Blog on 2040Parts

Skoda Fabia vRS to be dropped due to poor sales. Is that a good idea?

The Skoda Fabia vRS (pictured) is being axed The current version of the Skoda Fabia vRS has been with us since the Geneva Motor Show in 2010, and it’s a cracking little car. It’s the Skoda version of the VW Polo GTI and comes with the same 1.4 litre TSI supercharged with a healthy 178bhp, 7-speed DSG gearbox and performance and economy that satisfies – 0-62mph in 7.1 seconds and 44mpg. But it seems buyers aren’t queueing round the block to drive off in Skoda’s hot little Fabia so it’s going to be dropped.

Fiat 500L MPW goes on sale. Costs from £15,795

The Fiat 500L MPW (pictured) is now on sale. Costs from £15,795 The latest extension (literally) to the Fiat 500 range – the Fiat 500L MPW – has gone on sale in the UK so lovers of Fiats appealing 500 can still get their fix even if they have a Brady Bunch sized family. A stretched version of the already stretched Fiat 500L, the 500L MPW (which gets the 500L Living badge outside the UK) isn’t a true 7-seater, but does get two extra occasional seats in the boot for transporting the smallest members of your brood when needed.

A look at future Cadillacs

Cadillac revealed another take on a future large, rear-wheel-drive car during the Pebble Beach weekend—the ultra-cool Elmiraj four-seater coupe. This is Cadillac's second such concept in a couple years, after it showed the Ciel convertible at Pebble in 2011. Yet we hear that the first production car to ride on the so-called Omega platform will be a sedan scheduled to arrive in 2015 as a 2016 model.

One lap of the web: World's Fair, Porsche livery and monster trucks

Petrolicious is traveling back in time for the 1939 World's Fair in New York City. Check out some of the signage from the event and more than 20 minutes of vintage video. The Flat Sixes Porschephile website is comparing the 10 best Porsche liveries.

Vine's Conner O'Malley loves cool cars

Citizen journalist and Vine user Conner O'Malley really loves cars. His account is full of impromptu 6-second tributes and blessings bestowed on owners of Ferraris, Porsches and Bentleys. He also loves the dogs of justice.

Best in Show from Frankfurt

The United States auto industry continues its strong recovery from the near-fatal recession of 2008/9/10. The European auto industry? Not so much.

CAR scoop: BMW and Toyota's joint sports car plot

BMW is buddying up with Toyota on an all-new sports car platform, set to underpin the replacements for the Z4, 6-series and GT86. The unlikely collaboration stems from an alliance that began in 2011, where BMW and Toyota agreed to co-develop next-generation lithium ion batteries, and for Toyota to use BMW’s fourpot diesels in its European cars. An engineering team is beavering away on the project, with the clock ticking: the suits want to outline the car’s specification before the end of 2013. What does BMW get out of the bargain?

Jaguar C-X17 crossover revealed at Frankfurt Motor Show 2013 - it's Jag's first 4x4 SUV

Jaguar has revealed the C-X17 SUV concept on the eve of the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. It is the first ever 4x4 SUV from the British premium maker and, it says, has officially been created to showcase the flexibility of its new all-aluminium platform. Unofficially, this is a toe in the water from Jaguar, to test reaction to the idea of its first SUV.

The craziest cars from the Frankfurt Motor Show

Frankfurt 2013 offered an automotive smorgasbord of technology, from out-there concepts like Vauxhall’s ‘condor-winged’ Monza to down to Earth next-gen production vehicles like Volkswagen’s e-Up! and e-Golf all-electric hatchback pairing. In the middle stood our next 10 cars.

BMW i3 ‘virtual test drive’ app (2013) CAR review

Though we’ve seen new the BMW i3 in full production trim, and had a ride in the carbonfibre electric city car, there’s still a short wait before anyone can get behind the wheel of a showroom-spec example in the UK – or is there? BMW has launched a smartphone and tablet app – ‘BMW i3: Become Electric’, which it claims allows users to virtually test drive the new i3 without so much as setting foot outside their front door, yet alone finding the time to head to a BMW dealership. It’s available now on the Apple App Store, and from 26 September 2013 on Google Play.

One lap of the web: The Michael Jackson Ferrari and a crazy RUF 911

The King of Pop was known for a lot of things aside from his musical talent, but he wasn't necessarily known as a car guy. So, how much is a car with MJ provenance worth? We'll know soon: The “customized” (the roof was forcibly removed) Ferrari Testarossa that Michael Jackson drove in some Pepsi commercial is listed on eBay.

Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo sedan and wagon debut at Frankfurt motor show

Leave it to BMW's most pinstripe-stickered tuner to come up with a car just for automotive journalists. That's right: Alpina has built a diesel BMW 3-series sedan and wagon duo and has taken them to the Frankfurt motor show to taunt scribes whose countries will probably not be getting them, and that likely includes the U.S. Even though the D3 Bi-Turbo is diesel powered, fuel economy was not the first thing on Alpina's mind.

Huge Rolls-Royce Wraith photo gallery

We brought you a complete drive review of the new uber-luxury Rolls-Royce Wraith coupe last weekend, along with some choice interior and exterior photos. If it left you wanting even more, check out this image gallery featuring the elegant and imposing Wraith from all angles. We'll be adding even more over the next few days, so be sure to check back.

Refreshed 2014 Nissan Rogue unveiled

The 2014 Nissan Rogue made its U.S debut at the Nissan Technical center in Farmington, Mich. on Tuesday, in tandem with the 2014 Nissan X-Trail. The five-year refresher brings in a more aggressive design, aerodynamic upgrades, a tweaked engine and drivetrain components.

Video: Across the USA in a 2014 Corvette Stingray, in two minutes

A few weeks ago, we drove a 2014 Corvette from Monterey to Detroit. Along the way, we stopped every now and again and stuck a GoPro on the thing. It was pretty annoying at times, but we did it so we could show you the highlights.

2014 Jeep Wrangler Dragon Edition sparks a fiery interest among Jeep enthusiasts

Jeep introduced its new 2014 Wrangler Dragon Edition on Thursday as a limited-production model that will be featured in North American showrooms as early as this fall. First seen at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show, this new Wrangler sparked the interests of Jeep enthusiasts around the world with its striking black-and-bronze satin-gloss exterior and interior details, in addition to its suggested retail price of $36,095. Mike Manley, president and CEO of Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group, said that the release of the Dragon Edition Jeep has received tremendously positive feedback with its stunning and unique upscale design.

New Mazda3 Hatchback & Fastback priced from £16,695

The New Mazda3 (pictured at Frankfurt) costs from £16,695 Mazda revealed the new Mazda3 back in June, but didn’t manage to come up with prices for the UK. But now, with the Mazda 3 going on sale and due to arrive in the UK in January, Mazda has decided what it’s going to charge. The starting point for the new Mazda3 will be £16,695 for the 1.5 litre SKYACTIV-G petrol 100ps SE hatchback rising to £23,345 for the diesel 2.2-litre 150ps Sport Nav Auto hatchback.

Lexus LF-NX Concept Compact SUV/Crossover makes a statement: Frankfurt 2013

The Lexus LF-NX SUV/Crossover Concept (pictured) arrives at Frankfurt We actually saw the first photos of the Lexus LF-NX – a more compact SUV/Crossover Concept – in the run-up to the Frankfurt Motor Show, and it certainly looked dramatic. In the flesh, the LF-NX actually looks even m0re dramatic; it’s almost cartoon-like in its styling and proportions. Looking a little like Lexus have taken their statement spindle grill, made it bigger and created a body design using origami, the LF-NX is certainly not a shy and retiring, understated Lexus.

2015 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, 2015 GMC Yukon revealed

Fans of GM SUVs, rejoice: We've just had our first look at the 2015 Chevrolet Suburban, 2015 Tahoe and 2015 GMC Yukon. Early Thursday, Chevy took the wraps off the Suburban and Tahoe in New York. Meanwhile, GMC revealed the Yukon range, which includes the Yukon XL and Yukon Denali, in Los Angeles.

Nissan gets a new 'Leaf' on life

On Thursday, Nissan announced that its all-electric Leaf will be added to its Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles program. Starting in September, Nissan will back all used Leaf vehicles to provide years of performance and quality at a competitive value. The program will not only provide buyers with eight-year/100,000-mile battery warranty coverage, but also with five-year/60,000-mile coverage for battery-capacity loss that falls below nine bars, which is imperative when you're relying solely on electricity to power your vehicle.

Jaguar heading for the Goodwood Revival with more than 30 Classic Jags

Classic Jaguars in action at the Goodwood Revival The Goodwood Revival may not have quite the same appeal for some as the Goodwood Festival of Speed, but if you love classic cars it’s a must go. This year Jaguar are again out in force (last year Jaguar took their Heritage Collection to Goodwood) with more than thirty Jaguar and Jaguar-powered racers heading for Goodwood. There will be racing C-Typoes, D-Types, E-Types and Mk II saloons in action,.

Hennessey bumps Raptor to 475, 600 or 810 hp

Henessey Performance now has three power packages for the already competent Ford F-150 Raptor. They bump output to 475, 600, or 800 hp. The Texas tuner provided video evidence of the pickup's new brawn the drag strip.

Caterham Seven 165 prototype stars at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show

2013 marks 40 years of Caterham Cars since what was originally a Lotus dealership took over production of the Series 4 Lotus Seven in 1973. Now, at Frankfurt 2013, the British manufacturer is debuting its newest model – the Seven 165 prototype – set to become the entry-level version and the lightest, most efficient Caterham ever when it goes on sale in the UK in 2014. We like the fact that you will be able to buy a Caterham for less than £17,000 and still be able to embarrass much more expensive machinery when the going gets twisty.

The cars coming in 2014 that YOU can buy

Motor show concepts are all well and good for a hit of glitz and glamour, but the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show is also offering some brilliant production car debuts along the way – the cars coming in 2014 that you can buy. These vehicles are the cars that could be your next set of wheels – real-world cars that are relevant, interesting and will be with us next year. Please click on the image above to find out which 10 production cars made our list…

The best supercars at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2013 on video

The Frankfurt Motor Show 2013 was awash with supercars of every type and hue. And there was change afoot. Sports cars are finally catching up with the changing zeitgeist - and a new breed of exotica emerged at the Frankfurt exhibition in September 2013.

The experts' review of the Frankfurt Motor Show

From sausages to sore feet, masses of metal to marching for miles, the Frankfurt Motor Show is most things to most people. We caught up with a dozen of the car industry’s finest at the sprawling Frankfurt Messe halls to find out what the world's biggest motor show means to them. Please click on the image above to view the rest of the story

Peugeot 308 stars at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show

Peugeot is going up-market with its new 308 hatchback, making its world premier here at Frankfurt 2013. Quality and sophistication is the target for the new car, with the French firm setting its sights high. Question is, can it deliver on the promise and truly compete with premium rivals, such as Audi and VW?

Vauxhall Insignia facelift stars at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show

Ten years on from the very first Insignia concept, unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show back in 2003, Vauxhall is showcasing a new, facelifted Insignia here at Frankfurt 2013. Part of the update to the Insignia is a new internet connectivity feature, which should make life on the road for travelling professionals a bit easier – now you can locate your nearest non-VAT qualifying hot food snack retailer in next to no time… We’re also fans of the rationalised trim range, down from 14 grades to eight for the new car. While the Insignia’s updated engine range boasts impressive efficiency (as we’ll see in a minute), we can’t help wondering if this might have been a good time to introduce a hybrid or range-extender powertrain, trumping Ford and its forthcoming Mondeo Hybrid in the process.

Ford Mondeo Vignale Concept at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show

With the marques in its erstwhile premium brand portfolio having moved on to pastures (and owners) new, Ford looks a little lacking in the options when it comes to challenging at the plusher end of the global car market. Vignale is the Blue Oval’s response. “A unique upscale product and ownership experience” is how Ford was selling Vignale as the covers came off the Mondeo Vignale Concept car at Frankfurt 2013.

Volkswagen e-Up! stars at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show

The Volkswagen e-Up! is one of three all-electric VW hatchbacks starring at this year’s 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show – and just like its big brother, the VW e-Golf, the e-Up! boasts some pretty impressive efficiency stats.