Blog on 2040Parts

Nissan will recall 908,900 vehicles globally for accelerator sensor glitch

Nissan is planning to recall approximately 908,900 cars globally due to a flaw in the accelerator sensor that can cause the engine to stall, Reuters is reporting. The vehicles included in the recall were produced in Japan between 2004 and 2013, and include the Serena, X-Trail, Lafesta, and Fuga models. For the U.S.

Buy a Nissan Versa Note through Amazon (sort of)

Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos seems as if he'll try anything in the name of improving customer experience. Having convinced investors that razor-thin profits are acceptable for the foreseeable future, it seems like nearly everything Amazon does comes off as a loss-leader, designed to rope shoppers into Amazon's ever-expanding ecosystem. It's a constant topic of debate and discussion for tech pundits, but it hasn't been anything but ancillary to car shopping.

European new car sales in record LOW

European new car registrations have plunged to their LOWEST level on record after slow August sales reversed an upturn in July. Registrations of 7,841,596 new cars between January-August 2013 marked a new low for the European new car market of 27 countries – so few cars have never previously been recorded since records began in 1990. 2013 UK new car sales forecast revised upwards European new car sales continue to struggle The UK new car market is the sole exception: so far this year, new car registrations have risen 10.4%, compared to the European decline of 5.2% in the same time period.

BMW's new M engine needs a better voice

BMW's M division claims its new twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine is every bit as good -- if not better -- than the glorious, naturally aspirated 4.0-liter V8 powerplant it replaces in the new M3 sedan and M4 coupe. The figures are certainly impressive. They say it kicks out 424 hp and more than 25 percent extra torque, with what is described as significantly more than 369 lb-ft below 2,000 rpm.

Nissan Leaf with advanced-driver assist to begin public road tests in Japan

Nissan is about to begin testing advanced driver-assist systems in the real world, and a new Nissan Leaf is serving as the test bed for these technologies. This is all a part of Nissan's development of Autonomous Drive, a goal to achieve virtually zero fatalities in accidents involving its vehicles by the year 2020. Autonomous Drive can be said to be a further development of Nissan's Safety Shield, a system that has a 360-degree view around the vehicle that scans for risks and provides warnings to the driver, intervening automatically if necessary.

New Mercedes S-Class Magic Body Control – invented by Chickens

New Mercedes S-Class Magic Body Control: Invented by Chickens Whatever you think of the new Mercedes S-Class (Merchant Bankers car?), and whatever you think of Mercedes name for its clever suspension tech – Magic Body Control – you have to be impressed by the technology. Yes, Magic Body Control might sound like a cheesy Paul Daniels magic trick or an undergarment for ladies of a certain age, but what it does is far more impressive than anything Paul Daniels or the makers of supportive lingerie can muster. A camera on top of the windscreen scans the road ahead on Mercedes cars fitted with MBC looking for lumps and bumps in the way and sends that data to the suspension to set it up for the best possible ride.

Alfa Romeo’s future master plan

Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo’s thrilling new 4C sports car "marks a line in the sand" for the Italian firm, according to head of Alfa Romeo Europe, Louis-Carl Vignon. Speaking to MSN Cars at the launch of the 4C, the Alfa exec confirmed the marque’s future products will be inspired by its new halo model, meaning we’ll see more high-tech, efficient and performance-focused Alfa Romeo’s in the near future. On Bing: see pictures of the Alfa Romeo 4C Alfa Romeo 4C review A new off-roader will make up the heart of the Alfa Romeo range Vignon also outlined that further variants of the 4C are possible, potentially including an open-top spider version, as well as a higher-powered, more hardcore model.

New Jaguar Brand Promo video – David Gandy: Escapism

New Jaguar Brand Promo video: David Gandy: Escapism Somebody at Jaguar PR has a fondness for British model David Gandy, and they’ve turned his profile in to an ongoing promo for all things Jaguar in recent months. We had the good Mr Gandy (who hails from the home of Cars UK – Billericay) driving an XK120 earlier this year with Yasmin le Bon in the Mille Miglia, and this time Jaguar are aiming at the ladies with a brand promo video featuring David driving classic Jags but focusing in on the heritage and appeal of the new F-Type in the process. Jaguar introduced the film at the Goodwood Revival earlier this month, but now we get the full release of the film - David Gandy: Escapism – with David explaining his passion for cars – and in particular his passion for Jaguar cars – with the film including not just the new F-Type, but the inspiration for the F-Type – the Jaguar E-Type – and perhaps the most appealing, and rare, Jaguar of all – the Jaguar XK-SS.

Ferrari testing LaFerrari at Nurburgring (video)

Ferrari testing LaFerrari at Nurburgring We’ve had plenty of information from the Nurburgring on the new McLaren P1, and the new Porsche 918 has broken the Nurburgring lap record, but until now, despite a reveal at the Geneva Motor Show, we’ve had nothing from Ferrari on the LaFerrari. Yes, we know Ferrari have been running LaFerrari round their own track, but McLaren and Porsche have been taking on the Nurburgring for some time with their hyper supercar offerings, but now it seems Ferrari are playing catch-up. What is a bit ofdd is that despite LaFerrari being presented to the public in production guise at Geneva, Ferrari feel the need to cover LaFerrari ion swirly black and white camouflage.

Four guilty over 'crash for cash'

A GANG that deliberately crashed a 12 tonne bus with 26 passengers on board as part of a huge "crash-for-cash" scam, has been described as a "a professionally-planned, highly-organised group" by police. Officers were speaking after four people were found guilty at Sheffield Crown Court of playing a part in a fraud conspiracy worth almost £500,000. Seven other people had already pleaded guilty.

Late-brakers are 'biggest irritation on the road'

DRIVERS WHO brake at the last minute and then turn without signalling are the most annoying on the road, according to a new poll. 2,000 people were surveyed by First Bus who then compiled the 50 most annoying motoring bugbears, with late brakers topping the chart. High parking charges also appeared in the top ten, as did dangerous behaviours such as tailgating, being cut up, drivers using mobile phones and motorcyclists weaving through traffic.

2014 Michelin Guide reveals best new stops for hungry drivers

MOTORISTS will soon be able to enjoy the very best food in the British Isles as part of their journeys, as Michelin has confirmed a launch date for its 2014 guide to Great Britain & Ireland. The guide will be made available from October 4 as a book, for £15.99, and an Apple app for £5.99, giving drivers fingertip access to every Michelin-awarded restaurant, which in turn could make every long-distance drive a new culinary adventure. Michelin first founded the guide in its native France, where at the time the motor industry was more widespread than anywhere else in the world.

The world’s quickest fast food delivery vehicle

Only in Dubai would you find a Jaguar XJ220 being used for fast food deliveries. This land of supercar excess will see an XJ220 deliver burgers, fries and shakes across the Emirate state. The car will be used by Mooyah, a posh new burger chain opening in Dubai’s Battuta mall.

Vauxhall heads off-road with Insignia Country Tourer

VAUXHALL'S new Insignia Country Tourer will cost from £25,349 when it arrives in the UK in January hot on the heels of the revised Insignia hatch and estate models. The Country Tourer is a soft-roader version of the Insignia Sports Tourer estate model and has an added 30mm of ground clearance, as well as front and rear underbody protection to help on rough tracks. Vauxhall has also fitted the car with extra protective covers for the wheelarches and body sides.

Sainsbury's slashes fuel prices

SAINSBURY'S has become the latest supermarket to slash fuel prices. From Friday, Sainsbury's is cutting the cost of its petrol by up to 6p a litre and its diesel by up to 4p a litre. This means customers will pay no more than 129.9p a litre for petrol and 136.9p for diesel.

2014 Honda Crosstour priced at $28,210

The 2014 Honda Crosstour goes on sale Wednesday with an MSRP of $28,210, including destination. That'll buy you a two-wheel drive EX version. The topped out, four-wheel drive EX-L V6 with Navi will set buyers back $38,070.

Toyota hybrid tech looking toward the future

Toyota continues to build momentum as a leader of the hybrid industry. At an inaugural event held in Ypsilanti, Mich., the brand brought together all of the Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles from the Japanese, American, and European markets. In a display by Toyota representatives, presentations started with a quick look back at the infancy of the company's hybrid program, starting with the first-generation Prius in 1997.

Gesture-controlled Audi wins VDA Design Award

The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) has announced the winner of its 2013 Design Awards, which asked students from across the world to submit their final graduating projects completed between October 2011 and July 2013. Eric Leong from Sweden's Umeå Institute of Design, came in first place with his 'Audi Elite' project, earning himself €4,000. Leong's single-person vehicle can be controlled using the entire body through gestures and movements, and adapts to the needs of the driver, giving them more control.

One Lap of the Web: Lambrecht cars, drifting red Italian cars, and lost east German cars

-- The Lambrecht Chevrolet sale is this weekend, and VanDerBrink auction house has posted some more walkaround videos of the lots. Check out this video which highlights some of the trucks and sedans, most of them with delivery mileage. -- Here's an interesting car that sold on eBay last week and attracted quite a bit of attention on Bringatrailer.com: a 1975 Peugeot 604 that was brought into the U.S.

Porsche sees double with new Turbo Cabriolet models

THE NEW Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet has been revealed ahead of its launch at the Los Angeles Motor Show. The model takes a largely familiar format to modals that have gone before it, but this time the German firm is releasing two Turbo models at the same time. The 513bhp Turbo Cabriolet will be the entry point to the forced-induction 911 duo, starting at £126,766 before options.

New Chinese saloon scores five stars at Euro NCAP

FLEDGLING Chinese car brand Qoros has scored an impressive five-star Euro NCAP result with its first car, the 3 saloon. Bolstering a 95% score in the long-established adult occupant protection and an 87% awarded for child passenger protection is an excellent 77% for pedestrian protection – a high score in what is a developing category. The 95% is, according to Qoros, the highest adult occupant protection score awarded by Euro NCAP in 2013.

MG announces £99 per month MG3 finance packages

MG HAS announced that the new MG3 will be available from £99 per month, regardless of trim level chosen. Fully flexible PCP finance will allow buyers to choose to pay a deposit of their choice – even zero deposit – and spread the resulting costs out over three years. To secure the £99 per month payments, buyers of the entry-level £8,399 3Time model will have to place a £2,605 deposit.

Revealed: tech secrets of new 2014 BMW M3 and M4 Coupe

BMW has spent the past four years developing the new M4 Coupe and newly-announced M3 saloon from scratch – all with the intention of making its road-racer range more focused, more able and more relevant to modern motorists. They are faster, sharper and more dynamic, promises the firm, but also greener, smarter and more flexible than ever. The result, believe the engines, is a duo that’s without rival on the market – no other four-seat coupe or five-seat saloon offers this much high performance sports car ability for the money.

Why the BMW M4 is better than the M3 V8 (2013)

It’s no exaggeration to say that the turbocharged engine in the upcoming BMW M3 (saloon) and M4 (coupe) models is one of the most important engines ever produced by BMW’s M Division. No, it’s not the first turbo lump the performance off-shoot has built – you'll probably know we’ve already had the X5/X6M mutants plus the brilliant 1M and M5 and M6 – but it is the first turbo ever to slot in a production M3, the car that personifies BMW’s iconic performance sub brand, which itself has always been defined by high-revving, naturally aspirated engines. All of this explains why M’s engineers have cut their teeth on other engines first before plucking up the courage to develop the M3/M4 turbo while turning their backs on the outgoing E92 M3’s exceptional V8.

Tesla Model S accused of unintended acceleration

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration received a complaint on Tuesday for the unintended acceleration of a Tesla Model S. We haven't heard much of that term since the large Toyota recall in 2009. Before that it was with Audi in the 1980s.

Daihatsu hits Indonesian show with eight new concept cars

Daihatsu has launched a product offensive on the Indonesian International Motor Show in Jakarta, with eight concept cars all based around the theme ‘Compact ECO Mobility Best Friend'. As their endearingly Jenglish theme suggests, each of the cars is as compact as possible – Daihatsu is best known for producing Kei cars for its domestic Japanese market. (Incidentally the company's Tanto remains the most adorable of the Kei breed.) The UFC 2 (the blue car) is an evolution of the UFC that was show in 2012 and manages to squeeze seven seats into is handsomely contemporary body.

Scotland to ban petrol and diesel cars by 2050?

The Scottish government is aiming to ban all petrol and diesel cars from towns, cities and other communities by 2050. This is according to a new “Switched On Scotland” document, intended to serve as a ‘roadmap’ towards the future that encourages businesses and private motorists to swap to electric vehicles (EVs). On Bing: see pictures of electric vehicles Find out how much a used electric vehicle costs on Auto Trader The government will put its money where it’s mouth is here, by spending over £14 million in the next two years to purchase EVs in replacement of its current petrol and diesel fleet, and installing charging points at major buildings.

Free tyre safety checks during October

A NOT-FOR-PROFIT tyre safety organisation has produced a website that allows drivers to locate a free tyre ‘health check’ during October. The website, from safety campaigners TyreSafe, will let users enter their home postcode to find the nearest garage to them that is offering to check for any issues like too little tread depth, incorrect pressures and foreign objects like nails or glass. October is set to be Tyre Safety Month, and with the weather turning cold and the nights drawing in – especially when the hour goes back – it’s crucial that drivers make sure their rubber isn’t putting their safety in jeopardy.

IAM lobbies Labour for road casualty reduction targets

THE INSTITUTE of Advanced Motorists has called on the Labour Party to back the reintroduction of targets for reducing injuries and deaths on the road. The road safety organisation renewed its calls for targets to be reintroduced at the political party's annual conference in Brighton. An IAM survey of local councillors earlier this year showed that those affiliated with Labour were, in the IAM’s estimation, the most committed to road safety.

Hot deals now available on Dacias

DACIA now offers a finance package to allow buyers to buy the car on hire purchase from £99 per month. The £99 deal applies to the entry-level Duster Access 1.6-litre petrol model with front-wheel drive. This offer will be available until the end of 2013 and also requires a £3112 deposit and the finance is offered at 9.9% APR.