Blog on 2040Parts

Top Marques 2014: preview guide to the playboys’ motor show

The self-billed “anti-austerity show” is back for another year, with Top Marques 2014 - otherwise known as “the most exclusive supercar show in the world” - returning to the decadent surroundings of Monaco. Nothing has changed for 2014, with the show retaining its glamorous mix of supercars, superboats, watches, handbags and the most expensive facial in the world. No, really, the Gold Mask Treatment - by Margy’s of Monte Carlo - could be yours for a cool $4,900.

Citroen DS SUV (DS X7) teased ahead of Beijing Motor Show

The Citroen DS SUV teased ahead of Beijing With the Beijing Motor Show looming, the teases and reveals are starting to roll out, and Citroen have chose to play the tease game with a single image of the back end of a Citroen DS SUV. Logically, this DS SUV will be a production version of the Citroen Wild Rubis Concept we saw last year at the Shanghai Motor Show, although the tease photo does have differences from the concept. Just like the Citroen DS 5LS R concept we saw last week – a performance version of the DS 5LS – the DS SUV looks set to be a China only model, at least for now.

Call for complete smoking ban in cars

A COMPLETE BAN on smoking in cars should be introduced by law. That is the finding of a study of driver attitudes, where 71% said the Government should go further than it presently does to people smoking in cars. Of 7500 people polled, the study found 71% also believe smoking in cars should be made a criminal offence if children are in the car at the same time.

Ford S-MAX Vignale Concept revealed

The Ford S-Max Vignale (pictured) arrives to top the S-Max range The arrival of the Ford Mondeo Vignale Concept last year made it clear Ford were ready to do a 21st century version of the ‘Ghia’ badge engineering to create a range-topping sub-brand with the Vignale badge with all the whistles and bells on it. Today’s arrival of the Ford S-MAX Vignale Concept reinforces that conclusion. Just like the Mondeo Vignale, the S-Max Vignale comes with plenty of upmarket materials and toys, like 21″ alloys, chrome mirror caps, Vignale Grill, embossed leather with quilting, tablet docking and a Milano Grigio paint job.

Audi reveals crossover concept for Beijing show (2014) first pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 08 April 2014 12:00 Audi will show this crossover concept car at the Beijing motor show later in April 2014. According to these first pictures, it’s essentially a four-door version of the Allroad Shooting Brake concept from Audi’s Detroit motor show stand, mixing TT style with Q5 attitude. Audi’s only released these design sketches so far, and not let on any powertrain details.

Check out the 1,360-hp heart of the Koenigsegg One:1

The wild Koenigsegg One:1 showed up on our radars late last year before it appeared at the Geneva motor show in March. The latest piece of machinery from company founder--and Michael-Chiklis lookalike--Christian von Koenigsegg delivers one horsepower per kilogram, hence the name. That means 1,360 hp and 737 lb-ft of torque with a 3,000-pound curb weight.

Audi Q4 ‘Coupe’ SUV previewed in design sketches

Is this Audi Concept, heading for Beijing, the new Audi Q4 Audi are taking the ‘Design Sketch’ route for their tease of a new concept heading for this month’s Beijing Motor Show, which almost certainly portray a concept version of a forthcoming Audi Q4. Apart from the sketches, Audi are being tight-lipped about what they’re taking to Beijing, but it certainly looks like a high-riding SUV concept with a more coupe roofline than either the Q3 or Q5. In fact, this new Audi Concept looks very like the Audi Allroad Shooting Brake Concept we saw at Detroit in January and points firmly to Audi looking to extenbd its reach in to ‘Lifestyle’ SUVs with more desighn than practicality.Which is no surprise – Audi love a niche, especially one that’s growing.

Ford S-Max Vignale concept (2014) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 08 April 2014 11:00 This is the Ford S-Max Vignale concept. What makes this MPV design study so curious is the fact it’s essentially a top-spec version of a car that isn’t even on sale yet. Here’s the back story, Ford showed an S-Max ‘design study’ at the Frankfurt motor show in September 2013, which previewed the second-gen S-Max CAR spied testing earlier this year.

Remember this twin-engine, AWD, home-brew Scirocco?

Obviously, the big problem with the VW Scirocco is that its rear wheels aren't driven. Around a decade ago, a guy named Anson decided to solve that problem by shoving a second VW motor in the rear end of his Scirocco. Sure, VW had done it before, but this enterprising do-it-yourselfer spent just $1,800 on the build.

Peugeot Exalt Concept Sports Saloon revealed early

The Peugeot Exalt Concept (pictured) arrives ahead of Beijing Peugeot were busy teasing the arrival of a new sports saloon concept for the 2014 Beijing Motor Show back in January, said to evoke the styling and materials of the impressive Peugeot Onyx Concept. Now, a couple of weeks ahead of the Beijing Show, we get the first photo of that concept – the Peugeot Exalt Concept – which seems to have been sent out a few days earlier than Peugeot intended in an overnight press release dated 10th April. Oh, well.

Fiat 500 Abarth gets automatic transmission option for 2015

If you're a fan of the design (and the performance numbers) of the Fiat 500 Abarth and its cabriolet version but not its manual transmission, you'll want to hear this. Fiat has announced that the 2015 Fiat 500 Abarth and Abarth Cabrio will be offered with an optional six-speed automatic transmission in addition to a slightly redesigned interior. The new models will appear at the New York auto show next week.

2015 Corvette Stingray will get an eight-speed automatic transmission

2015 Corvette Stingray buyers will have a new transmission option when they head to dealer lots next year: An eight-speed automatic that will supposedly weight less than the six-speed it replaces and boasting quicker shift times than the dual-clutch in the Porsche 911. Named the 8L90, this eight-speed will be built in Ohio and will also be found on the upcoming Corvette Z06. If the gearbox is capable of handling the 625 hp put down by that supercharged beast, we're sure it'll take on the regular Stingray's 455 hp without breaking a sweat.

It’s the BMW 7-Series ‘Horse Edition’ to celebrate China’s Year of the Horse

The BMW 7-Series Horse Edition (pictured) heading for the 2014 Beijing Motor Show China is a huge car market for premium brand, so with the Beijing Motor Show on the way we’ll no doubt be seeing a raft of China Specials revealed as car makers seek to appeal to China’s still deep-pocketed buyers. Cars like the Ferrari 458 Italia China Special Edition, Audi R8 China Edition, Porsche 911 Turbo S China 10th Anniversary Edition and Aston Martin’s ‘Dragon 88′ special editions of the DBS Volante, Virage Coupe and V8 Vantage S Coupe are just a few of the China Specials Western car makers have bolted together to tempt the Chinese to part with their cash. Now we have another with the BMW 7-Series Horse Edition, which might sound like a special edition Land Rover Discovery but which is in fact a titivated 7-Series to celebrate the Year of the Horse.

Used car sales hit record high

USED CAR SALES were at their highest in five years in 2013. There was a 0.9% increase in used car trades, with more than 6.8 million exchanges of ownership recorded, though this is still some way behind the previous record high of 7.8 million used car sales in 2008. Analysis from Experian shows cars aged nine years old or over were among the strongest performers in the used car market, with sales up 6% in 2013 compared to the previous year.

Is this the Audi Q4 crossover?

Audi has released three official sketches of a new TT-inspired crossover concept set to make its debut at the Beijing auto show later this month. The high-riding crossover, whose details are being kept secret for now, is rumored to preview the upcoming Audi Q4 – Ingolstadt's answer to the likes of the BMW X4 and Porsche Macan. The new five-door shares design cues with the three-door Allroad Shooting Brake wheeled out at the Detroit auto show back in January, suggesting Audi is well into a series of new sporting crossover-style SUV models that will line up alongside the more practical SUV offerings already on sale today.

Peugeot Exalt concept to bring shark skin suit to Beijing

Peugeot has 'accidentally' leaked an image of its Exalt concept car ahead of its debut at the Beijing auto show next Sunday. The four-door sedan follows the form language introduced by the 2010 SR1 concept, but is perhaps most closely related to the Onyx of 2012 in terms of execution if not format. As with the Onyx, the Exalt features a series of innovative, natural materials – something PSA design director Jean-Pierre Ploué confirmed to Car Design News would become a Peugeot hallmark – including an exterior surface finish inspired by shark skin.

One Lap of the Web: Forsberg can't stop, won't stop drifting

-- Jann Mardenborough won the "Nissan GT Academy" back in 2011 and since then has finished on the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as participating in the Infiniti Red Bull Racing driver program with aspirations of Formula One. He explains what it's like to move on from video games -- which he started playing at age 7 -- and transitioning into real sports cars. Mardenborough, it must be said, once drove too fast in British GT to be considered an amateur, but not quick enough to enter the pro class -- and race organizers, who didn't know what else to do, gave him a time penalty so the amateurs could catch up.

Nissan GT-R MY14 (2014) CAR

Skip to content Nissan models, news & reviews Click Thumbnails to Enlarge Statistics How much? £78,020 On sale in the UK: Now Engine: 3799cc 24v twin-turbo V6, 542bhp @ 6400rpm, 466lb ft @ 3200-5800rpm Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch, four-wheel drive Performance: 2.7sec 0-62mph, 197mph, 23.9mpg, 275g/km CO2 How heavy / made of? 1740kg/steel How big (length/width/height in mm)?

Fuel prices 'still number one concern'

FUEL DUTY freezes have done nothing to stop the public worrying about the price of filling up their cars, according to research from British Car Auctions. More than 70% of the 400-person sample cited fuel prices as the number one concern when it comes to motoring costs, despite reports from the AA that pump prices have actually fallen over the last year. Second place in the survey was taken by the cost of road tax, which reflects that the survey was taken among used car buyers.

F1 star Vettel to help develop 560hp Infiniti

NISSAN’S premium car division, Infiniti, is pressing ahead with the development of a high performance version of its Q50 executive saloon. What’s significant about the news is that Formula 1 racer, and Infiniti’s Director of Performance, Sebastian Vettel has added his input to the programme. The four-time Formula 1 world champion recently tested the 560hp high performance sports saloon at the Millbrook Proving Ground testing facility.

Jaguar Land Rover installs UK's largest solar roof

THE LARGEST EVER solar panel roof has been completed at the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) engine factory in South Staffordshire. More than 21,000 solar cells have been fitted to the roof over the Engine Manufacturing Centre and will provide enough electricity to power 30% of the factory’s needs. When the solar panels are working at full capacity, they will generate enough energy to power the equivalent of 1600 homes.

German Parts Pillagers Roam the American Southwest, Sending Treasures Home For Future Car Museum

Quite a few older European cars are purchased in rust-free parts of the United States and then shipped back to the home continent, and this process tends to intensify when the Euro gets stronger versus the dollar. While that's going on, crews of European gearheads also roam the wrecking yards of the Southwest, filling shipping containers with parts to ship back home; I know of a trio of Swedes who come to Colorado every year and ship home tons of parts, but they've got nothing on this pair of Germans. These gentlemen fly to the United States four times each year, spending two or three weeks each trip, and send home cars and shipping containers packed with parts, all as part of a scheme to open up a car collection showcasing "cars from the road." They were kind enough to send me a bunch of photos of their most recent trip, so let's see what their enviable lifestyle looks like.

Kia teases new MPV ahead of New York Motor Show

Kia has teased a new mid-size MPV it will unveil at the New York Motor Show on Wednesday 6th April. The Korean brand insists its new people carrier will not only be able to transport eight passengers but also serve “as a purposeful offering for adventure seekers”. Why the new 2014 Kia Sportage moves the crossover goalposts Kia Soul review (2014 onwards) We don’t think lifestyle types will be trading in their SUVs too soon, but the people carrier is likely to be bigger than the seven-seater Carens, making it potentially a rival to the likes of the Ford Grand Tourneo Connect. However, Kia has already said we won’t get it in the UK due to poor demand.

Petrolhead spiders cause Mazda recall

Mazda has had to recall 42,000 vehicles in the US after it emerged that a species of spider had been weaving webs in fuel vent hoses, increasing the risk of fuel leaks and fires. The yellow sac spider’s curious domestic activities cause a build-up of pressure in the evaporative fuel vent that – in theory at least – could result in a cracked fuel tank and therefore an increased risk of fire. This isn’t the first time that the Mazda 6 has received the unwanted advances of a gas-guzzling arachnid, either – three years ago Mazda had to recall over 50,000 cars for precisely the same reason.

25 future classic cars go under the hammer

Have you got an old car hidden in your garage? A once daily driver, that's now bordering on classic status or possibly just scrap metal? Maybe not, but you'd be surprised how many people have, going by some of the cars that went under the hammer at Anglia Car Auctions  this weekend.

Scat Pack is back for Charger R/T and Challenger

To the delight of Mopar fans, Dodge brought back the Scat Pack last November at the SEMA show. At the time, the company teased upgrade packages for the Charger, Challenger, and Dart. Dodge has just now announced details on the upgrades that'll be available for the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine found in the Charger R/T and the Challenger.

Infiniti push on with Q50 Eau Rouge project with Sebastian Vettel (video)

Sebastian Vettel takes the Infini Q50 Eau Rouge round Millbrook The Infini Q50 Eau Rouge Concept made an appearance at the Detroit Auto Show in January as a possible Performance halo from Infiniti and featuring an appealing 552 bhp. And it looks like it could be heading for production. With Infiniti keen to cash-in on its sponsorship of Red Bull – and the appointment of Sebastian Vettel as Performance Director – the Q50 Eau Rouge could be a good way to create a halo performance model for Infiniti.

Foreign language theory test scrapped

FROM TODAY the driving test in the UK must be taken in English or Welsh, after long-standing rules permitting foreign language speakers to sit the test were removed. Theory tests have previously been available with voiceovers in 19 foreign languages and candidates could use an interpreter on both the theory and practical driving tests. But changes that come into effect today were introduced after a consultation showed more than 70% supported the withdrawal of foreign language voiceovers and interpreters.

Car-buying confidence hits new high

THE NUMBER of people who believe they will buy a new car in the next three years has jumped to 71%, according to the latest AA Car Purchase Index; up from 55% last year. Of the 19,786 survey respondents who said they were going to buy a new car, 42% said they would choose a petrol engine, with 38% saying definitely diesel. A further 13% don’t know what fuel type they will opt for, but 7% will choose some kind of hybrid and 1% will go fully electric – a total of exactly 100 respondents.

Multi-Million Euro Results At Coys Classics Auction

THE MONEY flowed thick and fast at the recent Essen Techno Classica classic car show, as Coys auctioneers sold some important cars for significant sums of cash. Headline-grabbing cars included a 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta that went for €487,305, a 1963 Bentley S3 Continental “Flying Spur” for €170,825 and a 1965 Ferrari 330GT 2+2 for €167,468. Other important classic cars that went under the hammer were a 1962 Jaguar E-Type Series I 3.8 Litre Roadster for €112,637 and a 1937 Bentley 3½ Drophead Coupe by Barker for €109,280.