Blog on 2040Parts

Fiat 500 1957 Edition revealed ahead of LA Auto Show

While American teenagers were cruising around in finned interstate crushers, Europeans of all ages were discovering the wonder of automobile ownership thanks to the tiny, affordable Fiat Nuova 500, introduced to a car-hungry public in 1957. The little two-cylinder city car was a smash hit, with 3,893,294 built before production ended in 1975. Fiat 500 production resumed in 2007, but the new car was vastly different from the original: Its engine gained two cylinders and moved to the front of the car, while its footprint, though diminutive by American standards, positively dwarfs that of its predecessor.

Porsche Macan teased on video again – and a glimpse of the interior

A glimpse of the new Porsche Macan’s interior. There won’t be very much we don’t know about the new Porsche Macan – the ‘baby’ Cayenne – by the time it’s revealed next week. We’ve already had teases for the Macan in both photos and video, and Porsche has released yet another teaser video today of the new Macan on the track at Weissach .

Seat celebrates 60 years of production

SPANISH car maker Seat has this week celebrated its 60th anniversary, releasing pictures dating back to its very first model, the 1400. Six decades have now passed since the first 1400 rolled off the production line, when the brand new company was inundated with 10,000 orders following the end of petrol rationing in Spain. With so much production demand Seat was able to drop the initial price of 121,875 to a more reasonable 117,000 pesetas, or what would have been about £590 at the time.

Young drivers risking lives by 'neglecting eyesight'

ONE IN SEVEN young drivers put themselves and other road users in danger because of poor vision and problems with their eyesight, according to a new study. The survey, conducted on behalf of thinkaboutyoureyes.co.uk found that those in the 18-24 age bracket were far more likely than older drivers to have problems driving because of bad vision. While more than half of drivers over 55 are required to wear glasses or corrective lenses when driving compared to just a third of young drivers, almost one in ten young drivers believe they actually probably should be wearing glasses when they drive.

Crazy Honda Uni-Cub ß to debut at Tokyo Motor Show 2013

Honda If you're anything like us, it would have taken a while for you to realise that you're not looking at a pair of penguins in this picture. Instead, it's a new Uni-Cub ß ‘personal mobility device’ that's set to be unveiled by Honda at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show. First introduced in 2012, the Uni-Cub ß features balance control technology and an omni-directional driving wheel system called Honda Omni Traction Drive System.

Roads warning as massive transformer is moved

ONE OF THE BIGGEST abnormal loads ever transported on the roads will be trundling across the west of England this weekend - at an average speed of 4mph. The giant transformer, measuring almost 330ft long and weighing around 640 tonnes, will travel the 80 miles between Didcot in Oxfordshire and Avonmouth in Bristol. Police warn the trip will affect roads in Wiltshire, Bath and north-east Somerset and south Gloucestershire between 7pm on Friday and 6pm on Sunday.

New Ford Ka city car concept revealed

Ford’s Ka city car was a revelation when it was introduced back in 1996. It offered cheap thrills thanks to a sweet little chassis, and fresh styling compared to contemporary compact hatchbacks. Now, the Ka legend is moving onto its third generation with this, the 2013 Ford Ka concept – "a cleverly designed and fuel-efficient new choice for urban consumers," according to Ford.

Starr Trust urges car donations

A CHARITY that helps young people in the Brighton area achieve their goals is asking the public to donate old cars as part of a fundraising drive. The Starr Trust has teamed up with Giveacar, a non-profit social enterprise which collects unwanted and unused cars for charity. Cars are collected free of charge nationwide by Giveacar then sold through an online auction or disposed of at an authorised treatment facility.

Honda confirms 'mobile desk chair'

HONDA has announced details for a new version of its existing Uni-Cub ‘personal mobility solution’ – essentially a powered office chair. The Uni-Cub β is a development of the initial concept that appeared in 2012 as a bizarre solution to mobility around typical office-based work environments, although it would seem that no one at Honda had considered that humans have legs for that. It uses an omni-directional driving wheel system derived from Honda’s research into humanoid robots like the well-known ASIMO, allowing it to move in any direction according to the weight shifts of its user.

New Ford KA Concept revealed

New Ford KA Concept revealed The current Ford KA really hasn’t been an overwhelming success for Ford – unlike the original KA – and there was a point where Ford were considering scrapping the KA altogether. But common sense has prevailed in a car buying world that is seeing more and more downsizing, so Ford is planning a new KA – expected to arrive for the 2015 model year – but, unlike the current KA, it won’t be a shared venture with the Fiat 500. Instead, it seems Ford are planning on using the previous generation Fiesta platform to underpin the new KA and offer a proper Ford city car rather than a second-rate Fiat 500.

New Nissan Qashqai: Price from £17,595 to £27,845

The new Nissan Qashqai (pictured) costs from £17,595 The new Nissan Qashqai is a big deal for Nissan as the old Qashqai managed to create a shift from hatchbacks to crossovers almost single handed. But the new Qashqai does look pretty convincing. Revealed last week, the new Qashqai is better looking and better equipped than the old model and, even though prices have nudged upwards, it seems to offer a more convincing package for family transport than before.

New Audi A3 Cabriolet starts at £25,790 – first deliveries April 2014

New Audi A3 Cabriolet starts at £25,790 – first deliveries April 2014 The new Audi A3 Cabriolet – the fourth member of Audi’s A3 range – was revealed in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show and now, with first deliveries expected by spring 2014 in the UK, Audi has revealed the new drop-top A3 will cost from £25,790. That will buy you in to the entry-level SE trim which comes with a fully automatic roof in black, 16″ alloys, AirCon, MMI radio, iPod connection, DAB, Bluetooth and prep for an SD card Nav. The Sport and S Line sped A3s sit 15mm lower than the SE and get an acoustic folding roof in a choice of black, grey and brown and you can, if you wish, opt for the softer SE suspension or, if your season ticket for the chiropractor is up to date, spec the S Line with sports suspension.

Musk says no recall after Tesla Model S fires

Following a series of collisions resulting in vehicle fires, Tesla Motor’s Elon Musk recently told Bloomberg that the electric Model S will “definitely” not be recalled by the automaker. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has agreed -- so far. NHTSA decided against a full investigation after the second Model S fire in October.

Mercedes A 180 CDI ECO SE & B 180 CDI ECO SE launched

Mercedes A 180 CDI ECO SE & B 180 CDI ECO SE launched The key to the wallets of many car buyers – especially those who have to pay BIK on their company provided cars – is frugal official economy, which means low CO2 emissions and lower tax bills. So Mercedes has decided to drop the current A 180 CDI SE and the B 180 CDI SE and replace them with new versions offering better economy credentials- the A 180 CDI ECO SE & B 180 CDI ECO SE. Available from January 2014, both the new eco A and B Class have been subjected to weight saving measures and tweaks to the aerodynamics and powertrain to yield emissions of 92g/km for the A Class and 98g/km for the B Class.

Nissan's Google Glass rival keeps you connected to social media [w/Video]

Nissan will premiere a wearable heads-up display (HUD) at next week's Tokyo motor show. The Google Glass-like 3E prototype can connect to the Internet in real-time, allowing users to overlay information onto the lens, record projected images and communicate with others by sending information to their device. This is likely to include vehicle performance analysis and the driver's vital signs as well as social media feeds for increased connectivity if its recently released Nismo smartwatch is anything to go by.

One Lap of the Web: One lap of the 'Ring in a Lamborghini Cabrera

-- Ever wondered how a 2013 Audi S3 would stack up against a 1983 Audi Sport Quattro on a rally circuit? So have we, but unlike us, Audi actually has the means to make the two cars go head to head. And, of course, they've filmed it all .

Nissan takes on the London taxi

A NEW BLACK CAB is set to make an appearance on the streets of London with the arrival of the Nissan NV200 Taxi. The NV200 Taxi has been developed in London by Nissan and is now undergoing real-world trials in the capital. Nissan says the NV200 will make a more environmentally friendly cab on the city’s streets thanks to its 1.6-litre petrol engine.

Mercedes-Benz rolls out new Unimog

Mercedes-Benz has just presented a new generation of Unimogs to the public at the Agritechnica 2013 expo in Hanover, Germany. We're guessing that an event called Agritechnica doesn't need a translation, and neither does the Unimog, though perhaps not too many people on this side of the Atlantic know that its name is derived from Universal Motor Ger

Spied: Jaguar F-Type Coupe ahead of LA Motor Show debut

These are the clearest images yet of Jaguar’s new F-Type Coupe, set to be unveiled next week at the LA Motor Show and due on sale in the UK by spring 2014. The car was spotted wearing a camouflage wrap by a car-mad teenager in a supermarket car park in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, a short drive from Jaguar’s headquarters near Coventry.

VIA Motors to bring electric vehicle lineup to LA Auto Show

Via Motors will be displaying its range of electric trucks at the upcoming LA Auto Show, and visitors will get the opportunity to try its VTRUX vehicle. Haven't heard of VIA Motors? It's an EV startup with a factory in Mexico that will outfit full-size GM pickups and vans with its own extended-range electric powertrain.

Exclusive -- Mercedes-Benz GT AMG spy shots

On Monday, we told you about the 911-fighting Mercedes-Benz GT AMG, which is scheduled to debut at the German Grand Prix in 2014. Today, we have fresh spy photos of the upcoming car. The two-seat coupe is codenamed C190 and will take the place of the bigger SLS AMG.

Run the Jewels drop car-themed video (language NSFW)

Warning: Coarse language ahead. Notable Atlanta car guy, Grammy-wining rapper and barbershop owner Killer Mike might be the first rapper to shout out Autoweek from the stage of a major music festival. He and his musical collaborator, the Brooklyn-based indie-rap mogul and DeLorean devotee El-P, put out the critically acclaimed, self-titled album “Run the Jewels” over the summer and, on Wednesday, they released the video for a single called “Banana Clipper,” which features legendary Cadillac man Big Boi.

George Formby's Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith set for auction

A Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith belonging to one of Britain's best-loved comedy actors is set to go under the hammer. We take a break from cleaning the windows and playing our ukulele to give you the lowdown on George Formby's old car. Turned out nice again, hasn't it?

Halfords rapped by advertising watchdog

HALFORDS has been told to remove "misleading" pricing from its website after overstating savings on certain products. The car and bike accessories retailer listed two car radios in July, claiming savings of £20 on each one. But a complainant noted that the radios had only just been released, and challenged whether the savings claims could therefore be substantiated.

Get Your Cash Ready For Nissan’s New Qashqai

FOLLOWING on from its recent glitzy London unveiling, Nissan has now released pricing and specification details for its hotly anticipated latest generation Qashqai. When the mid-size SUV goes on sale in January prices will start from £17,595 and rise to £27,845, and buyers will have a choice of four trim levels. Nissan’s engineers have also done much to improve the car’s green credentials, with the result being an engine line-up spanning the 99g/km to 132g/km CO2 range.

Peugeot Boosts RCZ Range With Hot R Model

FRENCH car maker Peugeot is to launch a hot version of its striking RCZ coupe. The car will hit the showrooms in January priced at £31,995. Inspired by the firm’s RCZ Racing Cup track car, the flagship model rides 10mm lower than the rest of the RCZ range.

Reality start Kardashian stopped for speeding

KIM KARDASHIAN has been fined for speeding after police spotted the reality star apparently being chased by paparazzi on a Los Angeles freeway, the California Highway Patrol said. Kardashian was pulled over on the 101 Freeway near the Van Nuys Boulevard exit, according to California Highway Patrol spokesman Ming Hsu. An officer also cited a photographer who pulled over to take photos of the traffic stop, for stopping in a non-emergency situation.

SEMA 2013: What's Right By Rong

Preval Project Woody Blake Z. Rong Preval calls this the "Fairy Tale Auto Ambitious Project Rover," whatever that means. For the low, low price of if you gotta ask, spraygun enthusiasts Preval will transform your Range Rover convertible -- all the rage in the Michelle Pfeiffer days -- into something resembling The Flintstone's Beach Buggy had they decided to cash in their 401ks and retire to Manhattan Beach.

Jaguar breaks down XF, XK and XJ for 2014

Jaguar broke down its lineup for 2014 on Tuesday. There aren't too many changes for the new model year, but there are a few. The XF gets a new package that includes blind spot monitor, adaptive front lights, and intelligent high beams.

2014 Mercedes-Benz S-class gets armored

The release of every new Mercedes-Benz S-class is followed by the release of various coachbuilt variants months later, including versions that offer various levels of ballistic protection. SEMA itself produces a factory-made armored S-class. which for the past several generations of the car has been marketed as S-class Guard.