed; five-fold sales increase wanted

By Damion Smy Motor Industry 06 May 2014 18:08 Maserati boss Harald J Wester has confirmed that the Alfieri concept, shown at the 2014 Geneva motor show, will be built in both coupe and convertible forms. Following the announcement of Alfa Romeo’s plans, which see it share rear- and all-wheel drive platforms with Maserati, Wester confirmed production of Maserati’s Porsche 911 rival. The Alfieri will be offered in three guises, kicked off with a rear-drive entry-level model powered by a 410bhp V6, a mid-level 450bhp all-wheel drive version and a flagship 520bhp V6 all-wheel drive model.

Ford drives the Peel P50 in to the new Transit – and turns it around

The Peel P50 drives in to the new Ford Transit The new Ford Transit offers lots of room for ‘Stuff’, something Ford decided to demonstrate by enlisting the world’s smallest car to demonstrate. It may be simply a take on Jeremy Clarkson’s games with the Peel in and around the BBC Television Centre – and you don’t get John Humphries driving the Peel or Fiona Bruce (and her bottom) pushing it back out – but you do get a good idea of just how big the new Transit is. We’re not entirely sure that turning the Peel around in the Transit – and yes, this Peel is fitted with a reverse gear, unlike Clarkson’s – demonstrates the Transit is any bigger than just driving in and driving out would, but the endless faffing to achieve an about turn is an excuse to use some Benny Hill-esque music to pass the time.