Blog on 2040Parts

Report: Fiat-Chrysler could cut Dodge

Fiat-Chrysler could move into 2016 without the Dodge brand, according to a report from Wards Automotive. While the company has plans to integrate Fiat platforms into Chrysler, Ram and Jeep products, Wards reports that Dodge’s lineup is thinning. The midsize Dodge Avenger sedan will not be replaced when its production ends early next year, and two other Dodge products are expected to move to the Chrysler brand or be discontinued.

From Hooniverse: Spintires is a Soviet trucker video game

If you’ve ever spent an entire workday watching YouTube clips of Soviet-era logging trucks traversing the wilds of Siberia (who hasn’t?), then you’ve no doubt spent even more time cruising Russian classifieds for vehicles with three-letter names ending in AZ. Now, you may not have to import an eight-wheeled Russian monster truck to get an idea of what it might be like to run roughshod over some pristine forest. As our friends at Hooniverse report -- in great detail -- there’s a Kickstarter on and it’s aimed at bringing Spintires into reality.

Chevy Cruze Diesel: As torquey as a classic Camaro?

From the Department Of Silly Press Releases comes this missive from deep within the bowels of the Renaissance Center, Junior Wool-Pulling Division, located next to the Quizno's. "Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel Delivers Classic Muscle Car Torque," it reads, and while torque is the Great Equalizer of the continued championing of the diesel engine, comparing it to the sturm und drang of launching a 1972 Camaro Z28 from the parking lot of the Hendersonville, Tenn., Shoney's is tantamount to the sort of blasphemy that gets people excommunicated. For the record, the Chevrolet Cruze Diesel's 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine produces 264 lb-ft of torque, more than the Volkswagen Jetta TDI's at 236 lb-ft.

One Lap of the Web: Gourmet cheese, ‘Gorilla Glass’ and the cost of car repair by state

We spend a lot of time on the Internet -- pretty much whenever we’re not driving, writing about or working on cars. Since there’s more out there than we’d ever be able to cover, here’s our daily digest of car stuff on the Web you may not otherwise have heard about. -- Ford Motor Co.

2014 Toyota Corolla loses Furia's flair, but theme remains

The all-new 2014 Toyota Corolla debuted last week with a fresh look, confirming that the Furia concept Toyota brought to the Detroit auto show was more than just an exercise in styling. The Furia concept's sporty and flashy design intrigued us, and while the 2014 Corolla is an upgrade from the bland Corollas of the past, it also glosses over most of the flair of the Furia. So, what hints did Toyota reveal with the Furia concept, and what got cut on the design-room floor?

New Range Rover is Car Dealer’s Car of the Year

The new Range Rover (pictured) get Car Dealer Magazine’s Car of the Year Award The new Range Rover may have started its trophy cabinet with an award for the best 4×4 from the Sunday Times – even though they’d never driven it – but the Car of the Year Award from Car Dealer Magazine is a much more credible one. It’s more credible because it’s voted on by car dealers across the UK – from a wide range of franchises – and gives credibility not just to the new Range Rover but to Land Rover’s support of dealers too. Car Dealer Magazine say the new Range Rover was the clear winner by a mile, with dealers commenting the latest version of the Range Rover is a gargantuan step on from the old model – which itself was already very good – and that it ‘Cannot fail to impress’.

MG3 UK details & photos revealed

The new MG3 (pictured) arrives in MG’s UK showrooms in the Autumn MG has revealed the MG3 for the UK market at their European Design Centre in Birmingham, ahead of a debut in the UK market in the Autumn. MG are calling the MG3 a “distinctive statement of modern British style” and are aiming it at a youthful demographic looking for ‘something different’. Is the MG3 something different?

Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet price cut – down by £5,600

The VW Golf R Cabriolet (pictured) drops in price by £5,600 We’ve long wondered why Volkswagen hadn’t built a Golf R Cabriolet. But when they did finally bite the bullet and take the top of the Golf R for a production run, it was a bit of a let down. It was a let down because it seemed so cynical.

'Forza Motorsport 5' storms onto Xbox One

"Forza 5" is smarter than you. "Forza 5" is calculating. All the time you're playing, "Forza 5" is learning about you, adapting its strategy in real time, pulling data in from almost unlimited digital resources all over the world.

Want to be a Racing Driver? Fiat’s Abarth could have the answer

Win the chance to be a racing driver with Abarth It’s every boy’s dream to be a racing driver and get behind the wheel of a race car for real, and Abarth - the go-faster bit of Fiat – may just be able to give you a leg-up in the right direction. Abarth are running a competition to find new racing drivers, with the winners of the competition being taken off to a 10-day camp to be assessed by motorsport coaches and helped by race car instructors. If you want to take part you’ll need to be over 18, not a professional driver already and willing to jump through a few hoops to get the chance to win a place at camp, and ultimately take part in a proper race at Monza.

Electric Ford Focus starts European production

The Electric Ford Focus (pictured) is now being built in Europe The electric Ford Focus is already in production, and on sale, in the USA, and now it’s gone in to production in Germany ahead of arriving with owners in July. So far, the Focus EV hasn’t been an overwhelming success in the US, with just over 700 sold in the first five months of 2013 but, even though Ford see the EV as a niche product, they’re still hoping to make a dent in sales of the Nissan LEAF in Europe. The Focus EV comes with an electric motor producing 143bhp and powered by a bank of lithium-ion batteries.

Car games galore at the Electronic Entertainment Expo

“Nearly every American plays video games,” said Mike Gallagher, president and CEO of the Entertainment Software Association. Lucky for you, the car enthusiast, nearly every video-game maker also makes a car-related video game. And just about all video-game makers gather once a year at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, held again in the very same Los Angeles Convention Center that houses the LA auto show.

Mopar '13 Dart set at $26,480

Chrysler's limited-edition 2013 Dodge Dart Mopar '13 is set to arrive in dealerships this summer with a $26,480 price tag after shipping charges. Chrysler revealed the special-edition Dart at the Chicago auto show in February, marking the fourth special-edition Mopar vehicle since 2009. Previously we've seen the Mopar '10 Challenger, Mopar '11 Charger and Mopar '12 300.

One Lap of the Web: Car fails, electronic plates and 3D printing cars

We spend a lot of time on the Internet -- pretty much whenever we're not driving, writing about or working on cars. Since there's more out there than we'd ever be able to cover, here's our daily digest of car stuff on the Web you may not otherwise have heard about. -- The Porsche museum in Stuttgart, Germany contains the history and automobiles that have made the company what it is to this day.

Chip Foose returns to Disney's Car Masters Weekend

Automotive designer Chip Foose will return to this year's Car Masters Weekend at Downtown Disney on 15-16 June. Foose, who is also a hot rod shop owner, fabricator and star of the reality TV series Overhaulin' on Velocity, has created pieces of original artwork featuring landmarks from Walt Disney World Resort, finished in his signature marker style. Works by Foose were put on display last year in Disney California Adventure's Car's Land attraction.

Mercedes A 45 AMG: Price from £37,845 – first deliveries August

The new Mercedes A45 AMG (pictures) starts at £37,845 The new Mercedes A45 AMG promises to be the first small Mercedes to put a dent in BMW’s baby M cars, and now you can place your order. The order book for the A45 AMG has opened, and with prices starting from £37,845 it promises yo be a lot of bang for your money, with 181bhp per litre from its 2.0 litre 4-cylinder and 0-62mph coming up in just 4.6 seconds. As we already know, the A45 gets an AMG body kit with new front bumper, front splitter, gloss black sill extensions, new back bumper and a set of 18″ or 19″ alloys.

Vauxhall Insignia facelift revealed for 2014

The Vauxhall Insignia gets a facelift for 2014 with new engines and lower prices The Vauxhall Insignia is a more than decent car – and a big improvement on the Vectra that went before – but it’s now almost five years old so it’s time for a bit of a facelift. Vauxhall has revealed the updated Insignia for 2014 that gets a decent raft of changes, both cosmetically and under the skin, to make it better to live with and more economical. Sensibly, Vauxhall has cut the bewildering range of Insignia trim levels from 14 to eight (do they need even that many?), with Design Trim at the bottom and Elite trim at the top, and the new Insignia Design starting at £16,279 – £3500 less than the old Insignia ES.

New Skoda Yeti Adventure Special Edition launched

The SkodaYeti Adventure Special Edition (pictured) gets £2,250 of extra equipment at no cost. The Skoda Yeti may not be the prettiest compact SUV on the block, but it’s a well-built soft-roader from the Czech car maker with a lot of appeal, particularly for families. So as we’re supposedly in the middle of summer – a dead time for SUV sales of any sort – Skoda are making potential buyers an offer they can’t ignore with the launch of the Yeti Adventure Special Edition, offering unique features and £2,250 of extra equipment over the Yeti SE.

What the 2014 Malibu tells us about the future of styling

Decades ago, Detroit's automakers changed their offerings' sheet metal, or at least substantial parts of it, every model year. The process of revealing revised models to the public boosted the glamour and mystique of the entire industry. Dealership windows were papered over; display models were smuggled in under wraps; anticipation grew to a fever pitch.

Porsche Le Mans challenger (2014) in testing

Porsche's 2014 Le Mans challenger has completed its first test today at the maker’s Weissach test track in Germany. Porsche will take on stablemate Audi and rivals Toyota in the 2014 World Endurance Championship, which sees a significant change in the regulations that may well shake up Audi’s domination of the series and its stranglehold on the Le Mans 24hrs. So what is the Porsche Le Mans car about?

Vauxhall Insignia facelift (2013) first pictures of overhauled Insignia

Though you might not spot the tweaks to the new Vauxhall Insignia on the outside, there are big changes afoot under the bonnet and in the cabin. It’s also cheaper than the outgoing model, and will be officially revealed at the Frankfurt motor show in September 2013. UK deliveries start in October, with prices starting from £16,279.

New Rolls Royce Wraith on the road (video)

The new Rolls Royce Wraith hits the road The new Rolls Royce Wraith – revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March – is Rolls Royce’s answer to the sport credentials of Bentley, and it’s a convincing effort. Essentially a Ghost Coupe, the Wraith’s styling is, perhaps, a little jarring with its almost dog humping back end, but from some angles it also looks remarkably elegant for a two door coupe that’s the size of a delivery truck. But the key to the Wraith’s appeal – apart from the sumptuous fixtures and fittings – is its dynamism and power, with 624bhp on tap from its v12 (and an earth-turning 590lb/ft of torque too) enough to shift the Wraith to 60mph in a very un-Rolls Royce 4.4 seconds.

Allan McNish: Le Mans 'toughest race of the year'

Allan McNish has won the Le Mans 24-hour enduro twice and lines up in the Audi R18 e-tron with nine-time winner Tom Kristensen and a new co-driver for 2013. He talks about the fight between Audi and Toyota and his accidents of 2011 and 2012. Hi Allan, what are you up to?

Ford taps programs, in-car technology to aid teen driving

Teenage boys are more likely to neglect their seatbelts, while teenage girls will get distracted by passengers more often, according to a recent study from Ford. Ford commissioned Penn Schoen Berland to survey 500 teens and 500 parents about teen driving habits and perceptions. In addition to comparing boys and girls, the survey found that both parents and teen drivers believe winter is the most dangerous season for driving.

Toyota Camatte 57s concept

You may remember last year we reported the unveiling of a customizable, modular little concept car called the Toyota Camatte at the Tokyo Toy Show. This year Toyota has returned with an updated version called the Camatte 57s with more scope for families to personalize their space-framed little machines with a total of 57 external panels (as its name suggests) as well as the removal of the roof which apparently "adds to the fun factor and allows everyone on board to enjoy the colorful exterior they have created". Like last year's car the driving position can accommodate both adults and children with gown-ups sat in the right rear seat able to intervene should the infant pilots go astray.

'Need for Speed' series reveals new movie and more game info

The “Need for Speed” franchise has been releasing racing simulators since 1994. Known for its arcade-style play and in-depth in-game customization, the franchise has been a fun alternative for those not as interested in the raw simulators such as “Gran Turismo” and “Forza Motorsport”. At the E3 Conference on June 10, “Need for Speed” revealed more information about their new installment in the franchise, officially titled “Need for Speed: Rivals.” The game will feature a cop vs.

One Lap of the Web: Living-room Lambos, a zombie Cayenne and the curse of Merkur

We spend a lot of time on the Internet -- pretty much whenever we're not driving, writing about or working on cars. Since there's more out there than we'd ever be able to cover, here's our daily digest of car stuff on the Web you may not otherwise have heard about. -- The rich really are different than you and me ...

McLaren P1 bare carbon fibre option

McLaren are considering a full bare carbon fibre option for the P1 (pictured) With the McLaren P1 now getting close to hitting the road as a customer car (and arriving at Goodwood on the move in July), the lucky few with pockets deep enough to buy a car that will cost them pushing on £1 million are busy poring over the options for the P1. We spoke to one such customer over the weekend who was busy deciding which boxes to tick on the P1 spec sheet, and he was under the impression that McLaren were offering a full bare carbon fibre option for the P1, and at no cost. Which didn’t sound right.

Nissan Juke gets revised 1.5 dCi diesel engine

The best selling Nissan Juke n-tec gets a revised 1.5 diesel engine. The Nissan Juke – the funky little urban SUV – has been around for three years, and its combination of rugged looks that make it look like an armoured insect, high riding stance and decent economy have made it a popular buy as a compact urban warrior. More than 19,000 Jukes have been sold in the UK since it launched in 2010, and around a third of those have been powered by Nissan’s 1.5 litre diesel engine.

Jaguar XF gets a few tweaks for 2014 MY

The Jaguar XF gets a new engine and tweaks for 2014 In many ways the Jaguar XF is Jaguar’s most complete car, and significant updates since it launched in 2008 have kept it fresh and appealing. But the tweaks Jaguar has wrought for 2014 are relatively minor as the XF gets towards the end of its current cycle, the most significant of which is an upgrade to the 2.2 litre diesel engine. The 2.2 litre ECO2 engine is a replacement for the 161bhp entry-level diesel in the 2013 XF and gets revised cooling and bigger EGR valves which have conspired to improve official economy, and therefore reduce emissions (to 128g/km) handily putting the 2.2 XF in to a lower BIK band (down from 21 to 19 per cent).